Lettuce And Chive Salad Korean Style Mark Bittman Food

LETTUCE AND CHIVE SALAD, KOREAN STYLE (MARK BITTMAN)

Steps:

• Make dressing by combining sesame oil, red pepper flakes, soy sauce, vinegar, garlic, sugar, and about 1 tablespoons water.
• Wash and dry chives, then cut into 1-2 inch links; toss with the lettuce, then pour the dressing over all and toss again.
• Garnish with sesame seeds and serve immediately.

BLACK BEAN BURGERS

Steps:

• Soak the mushrooms in hot water for 5 to 10 minutes; roughly chop.
• Put the mushrooms, beans, garlic, oats, spices and soy sauce in a food processor with a sprinkle of salt and pepper. Let the machine run until the mixture is combined, not puréed, about 30 seconds. (Or use a potato masher.) Add oats to thicken, or liquid to thin, as needed.
• Stir in the cilantro, and let sit for 5 minutes.
• Shape into 4 large or 8 small patties; let them sit for 5 minutes.
• Put the oil in a large skillet over medium-low heat. Cook until crisp on one side, about 5 minutes. Flip and cook until the burgers are crisp on the other side, another 5 minutes or so. Serve with the usual fixings.

BEEF WRAPPED IN LETTUCE LEAVES, KOREAN STYLE

Steps:

• Use a sharp knife to strip meat from ribs; it will come off easily and in one piece (reserve bones and any meat that adheres to them for stock). If time allows, freeze meat for 30 minutes to make slicing easier.
• Combine scallions, ginger, garlic, sugar, pepper, soy sauce and 1/2 cup water in blender, and puree until very smooth. Slice meat 1/8 to 1/4 inch thick. Toss with scallion mixture, and marinate for 15 minutes to 2 hours. Preheat a grill or broiler, or preheat oven to its maximum temperature, and put a heavy roasting pan in it.
• Remove meat from marinade, and grill, broil or roast just until done, no more than a couple of minutes a side; it's nice if the meat is browned outside and rare inside, but it's imperative that it not be overcooked.
• To eat, wrap a piece or two of meat in a torn piece of lettuce; garnish with a drop or two of soy sauce or bean paste if you like.

THE WORLD OF RICE SALADS

Steps:

• Put the rice and all the vegetables in a large bowl. Drizzle with vinaigrette and use two big forks to combine, fluffing the rice and tossing gently to separate the grains.
• Stir in the parsley, taste, and adjust the seasoning or moisten with a little more dressing. Serve at room temperature or refrigerate for up to a day, bringing the salad back to room temperature before serving.
• Variations:
• Rice Salad, Japanese Style: Use brown or white short-grain rice. Halve the amount of celery and carrot and finely chop them or shred them on a grater. Add 1 cup cubed firm tofu (preferably baked). Instead of the vinaigrette, toss with 1/4 cup or so of Simple Miso Dipping Sauce (made by whisking together 6 tablespoons miso paste, 3/4 cup warm water or sake, 1 teaspoon sugar, 1 tablespoon mirin or honey, 1 tablespoon rice vinegar plus more to taste, and salt to taste). Instead of the parsley, crumble 2 sheets of nori over the rice salad and sprinkle with 2 tablespoons black or white sesame seeds.
• Rice Salad, Mexican Style: Long-grain or medium-grain, white or brown, all work well here. When blending the vinaigrette, add 1 tablespoon chili powder and 2 tablespoons Mexican crema or mayonnaise. Instead of celery and carrot, add 1 cup chopped fresh tomato. Substitute chopped fresh cilantro for the parsley and, at the same time, add 2 chopped hard-cooked eggs and chopped jalapeño chiles if you like. Serve with lime wedges.
• Rice Salad, Indian Style: Use brown or white basmati rice. When making the vinaigrette, use rice wine vinegar, replace the oil with coconut milk, and add 1 tablespoon curry powder, or more to taste. Instead of the bell pepper, celery, and carrot, add 1/2 cup each cubed cooked potato, cooked cauliflower florets, and green peas (cooked frozen are fine). Substitute cilantro for the parsley.
• Citrus Rice Salad: Use any rice. Instead of red wine vinegar, make the vinaigrette with freshly squeezed citrus juice-choose from lemon, lime, orange, blood orange, tangerine, pink grapefruit, or a combination. Whatever you use, add 2 tablespoons of the grated zest and 1 tablespoon of sugar or honey to the blender. Do not include the scallion or the vegetables. (You might want to use a little less dressing.) Instead of the parsley, use mint if you like. A handful of chopped almonds or pecans make a nice addition.
• Tomato Rice Salad: Use any kind of brown or white rice. When making the vinaigrette, eliminate the vinegar and add 1 medium tomato to the blender. Instead of the scallion and other vegetables, add 2 cups chopped fresh tomato (a mixture of heirloom varieties is nice).Instead of the parsley, use chopped fresh basil or mint, or 1/4 cup chopped fresh chives, chervil, dill, or about a tablespoon of fresh thyme leaves.