Squash Pancakes, a Korean snack in time for Hanukkah

 Happy Hanukkah!  A miraculous time of frying in oil!  

These light, vegan and gluten-free (if desired) squash pancakes are a Korean snack that work nicely as fried Hanukkah treat.

 

Korean Squash Pancakes

 

1 small squash, peeled, seeded and grated (not spaghetti squash, but most other kinds, including pumpkin.  Small, as in Acorn Squash, or enough to make 4-6 cups grated)

2 tbs sugar

1 tbs salt

Tamarack Farms Yellow Pea flour, to create batter texture. (May use AP flour, wild rice flour, rice flour, etc.  Use what you would for gluten-free cooking, or without regular flour. ) Quantity of flour depends on the amount of liquid in the squash.

 

I tested a few methods.  One recipe suggested not to grate the squash or put it through a food processor grater, as she didn't wish to clean it up, and recommended fine match-stick cutting of the squash.  I found that I had the best results with grating it.  

Grate the squash and mix with the salt and sugar.  Let sit for 10 - 30 minutes.  You will see liquid in the bowl.  You need the liquid.  

Mix in enough yellow pea flour or desired flour to make a batter.  Let the batter rest.

Fry pancakes in oil, until crisp on each side, about 6-8 minutes.  Enjoy immediately, with some soy sauce or hot sauce, or save for later service.

Enjoy!

Korean Cold mustard sauce noodles with seared Scallops and Wild Caught Tuna

This is a wonderful standby for an easy meal.  You can enjoy the noodles without the seared seafood, but the Gimli Fish products are wonderful, inexpensive, Fair Trade, and slavery-free.  Wholesome and delicious and something that is craved in Winter or in Summer.

I use Korean Udon noodles for this recipe, but Soba noodles are also wonderful.

Korean Cold Mustard Noodles

For the sauce:
1-2 tbs Dijon Mustard
1-2 tbs Grainy Mustard
1 tbs grated ginger
1-2 tbs good soy sauce
1 tsp good sesame oil
1 tsp white sugar
1 tbs Mirin
splash of vinegar
1-2 green onions, chopped
Optional:  good drizzle chili oil

Mix all ingredients together in a large bowl until emulsified, or come together.

Add desired amount of noodles and top with seared Wild Caught Ahi Tuna, Scallops, shrimp, etc.  Pictured here coated with a Furakoka rice topping. 

Sundubu Jjigae - Easy Korean Soup!

I was inspired to make this soup, as I hadn't had it in ages, and it is such a satisfying meal.  Elatia Harris was the trigger to this endeavour though, as she posted, asking a key question to this meal, do you use kochujiang (hot pepper paste) or kochugaru (Korean pepper flake)?  I prefer to use the kochugaru, as you can control the salt better, but adding a bit of the paste won't hurt either.

Sundubu Jjigae is a versatile soup, as you can add more seafood to make it a seafood soup.  I added New Brunswick Shrimp, from Gimli Fish.  PEI Mussels are also available and would work wonderfully in the soup.

Once you have all of the ingredients ready, it is very simple to prepare.  The stock takes a 20 minutes as it is simply dried anchovies, sliced radish (daikon), and kelp.  All of these ingredients are readily available at many Asian markets.  I found the dried anchovies in the cooler section at Sun Wah.

Stock:

8 large anchovies, heads removed (they snap off easily)
2 inches of daikon, peeled and thinly sliced
6" X 6" kombu (kelp)
4 cups water

In a medium saucepan, add all ingredients and cover.  Cook at medium high for 10 minutes after it comes to a boil.  Simmer for an additional 10 minutes and strain the stock.

Soup:

1/2 small onion, finely chopped
2 cloves garlic, chopped (I used wonderful dried garlic from Berrard Farm, available at St. Norbert's Farmer's Market)
1 tbs oil, for cooking
1/2 cup chopped bacon or pork belly
1/2 cup chopped kimchi (Also use Cook's Creek Kimchi, available at St. Norbert's Farmer's Market)
2 tbs Kochugaru (red pepper flake)
1 tsp good sesame oil
2 green onions, chopped
1 square soft tofu, cubed
1 tsp salt
1 tsp sugar
1 egg per person (I used Nature's Farm Eggs, also available at St. Norbert's Farmer's Market)

Options:  chopped peppers, soybean sprouts, shrimp, mussels, firm white fish, pickerel

Mix the pepper flake and sesame oil together and set aside.

In a heavy pot, (clay pot will take a little longer, but is traditional), heat and add the cooking oil, onions and garlic.  Cook until soft and add the bacon or pork belly.  Cook until the pork is soft and no longer very pink.

Add the stock and kimchi and tofu, salt and sugar.  Let simmer for 5 minutes.   Drop an egg for each person, to poach, and add the green onions and top with the pepper flake with sesame oil.

Enjoy!  Usually served with rice. 

Pa kimchi, Green onions kimchi LOVE!! Chonggak-kimchi, Ponytail Kimchi More LOVE!

Today is a Kimchi making day.  I started with the most simple kimchi to make and it has wonderful results.  Pa kimchi, or, green onion kimchi has a sweetness that is subtle and lovely.  It is a wonderful side dish or garnish to so many foods, stir-frys, soups, etc.

I used the green onions, except for the whites and purples, from my Farm Share from Hearts Acre Farm.  If you don't have a CSA Farm Share, you can pick up their wonderful veggies at St. Norbert's Market on Wednesdays and Saturdays.  The remaining ingredients are available at a number of Asian Specialty stores throughout Winnipeg.  Try Arirang Oriental Food Mart on Portage Ave. or 88 Mart on Pembina, in Winnipeg.

I used Aeri's Kitchen recipe as it was so simple.  http://aeriskitchen.com/2012/11/green-onion-kimchi/

When the aromas came up from the mixing bowl, it just made me happy.

I also made turnip with greens kimchi yesterday.  Known as Chonggak-kimchi, or Ponytail Kimchi, I used the turnips with half of the greens attached.  The other half went into my Saag Paneer.

I used the Maangchi recipe.  You can find it here:  https://www.maangchi.com/recipe/chonggak-kimchi.

Maangchi is such a great resource for wonderful Korean food!

Kalbi - Korean Beef Short Ribs on CBC's Weekend Morning Show

Today,  on CBC's Weekend Morning Show with host Nadia Kidwai, I will be presenting these amazing Korean Beef Short Ribs.  First of all, the beef.  Wonderful meaty beef short ribs from Wildfire Farm.  I also love Korean food.  It is wonderful to sit together and enjoy meals in Korea.  This recipe is so simple to prepare and even easier in an Instant Pot!  You can leave out the marinating time if using the Instant Pot.

I'm serving these ribs with Cook's Creek Kimchi, also available at St. Norbert's Farmer's Market on Saturday and the PopUp market at VIA Rail on Sunday.

Kalbi  Korean beef ribs in Instant Pot*

1 pkg Beef Ribs (available today from Wildfire Farms at St.Norbert’s Farmer’s Market)

1 onion, sliced thinly

8 cloves garlic, sliced

2 tbs grated ginger

1 Asian Pear, grated finely

2 cups beef broth

½ cup soy sauce

¼ cup brown sugar or maple syrup

2 (+) tbs Kochujiang (gochujang – Korean pepper paste)

2 tbs rice or black vinegar

1 tbs good sesame oil (dark toasted and single ingredient)

1 tbs black pepper

1 tsp sea salt

For the garnishing and serving:

1 bunch green onions, sliced for garnishing

2 tbs sesame seeds

Kimchi (available today from Cook’s Creek Kimchi at St.Norbert’s Farmer’s Market)

Rice

Fresh herbs, such as Perilla leaf, mint, coriander, basil, etc.

Shredded carrots

1. Combine onion, garlic, ginger, grated pear, beef broth, soy saucy, sugar, vinegar and sesame, Kochujiang, pepper and salt.  Place beef ribs in the marinade and let sit, chilled, for a few hours.

2. For the Instant Pot method:  Place ribs into the pot and pour over the marinade.  Shut and lock the lid and seal the valve.  Set the Instant Pot to cook under high pressure for 45 minutes.  (Press Manual or Pressure Cook, the + button until it is set to 45).  Let the pressure release naturally.  If it hasn’t after 25 minutes, release it to venting.  Check that the ribs are tender.  If not, continue cooking for another 5-10 minutes under high pressure.  Serve with rice, kimchi and garnishes.

Enjoy!

*  If you have a slow cooker, place ribs and marinade in slow cooker for 4-6 hours.  Remove ribs from cooker and brown if desired.