Steamed Rice Pearl Balls With Spicy Mango Salsa Recipes

ONIGIRI (RICE BALLS)

Steps:

• Sprinkle the salmon fillet with salt and let stand for 2 hours.
• Meanwhile, wash the rice thoroughly in cold water 30 to 60 minutes before cooking and let drain in colander. Place rice and water in a heavy, tightly covered saucepan over medium-high heat. When water just begins to boil, turn the heat to high and let it come to a vigorous boil. Reduce the heat to low and cook until all the liquid is absorbed by the rice, about 12 to 13 minutes. Turn off the heat and let the rice stand, covered, for 10 to 15 minutes. Using a flat wooden spoon or rice paddle, fluff the rice with a cutting motion. Stretch a towel under the lid and cover tightly to keep warm until ready to use.
• Toast the nori sheets over a high gas flame, and cut crosswise into 1-inch wide strips, or use pre-toasted nori.
• Mix the bonito flakes with the soy sauce. Rinse the salt off the salmon, pat dry, and grill for 3 to 5 minutes. Use a fork to break the salmon into small pieces.
• Wet your hands with salted water to keep the rice from sticking to your hands. Cup one hand and place a handful of rice, about 1/2 cup, in your hand. Make an indentation in the rice and tuck in one of the fillings: a teaspoon of soaked bonito flakes, a few flakes of salmon, or a few pieces of pickled plum. Close the rice over the filling and mold it into a triangular shape. Mold the rice firmly, pressing just hard enough to hold it together. Set the rice triangle down on one of its sides and cover the top peak with a strip of nori, shiny side out, like a roof. You can also make cylindrical shapes and wrap the nori around the middle. Sprinkle sesame seeds over the rice shapes. These are great lunch treats.

BEST STEAMED RICE

Steps:

• Bring water to a boil in a medium saucepan. Stir in white rice and salt. Return to a boil over medium-high heat.
• Reduce heat, and simmer, covered, until rice is tender and has absorbed all the water, 16 to 18 minutes (check only toward the end of cooking time). The rice will be studded with steam holes when ready.
• Remove from heat, and let stand, covered, for 10 minutes. Fluff with a fork before serving.

MACADAMIA CRUSTED HALIBUT OVEN ROASTED ASPARAGUS SPICY MANGO SALSA, PONZU SAUCE, COCONUT STICKY RICE

Steps:

• Lay the 4 pieces of halibut on a clean work surface. Season each piece with the salt, pepper, and cayenne. Using a brush, quickly spread a thin layer of the egg whites on top of the fish and then sprinkle over the chopped macadamia nuts. Press the nuts into the fish to secure. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Heat a large saute pan coated with the oil to medium heat. Place 2 pieces (or 4 if the pan is big enough) of the fish, macadamia side-down, in the pan and sear for 3 to 4 minutes, until the macadamias are golden brown. Flip the fish and cook for another 3 minutes. Repeat the process with the 2 remaining pieces of fish. Place all 4 pieces of fish in a baking dish and cook in the oven for another 8 to 10 minutes.
• Form the Rice into a small flat disk in the center of the plate. Spoon some of the Salsa on top of the rice. Lean the fish against the rice and drizzle the sauce around the plate. Place the Asparagus against the fish and garnish with the Garlic Chips.
• In a large bowl filled with water, soak the rice for 24 hours in the refrigerator. Fit a colander or steamer lined with leaves (lotus, banana, Napa) inside of a large stockpot filled with water and add the rice to the colander. Make sure that the water is not touching the colander. Steam the rice for about 25 to 30 minutes. When the rice is soft, remove it from the colander and place it into a large mixing bowl. Add the coconut flakes and milk to the rice and season with the salt, pepper, and sugar. Set aside.
• In a medium mixing bowl, add the pineapple, mango, papaya, jalapeno, lime juice, and red onion. Toss gently and season with salt and pepper.
• Prepare a saute pan over medium heat. Sweat the shallots, garlic, and 1 tablespoon of the butter, about 4 to 5 minutes. Add the ponzu, mirin, dashi, salt, and pepper and allow to boil. Remove from heat and pour in a blender. Add the miso, blend and add the remaining tablespoon of butter.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. In an oven proof saute pan, combine the asparagus, garlic oil, salt and pepper and roast in the oven for about 5 minutes, until the asparagus are tender.
• Prepare a saucepan over high heat and add the oil and the garlic. When the garlic becomes golden brown, remove from the heat. Strain the garlic and reserve both the garlic and the oil.
• Wipe the kelp with a damp towel and then place it into a medium sized pot filled with water. Heat the water just before boiling, remove the pot from the heat, and remove the kelp. Place the bonito flakes in the water and allow them to settle to the bottom of the pot. Strain out the bonito flakes.

STICKY RICE SESAME SEED-CHOCOLATE BALLS IN A LEMONGRASS SOUP AND ALMOND-SESAME SEED TRUFFLES

Steps:

• Scald the cream and pour over the chocolate. Stir occasionally until incorporated. If chocolate is not completely melted, heat gently over a hot water bath and stir until incorporated. Let cool at room temperature overnight. Transfer to a mixer attached with a paddle. At medium speed whip the chocolate and sesame paste until softened well. Using a little ice cream scoop, make small balls and refrigerate for 30 minutes. When chilled roll in toasted sesame seeds. (These are the truffles) Take half of the balls and wrap in the rice dough. In a pot of boiling water, poach balls for 3 minutes. Serve in bowl of broth.
• For the rice dough: In a bowl, combine the starches and slowly pour in the water, mixing constantly with a wooden pin. Add the oil and mix until well incorporated. (You can use a mixer with a dough hook.) Roll into a log (3/4-inch diameter) and cut into 1/2-inch pieces. Roll out into small circles, 1/8-inch thick.
• For the soup: In a saucepan, heat water, sugar and lemon grass until a simmer. Reduce by 50 percent. Let steep for 30 minutes. Strain the liquid and bring to a boil. Whisk into the boiling soup to thicken slightly.
• Plating: In small soup plates, place 3 rice balls in some hot broth. For the truffles, serve on a plate garnished with cocoa powder.

"PEARL BALLS" - PORK MEATBALLS IN STICKY RICE

Steps:

• Put the pork on a large cutting board and very finely mince it with a sharp, heavy knife or cleaver until the fat is broken down (or use 2 large heavy cleavers to get the job done quicker!). Spread out the pork into a thin layer on the board. Grate the ginger, shallot and bouillon over the meat using a fine grater, and then sprinkle on the cornstarch, five-spice, Shaoshing, salt, pepper and egg yolk. Mix well until combined using a knife or spatula.
• Put some cornstarch in a shallow bowl. Roll the pork mixture into ping pong ball-size meatballs, and then roll in the cornstarch to lightly coat. Shake off the excess and transfer the meatballs to a plate.
• Using wet hands, put some of the soaked rice in your palm and roll the meatball in it with your hands, pressing gently, until evenly coated in rice. Continue rolling until the meatballs are all coated with the rice.
• Fill a wok one-third full with water and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Put a shallow flat bowl or plate with a lip into a bamboo steamer basket (make sure the plate is at least 1/2 inch smaller than the diameter of the basket) and evenly space the rice balls on the plate, being sure they do not touch each other. Cover the basket with the lid and lower it into the wok. Steam the meatballs, adding water to the wok as necessary to prevent the basket from scorching, until set and firm, 20 to 25 minutes.
• Carefully remove the rice balls from the steamer and transfer to a platter. Serve the meatballs with toothpicks on the side for skewering and dipping into vinegar, chili oil, or soy sauce.