Lemongrass And Cilantro Sauce Food

LEMONGRASS VIETNAMESE MEATBALLS

Steps:

• Place the lemongrass stalks, cilantro, onion, ginger, and garlic into your food processor and process on high until smooth and almost paste-like. Place the ground pork, beef, or chicken into a large bowl and pour in the lemongrass paste. Add all of the remaining ingredients and mix together well. I find using my hands the easiest way to do this.
• Roll 20 meatballs and place them on a baking sheet. Place enough oil in a large frying pan to thinly cover the bottom. Heat the pan over medium-high heat until the oil is shimmering. Cook the meatballs, turning them a few times, until they are well browned and cooked through, about 8-10 minutes.

LEMONGRASS AND CILANTRO SAUCE

Steps:

• Combine 1/2 cup coconut milk and all remaining ingredients in blender. Puree until smooth. Thin with more coconut milk by teaspoonfuls for desired texture. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover; chill. Bring to room temperature; stir before serving.
• *Available at most supermarkets and at Asian markets.

SEARED SEA SCALLOPS WITH LEMONGRASS SAUCE AND BASIL, MINT AND CILANTRO SALAD

Steps:

• Heat oil in a large, nonstick pan over low heat. Cook onion with a pinch of salt until translucent, about 12 minutes. Stir in lemon grass, garlic and chiles. Add wine. Raise heat to high, then simmer 5 minutes. Add tomatoes and juice; break apart tomatoes. Simmer until sauce thickens, about 20 minutes. Force sauce through a colander and discard solids. Season with salt and pepper.
• For Salad:
• Toss all ingredients in a bowl; season with salt and pepper.
• For Scallops:
• Season with salt and pepper. Heat a large nonstick pan over high heat 1 minute; add oil. Cook 8 scallops 1 minute; reduce heat to medium-high; cook undisturbed until golden, about 4 minutes. Turn scallops over; cook 3 minutes more. Remove from heat. Repeat. Divide scallops and sauce among 8 bowls and top with salad.

STEWED SPICY CHICKEN WITH LEMONGRASS AND LIME

Steps:

• Place the oil in a large, deep skillet and turn the heat to medium. Add the shallot, garlic, ginger and chilies and cook, stirring frequently, until the vegetables are tender and the mixture pasty. Add the turmeric, cilantro and sugar and cook, stirring, for another minute. Trim the lemongrass stalks of their toughest outer layers, then bruise them with the back of a knife; cut them into sections and add them to the mixture along with 1 cup water.
• Add the chicken and turn it once or twice in the sauce, then nestle it in the sauce; season with a little salt and pepper. Turn the heat to low and cover the skillet. Cook, turning once or twice, until the chicken is cooked through, 20 to 30 minutes.
• Uncover the skillet and raise the heat to medium-high; turn the chicken skin-side down. Let most (but not all) of the liquid evaporate and brown the chicken just a little on the bottom. Stir in the lime leaves and nam pla; taste and adjust seasoning as necessary, then garnish and serve with white rice.

LEMONGRASS SAUCE

Steps:

• Combine the vinegar, sugar, water, fish sauce and lime juice in a small, nonreactive saucepan. Bring just to a boil; then, add the lemongrass and the lime leaf and simmer for 30 seconds.
• Remove from heat, and place the saucepan in a bowl of ice and water to chill it until it is room temperature, about 10 minutes.
• Stir in the cilantro, scallions and chilies to taste.