Round 2 Recipe Rice Cakes With Creamy Cilantro Sauce Recipes

10-MINUTE RICE CAKES

Steps:

• Mix rice, egg, basil, milk, salt, and pepper together in a bowl.
• Melt butter in a skillet over medium heat. Pour rice mixture into the skillet in 2 equal portions. Cook until browned on the bottom, about 3 minutes. Flip and continue cooking until second side is browned, about 2 minutes more.

STIR-FRIED RICE CAKES (NIAN GAO)

Steps:

• Marinate the julienned pork with the water, light soy sauce, sesame oil, white pepper, vegetable oil, and cornstarch. Allow to sit for 20-30 minutes, while you prepare the rest of the ingredients.
• Rinse the rice cakes and drain. If using fresh or frozen rice cakes, you do not have to soak or thaw them. Only soak (according to package instructions) if using dried rice cakes.
• Thoroughly wash the baby bok choy (or napa cabbage). Drain, shaking off excess water. If using baby bok choy, separate into individual leaves. If using napa cabbage, cut the large leaves into smaller bite-sized pieces. Also prepare the garlic and scallions.
• If using mushrooms, slice them thinly. If using dried shiitake mushrooms, save the soaking liquid.
• Place your wok over high heat until it begins to smoke lightly. Add the vegetable oil to coat the wok, and add the pork and garlic. Cook until the pork turns opaque. If using mushrooms, add them now and stir-fry for 1 minute.
• Stir in the scallions, bok choy/cabbage, and Shaoxing wine. Stir-fry for 30 seconds, and move everything to the center of the wok to create an even "bed" of vegetables and meat. Distribute the rice cakes on top (this prevents them from sticking to the wok).
• Add water (or mushroom soaking water for extra flavor). Depending on how hot your stove gets, you can add 1/2 cup to 3/4 cup. Cover, and cook for 2 minutes to steam the rice cakes and cook the vegetables.
• Remove the cover, and add the sesame oil, dark soy sauce, light soy sauce, oyster sauce, white pepper, and sugar. Stir-fry everything together for 1 minute over medium heat. Taste, and season with additional salt if necessary. Continue stir-frying until the rice cakes are coated in sauce, cooked through but still chewy. Plate and serve!

ROUND 2 RECIPE: CAJUN DIRTY RICE

Steps:

• Heat 2 tablespoons of canola oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the red pepper flakes, and let it infuse in the oil for 15 to 20 seconds. Add the leftover white rice, flaked catfish fillet, sauteed vegetables, Cajun seasoning, and the kidney beans. Stir to combine and cook until the mixture is heated through, about 3 minutes. Taste and season with salt and pepper, if desired.
• Transfer to a serving platter and serve.
• In a large pot, bring 5 1/4 cups of water to a boil over medium heat. Add the rice, turn the heat down to low and simmer until rice has absorbed all the water and is light and fluffy, about 15 to 20 minutes. Reserve 3 cups of cooked rice for round 2 recipe: Cajun Dirty Rice. Transfer the rice to a serving bowl and set aside.
• In a large skillet over medium-high heat, add 2 tablespoons of canola oil. Add the celery, green pepper, onion, garlic, and season with salt, pepper and cayenne pepper. Saute until slightly tender about 5 minutes. Add the fresh lemon juice and chopped parsley and cook for another minute. Reserve 1 cup of the sauteed vegetables for round 2 recipe: Cajun Dirty Rice. Transfer the vegetables to a serving bowl and set aside.
• While the vegetables are sauteing, heat a cast iron skillet or griddle over high heat. Brush the catfish with the remaining canola oil and then sprinkle both sides with Cajun seasoning. Place the catfish onto into the hot pan and cook, about 2 to 3 minutes on each side.
• Arrange the catfish on a serving platter and serve with rice and sauteed vegetables.

RICE CAKES WITH PEANUT SAUCE AND HOISIN

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to boil. Add the rice cakes and cook for 2 to 3 minutes, until softened. Drain and refresh under cold water.
• Meanwhile, make the peanut sauce: In a medium bowl, place the peanut butter, hot water, sugar, garlic and soy sauce, and whisk together until combined. Set aside.
• Heat a large (12-inch) nonstick skillet or wok on medium high. (Check the drained rice cakes. If they are sticking together, rinse them with cold water and gently toss to separate before adding them to the pan.) When the pan is hot, add the neutral oil and rice cakes, and toss to combine. Add soy sauce and stir-fry for 6 to 8 minutes, until the rice cakes begin to caramelize. (If more than a few clump together, add a tablespoon of water at a time and break them up with your spatula.) Add the yu choy and cook for another 3 to 4 minutes, until the greens are wilted. Turn off heat, add the peanut sauce and toss to coat.
• To serve, drizzle with the diluted hoisin sauce, scatter with scallions and finish with sesame seeds.

AMY'S CILANTRO CREAM SAUCE

Steps:

• Combine cream cheese, sour cream, salsa, pepper, celery salt, cumin, garlic powder, cilantro and lime juice in a blender or food processor. Blend until smooth and creamy. Place in a serving bowl.

CRISPY RICE CAKES WITH TARATOR SAUCE

Steps:

• Tarator Sauce:
• Blend Almond Aioli, lemon juice, and garlic in a blender to combine; season with salt and pepper.
• Rice Cakes:
• Cook rice in a large saucepan of boiling salted water, stirring often to separate grains and prevent sticking, 6 minutes. Drain well and spread out on a rimmed baking sheet to cool. Transfer cooled rice to a medium bowl.
• Whisk egg, egg yolk, 1/2 cup tarator sauce, and 1 Tbsp. lemon juice in a small bowl to combine and add to rice. Season with salt and pepper and stir to combine; set aside.
• Heat 1 Tbsp. vegetable oil and 1 Tbsp. butter in a large skillet, preferably nonstick, over medium. Just as butter starts to brown, drop four 1/4-cupfuls of rice mixture into skillet and gently press down with a spatula to make 1/2"-thick cakes. Cook cakes until edges and bottoms are golden brown and crisp, 5-7 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack (they're only cooked on one side). Wipe out skillet and repeat process with remaining vegetable oil, butter, and rice mixture to make 4 more cakes.
• Toss herbs with olive oil and remaining 1 tsp. lemon juice in a clean small bowl; season with salt and pepper.
• Divide 1/2 cup tarator sauce among plates and top each with 2 cakes. Squeeze lemon wedges over and season with more salt. Top with herbs.