Honeynut Squash Carbonara
I love using the sweet roasted flesh of honeynut squash with egg yolks, from Pete and Gerry’s eggs, for a luxurious, emulsified pasta sauce, butternut will work beautifully. The natural sweetness and richness from roasted squash help prevent carbonara from drying out, ensuring every strand of pasta is thoroughly coated in a creamy, flavorful sauce.
Char Siu Fried Ribs
This recipe originates from one of my favorite blogs, Woks of Life, with the addition of a glaze. If you haven't explored their site yet, I highly recommend it—they offer a treasure trove of information on Cantonese and Chinese cooking. These ribs tend to disappear quickly when I put them on the table—they are crispy yet tender. Plus, I brush them with a glaze similar to the makings of char sui.
Gong Bao Chicken
This beloved Chinese dish, especially popular in the Hunan province, owes its distinctive heat and sourness to a fermented pickled chili relish called du jiao. My recipe is adapted from Fuchsia Dunlop’s acclaimed book, Revolutionary Chinese Cookbook: Recipes from Hunan Province.
Curry Udon
Curry roux has saved me countless times, and I love using the cubes to quickly prepare a delicious Japanese-style curry. S&B Foods first introduced this convenient block form of curry roux in 1956, made from a solid mixture of fat, flour, and curry spices as the base flavor. Today, you can find a wide selection of instant Japanese curry roux in the Asian section of American supermarkets.
Fried Pickle Salad
This has been my hyper-fixation meal of late. This delicious salad starts with a hearty mix of shredded cabbage and massaged kale, making it ideal for meal prep. It’s topped with shredded rotisserie chicken, radish sticks, and sliced cherry tomatoes, then drizzled with a creamy homemade ranch packed with fresh herbs and plenty of garlic. This satisfying salad always hits the spot and comes together quickly, as long as your ingredients are prepped ahead of time.