Spicy Kale & Fennel Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette
Summer time is here! At least if feels like it! We love making fresh salads this time of year, especially with healthy kale, and licorice-y fennel. This colorful spicy kale and fennel salad will make your tastebuds do a happy dance and the lemon vinaigrette provides the music. We’ve loaded this salad with all kinds of healthy goodies, like edamame, bean sprouts, jalapeños, and fresh cilantro. So fresh tasting, you will definitely want to bring this awesome salad to your next summer picnic!
- 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar or mirin wine
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- Pinch of salt and pepper
- ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
- 2 large fennel bulbs, halved and sliced thinly on a mandoline
- ½ cup red onion, sliced thinly on a mandoline
- 8 ounce bag of baby kale, stemmed and chopped
- 2 large jalapeño peppers, thinly sliced on the mandolin
- 1 cup bean sprouts
- ½ cup edamame, shelled
- ½ cup fresh cilantro, stemmed and chopped
- 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds
- To make the vinaigrette: In a mixing bowl, whisk together the lemon juice, rice vinegar, mustard, salt and pepper. Slowly whisk in the olive oil until well incorporated and light yellow in color. Set aside.
- In a large salad bowl, toss together the fennel, red onions, kale, jalapeño peppers, bean sprouts, edamame, and cilantro. Toss the dressing into the salad, sprinkle with sesame seeds, and serve immediately.
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Sweet and Spicy Chilled Carrot Soup
Chilled soup is perfect for the spring weather! This sweet and spicy chilled carrot soup will make your tastebuds explode with happiness! It’s flavored with tangy ginger, a little spice from red curry paste and red pepper flakes, lemongrass, and the all-important coconut milk for creaminess! Make it vegetarian by substituting the chicken broth for veggie broth. We topped this soup with toasted pumpkin seeds with a hint of sriracha powder and toasted coconut flakes for a nice crunch combo. It’s simple and delicious, but packed with all healthy things!
Sweet and spicy, this chilled carrot soup is flavored with curry, ginger, lemongrass, and creamy coconut milk!
Garnish the soup with toasted raw pumpkin seeds with a sprinkle of sriracha seasoning!
- 1 tablespoon canola oil
- 2 large cloves garlic, minced
- 1 large onion, chopped
- 6 large carrots, peeled and finely chopped
- 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, grated
- 2 tablespoons reduced-sodium soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons Thai red curry paste
- 3 cups low-fat chicken broth (or vegetable broth)
- 1 can light coconut milk (or full-fat coconut milk)
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 2 lemongrass stalks, outer layer removed, cut in half, and pounded with a meat mallet
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1 teaspoon salt
- Juice from 1 lime
- Sriracha toasted pumpkin seeds for topping
- Toasted coconut flakes for topping
- Heat the canola oil over a heavy stock pot over medium-high heat. Sauté the garlic and onion until translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the carrots to the pot and continue to sauté until carrots begin to soften, about 5 more minutes. Add in the ginger, soy sauce, curry paste, chicken broth, and coconut milk. Stir together until well-combined. Toss in the lemongrass, red pepper flakes, and salt. Bring to a boil. Add in the lime juice and lower to a simmer. Cover and cook for 20 minutes. Remove the pot from the heat and discard lemongrass stalks from the soup using a slotted spoon or kitchen tongs. Use an immersion blender (or blender) to puree the soup until smooth. Let cool completely before placing in the refrigerator or serving room temperature. Top the soup with sriracha toasted pumpkin seeds and toasted coconut flakes.
- To make the toasted sriracha pumpkin seeds:
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Place 1 cup of raw pumpkins seeds in a single layer on a baking sheet. Spray the pumpkin seeds with cooking spray. Sprinkle with salt and 1 teaspoon of sriracha seasoning. Toss well to coat. Bake for 7-10 minutes or until browned and toasted. Let cool.
- To make the toasted coconut flakes:
- Dry toast the coconut flakes in a pan on a low heat on the stove until lightly browned.
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Coconut Curry Tofu and Shrimp
Who doesn’t love a good bowl of coconut curry tofu and shrimp, am I right? Damien, my right hand man, treated me and my husband to this recipe recently which was so yum! It’s full of veggies and shrimp, and flavored with the goodness of curry, lemon grass, hot chili paste, and coconut milk. I combine light coconut milk with regular to make it a bit healthier. Or, you can use coconut cream which is a richer stock, but adds more calories. You can also top this dish with hard boiled eggs for extra protein. I’m a tofu freak so I use these soybean cakes in everything! Make sure to use the extra firm tofu so it doesn’t fall apart. Trader Joe’s is my go-to for dense tofu. You’ll find it in the dairy section. Treat yourself to this recipe full of yumminess tonight!
Trader Joe’s Super Firm Tofu is the best product for this dish! Won’t fall apart!
Rich and hearty, this curry tofu and shrimp bowl is absolutely delish for entertaining!
- 2 tablespoons canola or coconut oil
- 2 cloves garlic, chopped
- 8 shallots, cut into thin rings
- 6 lemon grass stalks, pounded and cut into 1½ inch long pieces
- 2 tablespoons dried shrimp paste
- 4 tablespoons red curry paste
- 2 tablespoons sambal oelek
- 2 carrots, peeled and sliced
- 1 turnip, peeled and cut into strips
- 1 small green cabbage, sliced
- 2 baked extra firm tofu blocks, cut into large cubes
- 6 cups coconut milk
- 2 cup water
- 2 pounds shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 4 hard boiled eggs, cut in half
- Fresh cilantro
- In a large stock pot, sauté the garlic and shallots with oil until golden brown. Add in lemon grass, dried shrimp paste, red curry paste, and sambal oelek. Cook for 5 minutes, then add in the carrots, turnips, green cabbage, and tofu cubes. Continue to cook for another 5 minutes. Stir in the coconut milk and water. Once ingredients are well-combined, bring to a boil, lower to a simmer, cover and cook for about 15 to 20 minutes. Toss in the shrimp and cook until pink, about 2 minutes. Top with hard boiled eggs when serving. Optional: serve with steamed rice and garnish with fresh cilantro.
- To bake the tofu: Place entire blocks of tofu in a toaster oven at 275 degrees. Bake for 15 minutes until brown on outside. Remove and let cool before cubing.
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Welcome!
Hello, and welcome to Asian Caucasian! Our healthy food blog was born out of a combined passion for home-cooked, Asian-inspired cuisine. We always cook with market-fresh ingredients and prepare simplistic, healthy Asian recipes so you can throw away those take-out menus! Come share our culinary love of beautiful Asian-fusion food, and get cooking in the kitchen.
A delicious way to give back!
