Kimchi Fried Rice

With the current quarantine situation, I have definitely been cooking at home a lot more and one of my favorite recipes is kimchi fried rice.

I love Korean food! It's very flavorful and full of nutritious ingredients. This recipe is quite quick and can be done easily in 30 minutes which makes it ideal for a weeknight. So let's just dive in!

Ingredients:

2 cups jasmine rice

1 tablespoon olive oil

3/4 cup chopped onions

1 finely chopped garlic

3-4 tablespoons of Sambal Oelek Chili Paste

1 cup of kimchi

1 cup of carrots chopped in small pieces

1/4 of bell pepper chopped in small pieces

1/2 cup of peas

1 tablespoon sesame oil

1 tablespoon vinegar

1 tablespoon soy sauce

*All of the above vegetables can be substituted based on preference

Instructions:

1. Cook 2 cups of jasmine rice and set aside

2. Heat one tablespoon of olive oil in a saucepan or wok

3. Add garlic and onion to the heated oil and let it slightly brown.

4. Add the kimchi and 3-4 tablespoons of Sambal Oelek Chili Paste

--Vary the quantity of chili paste based on spice palate

5. Stir and mix the ingredients for 3-4 mins

6. Add all of the vegetables to the pan or wok and continue to stir mix with well.

7. Add cooked jasmine to the and mix well

8. Add sesame oil, vinegar, and soy sauce and mix well.

9. Finally, plate and serve.

Above is picture taken in a traditional Hanok, which is a traditional Korean House. It is from one of my favorite international trips of all time to Seoul, South Korea. It's such a beautiful country with a rich culture, great people, and amazing food! I really hope to make it back there some day!

Until next time!

S

Red Thai Chili Burgers

What do you want for dinner? How about a nice, juicy burger that has a hint of spice and lots of melting cheese as you take that first bite? Sounds amazing! I love burgers and I’m always on the hunt for the next amazing burger place!

But why not make these delicious burgers at home when you can be sure of fresh ingredients and clean cooking so you don’t have to feel too guilty afterwards?

My Red Thai Chili Burgers are famous! I have shared the recipe with family and friends and every time I make them, I get asked about it! So here’s the recipe for you all below:

Ingredients:

2 lbs lean ground beef

¼ large onion chopped

¼ large onion sliced

1 spoon of red curry paste from Thai Kitchen

½ spoon garlic and ginger paste

1 garlic clove chopped

½ jalapeño pepper chopped into small pieces

½ jalapeño pepper cut into thin slices for topping

½ tbs of crushed red pepper flakes

½ tbs of lemon juice

½ tsp of salt

Slices of pepper jack cheese

Whole wheat buns

1 avocado sliced

Spinach leaves, washed

Chipotle mayonnaise

Burgers:

1. In a large bowl, mix ground beef, chopped onions, chopped onions, garlic and ginger paste, Thai Red Chili paste, chopped jalapeños, crushed red pepper flakes, and salt. Mix all of the ingredients thoroughly. Finally, add the lemon juice when you are ready to make the burgers.

2. Heat up the buns in the oven or stove top so they are slightly brown with a light crispy layer. Add a single slice of pepper jack cheese on the top bun during the heating process so the cheese melts on the side facing the burger.

3. Caramelize the onions

4. Form burger patties the size of the buns and about ⅓ inch in thickness.

5. You can cook the burgers on a stove top or in an air fryer:

On stove top: cook over med-high heat. Cooks evenly on both sides to a brown color. Be sure to cook the edges as well.

Air fryer: Cook for 7 minutes on each side at 400 degrees F. You may add an additional 2 minutes on each side if you like it more well done.

6. To assemble burgers, place the patty on the bottom bun. Layer with spinach, caramelized onions, and sliced jalapeños. On the top bun with melted cheese, layer the sliced avocado and drizzle with chipotle mayonnaise.

Enjoy the burger with your favorite side fries or vegetables

Now try out these delicious burgers and let me know what you think! Keep coming back for much delicious recipes!

Love

-SS

Green Chile Chicken Quesadillas

I fell in love with green chiles on my first trip to the southwest back in 2012 for residency interviews and have never looked back! The southwest, especially Albuquerque, is famous for their green chiles! And it is the perfect ingredient to take your favorite Mexican foods to another level. They are so savory with just the right amount of spice and citrus! Really, if you haven’t tried them yet, come to Arizona and we will go out for Mexican food!

But in the meantime, you can sample the taste using the recipe below!

I’m always looking for easy and quick recipes and we know nothing is easier than quesadillas! But I decided to kick up the taste with these green chiles and it was delicious! This recipe takes all of 30 minutes to make and it is so filling.

Recipe below is for 2 people. But ingredients are flexible for taste and quantity.

Ingredients

Green chile chicken filling

1-1.5 cup cooked chicken (diced or shredded)

¼-½ cup chopped onions

1-2 tablespoons oil

¼ tablespoon garlic and ginger paste

A pinch of cumin powder (can be omitted)

A pinch of corriander powder (can be omitted)

½ of Knorr chicken cube (can be found in all major grocery stores)

Red chili powder to taste

⅓-½ cup Green chilies

½ cup Salsa verde

1 tablespoon of lemon juice

Quesadillas

Tortillas of your choice. I used corn tortillas

Pepper jack cheese slices

Red pepper flakes

Chopped spinach and bell peppers

Sliced avocados

Recipe

Green chile chicken filling:

1. In a saucepan on medium heat, add 1 tablespoon of oil. Once the oil is heated, add the onions and let them cook until slightly brown.

2. Add the shredded chicken to the onions and toss it around for about 1 minute.

3. Then add ¼ cup of water along ½ of the Knorr chicken cube (add a whole cube if you are making a larger quantity).

4. Add a pinch of cumin powder, coriander powder, and pepper. This step can be omitted if you do not have these ingredients. Mix these spices with the chicken and onions. Be sure to ensure there is still some water in the pot so that the chicken does not burn or stick to the bottom of the saucepan.

5. Add ⅓-½ cup of green chiles. These are not very spicy so you can add more without making the filling too spicy.

6. Add ½ cup of salsa verde. Mix the ingredients well.

7. Sprinkle some red chili powder to taste along with lemon juice.

8. Cook the filling on low to medium heat until most of water has evaporated.

9. Set the filling aside to add to your quesadillas.

Quesadillas

1. Add 1 tsp of oil to a non-stick frying pan on low to medium heat

2. Place one tortilla on the pan and add an even layer of the chicken filling

3. Sprinkle with red pepper flakes, chopped spinach, and bell peppers

4. Add one slice of pepper jack cheese on top and cover with a second tortilla

5. Allow for the cheese to melt a little then carefully flip the quesadilla to cook the other side. Once cook, remove to plate

You are almost ready to dig in! Serve with sliced avocados on the side and top with your favorite taco sauce. And you’re ready to dig in!

I hope you enjoy it! Comment below and let me know what you think!