Chicory With Scallion Oil Recipes

CHICORY WITH SCALLION OIL

Steps:

• Place water, ginger, 1 teaspoon of salt and baking soda in a large pot. Cover and bring to a boil over high heat. Add chicory and blanch until bright green, about 10 seconds. Remove from heat, run cold water into the pot, drain well and pat dry.
• Heat a wok or large heavy skillet over high heat. Add the scallion oil and 1/4 teaspoon of salt and use a spatula to coat the pan with the oil. When a wisp of white smoke appears, add the chicory and toss it in the oil, using a chopstick to separate the leaves if they clump together. Stir-fry for 1 1/2 minutes. Season with additional salt to taste. Place in a heated dish and serve immediately.

SCALLION OIL

Steps:

• Wash and trim scallions. Bring large pot of water to a boil. Have a large bowl of ice water nearby. When water boils, add salt, when it comes back to the boil, drop in half of the scallions and blanch for 10 seconds. Remove scallions from water with tongs and drop in ice bath. Plunge remaining scallions for 10 seconds and drop into ice water. When scallions are thoroughly chilled, drain them and squeeze dry. Roughly chop the blanched scallions. Place scallions in blender. Add 1/4 cup oil. Puree scallions, stopping frequently to scrape down sides of blender, until coarsely pureed. Add rest of oil and whirl until well blended. Pour mixture through a coarse sieve into a bowl, then pass again through a fine sieve. Use as garnish. Will hold 2 to 3 days.
• Make sure to choose very fresh, very green scallions for the best flavor and color.

STICKY RICE WITH ROAST CHICKEN AND SCALLION OIL

Steps:

• Put the rice in a bowl and add water to cover by 1 inch. Let stand for at least 2 hours (or even overnight).
• Dump the rice into a colander and rinse under cold running water. Give the colander a few shakes to expel extra water and then return the rice to the bowl. Toss the rice with the salt.
• Fill the steamer pan halfway with water and bring to a rolling boil over high heat. If you are concerned about cleanup and/or the rice falling through the holes of the steamer tray, line the tray with a piece of parchment paper or banana leaf, leaving a few holes uncovered for heat circulation. Pour the rice into the tray, keeping it 1 inch away from the edge where condensation will collect.
• Place the tray in the steamer, cover, and steam the rice for 20 minutes, or until the grains are shiny, tender, and slightly chewy. To ensure even cooking, give the rice a big stir with chopsticks or a spatula 2 or 3 times during steaming. Take care when lifting the lid that you don't allow any condensation to drip onto the rice and that you are not burned by the steam. After each stirring, gather the grains back into a mound in the center, leaving a 1-inch border between the rice and the edge of the steamer tray. When the rice is done, lower the heat to keep it hot. (The rice may be steamed up to 2 hours in advance and left at room temperature. Before serving, resteam it until hot.)
• To serve, warm the chicken in the microwave oven or in a nonstick skillet over medium heat. It doesn't need to be piping hot, just soft and juicy. Turn off the steamer, fluff the rice with chopsticks or a large spoon, and then spoon it onto a platter or 2 plates, spreading it out into a 1-inch-thick layer. Arrange the chicken on top and then distribute the scallion oil evenly over the chicken. Serve with the condiments. Eat with chopsticks or a fork.

CHINESE CHILE-SCALLION OIL

Steps:

• In a large pot fitted with a deep-frying thermometer, combine the red pepper flakes, garlic, scallions, ginger, and the oils. Over medium-low heat, bring to a bubbly 225 to 250 degrees, stirring occasionally. Simmer 15 minutes, making sure the temperature does not rise above 250 degrees. Let cool. Scrape the oil and solids into a glass or plastic container and store tightly covered at room temperature.

COLD POACHED CHICKEN WITH GINGER SCALLION OIL

Steps:

• Poached chicken:
• In a 1 1/2-quart saucepan bring water to a boil with gingerroot; Scotch or Sherry, and salt to taste. Add chicken and simmer, covered, 12 minutes, or until just cooked through. Transfer chicken with tongs to a bowl and chill, covered, 20 minutes.
• Make ginger scallion oil while chicken is cooling:
• In a small bowl stir together ginger scallion oil ingredients.
• Halve chicken lengthwise and cut across grain into thin slices. Stir oil and spoon over chicken.

SCALLION OIL

Steps:

• Heat a wok over medium heat. Add oil, and then scallions. Cook, stirring occasionally, until scallions turn golden brown, about 20 minutes. Turn off heat, and let cool in wok. Strain through a fine mesh sieve into a bowl, and let stand until room temperature. Pour into a glass jar, and refrigerate until ready to use. Will keep, at room temperature for up to 1 week, refrigerated for up to 6 months.