7.22.2010

wasabi chicken salad sandwiches and a cookbook review

I received this fun cookbook in the mail recently for review. Now, just how did they know about my crappy little kitchen? This book is right up my alley alright! Even if you don't have a crappy little kitchen you'll still love exploring all of the terrific recipes inside.

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In addition to the fantastic recipes, there are also many fun tips including how to organize your CLK, the best tools and gadgets for your CLK, nine gourmet rules and more. Each chapter has little snippets of info titled Chefology, Swap it, and my favorite...Did you know this crap?.

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Each recipe has a fun name, too. There's Wish I was a little Bisque Taller, Get Freaky Tzatziki, For a Good Time Call Champagne Oysters, Make-You-Want-to-Marry-Me Mussels Marinara, Better Than Nookie Sweet Potato Gnocchi, When the Saints Come Marching In Gumbo.... It goes on and on. There are appetizers, soups, salads, veggies, entrees, sides and desserts.

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The Wassup! Wasabi Chicken Salad really caught my eye. My husband and I are both crazy for wasabi so I knew this would be a good choice.

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This recipe includes ingredients like ginger, garlic, soy sauce, rice wine vinegar, peanuts, cilantro and wasabi, all of which make this a chicken salad far from ho-hum. I also loved that it was so simple to prepare. I'm all about simple meals in the summertime.

Wassup! Wasabi Chicken Salad
adapted from Gourmet Meals in Crappy Little Kitchens

Sea salt, to taste
1 lb chicken breast, boneless and skinless
1 lb chicken thighs, boneless and skinless
1/2 cup rice wine vinegar
2 tbsp wasabi powder
2 tbsp sour cream
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
1 tbsp soy sauce
1 tbsp grated fresh ginger
1 clove garlic, minced
black pepper to taste
3 tbsp chopped cilantro
3 tbsp chopped fresh mint (I left this out)
1/4 cup thinly sliced red onion (I minced mine)
1/4 cup peanuts (I roughly chopped mine)
1/2 cup roughly chopped dried apricots (I left these out)
Napa cabbage leaves (I shredded mine)
1 tbsp black sesame seeds (I used a blend of black and regular sesame seeds that I had on hand)

Fill a 12 qt stock pot halfway with water and place on high heat. When it begins to simmer, add 3 tbsp of sea salt and allow it to dissolve. Remove any remaining fat from chicken. When the water comes to a boil, turn the heat slightly down. Gently place the breasts and thighs into the pot. Simmer for 10-15 minutes until chicken is cooked through. Remove with tongs, place into a bowl and cover with ice for 5 minutes. Remove ice, pat chicken dry and chop into fairly small pieces and toss into a mixing bowl.

Pour the rice wine vinegar into a blender and sprinkle the wasabi powder over it. Add the sour cream and pulse the mixture until smooth. Slowly drizzle in the olive oil while blending at low speed. Add the soy sauce, ginger and garlic. Pulse to combine. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Add 1/4 cup of the dressing to the chopped chicken and toss to combine. Add the cilantro, onion, peanuts (and the mint and apricots if you wish. Again, I left them out.) Taste salad to see if you would like to add more dressing, salt or pepper. I used every bit of this yummy dressing and was begging for more! I'll make a larger batch of it next time.

The recipe says to place cabbage leaves on a platter and place the chicken on top. Cover and refrigerate until ready for use. Serve ice cold.

We put our salad on lightly toasted kaiser rolls with a bit of shredded cabbage and served with some kettle chips. I'm sure it's fantastic either way.

Print recipe

P.S. I was also thinking that tofu could easily replace the chicken for a vegetarian version. :)

Look for this cookbook, you'll love it!




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27 comments:

Angie's Recipes said...

Love your chicken salad sandwich with Asian touch...wasabi, cilantro, mint....packed with great flavours.
The crappy cookbook sounds so fun!

fuat gencal said...

Ellerinize sağlık. Çok leziz ve sağlıklı bir sandviç olmuş

Saygılar.

ck said...

I've never been a big fan of chicken salad, but I also never thought of adding wasabi (and I DO love wasabi). Thank you for posting this recipe/ cookbook review!

pigpigscorner said...

woh, gorgeous looking salad. Grea flavours!

Sinful Southern Sweets said...

Beautiful! I bet the flavors are to die for!!

TKW said...

This looks delicious! What a hilarious cookbook...I'm tempted to add it to my already overflowing cookbook collection.

Joanne said...

Whoa this is definitely a Not Yo' Momma's Chicken Salad. I love wasabi...crave it even. Looks delicious.

That cookbook sounds like a ton of fun. I too have a CLK!

Valerie Harrison (bellini) said...

This sounds like a fun cookbook. Cooking should be fun!!

Randi Troxell said...

oh these look sooo good!
it's only 10:30 in the morning and i would sooo eat these!!

have a lovely wkend!!!

Kim said...

Wow - this is a chicken salad like no other. Looks delicious and loaded with flavor! Sounds like a cute bok.

lisa is cooking said...

Wasabi in chicken salad is such a great idea! I have to try this.

Jeannie said...

love the cover of the cook book....pity wont be available here...love how u prepare your sandwiches, looks scrumptious!

Unknown said...

What a funny little book, I love it! THe chicken salad sounds fab, I adore wasabi.
Have a great weekend ahead.
*kisses* HH

Gloria Baker said...

I love see new cookbooks, this look fun ! and I love wawbi chicken salad

Emily said...

That cookbook has an awesome title. I just might have to check it out, it would fit in well in my own crappy little kitchen!

Reeni said...

I love the cookbook - the concept is so different from any other. And the salad look fantastic! Zesty and delicious!

Julie said...

Looks scrumptious...although wasabi scares me just a little :)

Screen Door Prep said...

Love your blog! Love wasabi, too, so this recipe sounds right up my alley. Found you through BonBonRose. =)

jacqueline said...

That looks like a cute cooking book! It sounds so fun too! Thanks so much for sharing! Have a lovely merry happy weekend and love to you!

♥peachkins♥ said...

I love chicken salad and this has a wasabi twist on it...will be trying it out!

Dawn Parsons Smith said...

Can I just say YUM!?

That's my kind of cookbook!

Pam said...

LOL!!! The cookbook title cracks me up! Bet it is really a fun cookbook and creative for sure! I need it for my CLK! ;)

All kidding aside, the sandwich sounds delicious, very unique! I love wasabi and will be trying this one! I am so hungry now...

FOODESSA said...

Kim...that cookbook sounds like a great addition to your collection...a real hoot!

A little story: The first time I ever saw wasabi in my plate at a Japanese restaurant...I naively thought it was my favourite mashed avocado. To my incredible dismay...the heat was never forgotton...especially since I've always had a hard time with it.
Needless to say...your salad looks good...but I'll be passing up the wasabi!

Have yourself a great weekend,
Claudia

Stella said...

Hey Kim, that book's title is cute, and it's even cuter with that girl looking all happy under it!
I love wasabi too, and I don't have it nearly enough since others in my family don't really like it. So this sandwich recipe is really tempting!

Julia said...

Kim KIM KIM!! You've hit me in a weak time of the evening. I am hungry but not famished, but seeing your food calls me to the kitchen. My CRAPPY LITTLE KITCHEN. I literally have a two foot by four foot swatch of counter space. That's all...

Anonymous said...

That looks like a great book to have and truly enjoy. Thanks for the review.

I have never had wasabi. What does it taste like?

MommyToTwoBoys said...

I can't WAIT ti try this. It sounds like something I will absolutely love. I see the print recipe button and am wondering if you have that on every dish? If so, I need to go back and print so much I will run out of ink. You have had so many greats lately that I have bookmarked.

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