Andrew Zimmern Weight Loss Recipes

SINGAPORE RICE NOODLES

Steps:

• Soak the dried rice vermicelli noodles in a large bowl of cold water for 20 minutes, then drain and cut in half with kitchen shears.
• Meanwhile, prepare the ingredients and organize your mise en place. For this dish, you need to have everything ready to go before you start to cook.
• Slice the sausage and place it on a plate with the chicken and dried chiles. Beat the egg in a small bowl. Combine the curry powder, crushed dried shrimp and white pepper on a small plate.
• Cut the onion into thin slices and halve the shrimp lengthwise. Add them to the plate with the meats and chiles.
• Cut the scallions into 1-inch-long batons and transfer to a plate. Peel the carrot and cut it into matchsticks; add them to the plate. Thinly slice the cabbage crosswise to yield 2 cups and transfer to the plate.
• Combine the sake, soy sauce, sesame oil and bean sprouts in a small bowl.
• Preheat a wok over high heat. Add 1 tablespoon of the peanut oil and swirl to coat. Add the egg. Tilt the wok, scraping and breaking up the egg. As soon it's cooked, transfer to the plate with the curry powder. Wipe out the wok.
• Add 1 more tablespoon of the peanut oil to the wok. Add the sausage, chicken, chiles, onion and shrimp. Cook, tossing, for 1 minute, then transfer to a plate.
• Add 1 more tablespoon of the peanut oil and swirl to coat. Add the carrots, cabbage, scallions, curry powder, dried shrimp, white pepper and cooked egg. Cook, tossing, for 1 minute.
• Return the sausage, chicken, chiles, onion and shrimp to the wok and cook, tossing, 1 more minute.
• Add the noodles to the wok. Toss constantly, scraping the bottom of the wok with two wooden spatulas to avoid any sticking, until the noodles are heated through, about 30 seconds.
• Next, add the bowl of liquid seasonings and bean sprouts. Toss and cook until the sprouts are tender, about 1 minute. Spill onto a platter and serve immediately.

HOT ARTICHOKE CRAB DIP

Steps:

• Dip: Preheat oven to 525 degrees F. In a large mixing bowl, add crab meat, mayonnaise, Madeira, salt, paprika, cayenne, and white pepper. Mince the garlic (you should have about 1 tablespoon) and add to the bowl. Crumple up the parsley and finely chop it; add 3 tablespoons to the bowl and reserve the rest. Add the cheese to the bowl and set aside.
• (Note: If using canned artichokes, skip to Step 4.) Prepare fresh artichokes: Peel outer layers of the artichoke to reveal the tender leaves at the stem. Place the artichoke on its side and slice off the top third or so. Continue to peel away the darker outer layers, revealing the pale yellow interior. Make acidulated water: Add water to a bowl. Squeeze lemon juice from 1½ lemons into the water, followed by the squeezed lemon halves themselves. This acidulated water will be used to prevent the artichoke from oxidizing and turning brown. Set aside. Squeeze the juice from the remaining lemon half directly into the dip.
• Continue breaking down the artichoke: Cut most of the stem off. Then use a paring knife to trim away the tough fibrous leaves around the stem. Slice off about an inch of the top to reveal the inner purple choke; remove the pale, tender layers surrounding the choke and place them in the acidulated water. Next, place the trimmed artichoke in the palm of your hand. Use a paring knife at an angle to cut all the way around the choke to remove it. (Don't cut too deep, or the tender heart will be removed, too!) Continue to scrape to remove all of the fuzzy hairs; a spoon works well, too. Slice what remains into ½-inch pieces and place into the acidulated water. Repeat with remaining artichokes. (Note: Artichoke pieces will need to be steamed or boiled for 10-15 minutes before adding them to the dip.)
• Canned artichokes: Make sure the hearts are well drained. Slice them diagonally into ¼-inch strips; add to the bowl with the other dip ingredients. Gently stir to combine, being careful not to break up the lump crab meat. Evenly spread mixture into a baking dish. Top with a pinch of paprika, some more chopped parsley, a sprinkling of salt, and 1-2 tablespoons freshly grated Parmesan. Baking the dip: Place baking dish on the upper rack of the oven and immediately turn the temperature down to 400 F. Bake uncovered until brown and bubbly, 20 minutes.
• Toast points: Meanwhile, slice bread into ¾-inch slices. Thinly spread butter onto both sides of each slice. Trim the crusts, then slice in half diagonally to get two triangles per slice. Place on a baking sheet and toast in the oven at 400 degrees F until golden, about 10 minutes.
• Place toast points on a serving plate next to bubbling hot dip. Heap a spoonful of dip on toast and eat immediately.

CRISPY CRAB ROLLS

Steps:

• Crab filling: In medium bowl, combine the crab meat, white pepper, nutmeg, cayenne pepper, mayonnaise, egg yolk (reserving egg white), and lemon zest. Thinly slice the green part of the scallions (reserving the white part) on an angle, and add to the bowl. Stir the ingredients gently to combine, keeping the crab meat chunks as intact as possible.
• Dipping sauce: In a small bowl, blend the chile sauce, lime juice, sesame seeds, and a pinch of salt.
• In a large, deep skillet, heat oil to 375 F. In a large bowl, whisk together cornstarch, water, and 3 egg whites (reserving 2 egg yolks) to make a slurry. In another large bowl, combine the flour with a pinch of salt. Use a rolling pin to flatten each slice of bread. Arrange the bread with the short sides facing you. Spread a heaping tablespoon of crab mixture across the middle of each slice, leaving a ½-inch border at both sides. Use your finger to spread some of the reserved egg yolk along the top and bottom of the flattened bread. Roll and tuck the bread around the crab; press to seal the rolls. Let the rolls rest seam-side down for 5 minutes.
• Whisk the egg white mixture again to recombine any cornstarch that may have settled to the bottom. Dip each crab roll into the mixture, then dredge in the flour. Carefully transfer the rolls to the oil and fry in batches without crowding, turning occasionally, until golden brown, about 8 minutes per batch. Transfer the crab rolls to a plate lined with paper towels to drain. Finely slice the white part of a scallion and garnish the chili sauce. Slice the crab rolls in half and serve with the chile sauce.

GRANDMOTHER'S CHINESE CHICKEN WINGS

Steps:

• Place a 14-inch nonstick saute pan over high heat. Add the chicken and dry-sear to lightly brown the chicken. Add the sake, soy sauce, 1/3 cup water, brown sugar, mirin, oyster sauce, ginger, star anise, dried chile and cinnamon stick and bring to a simmer. Cook, covered, about 12 minutes.
• Uncover and simmer until the pan is almost dry, tossing frequently to coat the wings, 10 to 12 minutes. Skim off the fat if you like, and serve, garnishing with scallion shavings and sesame seeds. I like to emulsify the chicken fat into the sauce by turning up the heat at the last minute to boil the fat into the other liquids.