2011 New Years Resolution is to play with a new ingredient every week in my cooking. Criteria is as follows - I must not have used the ingredient before, no recipe is to be used more than once, the recipe can reflect inspiration from another but must be my own work, and the end product must be edible!

Saturday, October 29, 2011

Ingredient 34 - Wasabi Peas

Wasabi also known as Japanese horseradish comes from the food family that includes cabbage, horseradish and mustard.

Wasabi can be eaten in its root of leaf form or more commonly as a paste. It is not for the naïve chilli patient, with its pungent flavour activating the nasal passages more so than the tongue. One is advised to enjoy it “at a leisurely pace, preferably accompanied by a favourite cold beverage.”

Wasabi peas are roasted dried peas that have been coated in a spicy wasabi coating. Here they prove to be more than just a snack food, providing a great variation to the boring crumbed chicken.

Enjoy!

Wasabi Pea and Macadamia Crusted Chicken on Soba Noodle Salad
Serves 6

2 x 100g packet Wasabi Peas
130g macadamia nuts
½ cup panko breadcrumbs
3 eggs
½ cup skim milk
5 chicken breasts
1 packet Hakubaku soba noodles (270g)
2 avocado
bunch of coriander
6 shallots

Dressing:
1 tbsp wasabi paste
3 tbsp soy sauce
1 tbsp rice wine vinegar
  • Preheat oven to 170°.
  • Place wasabi peas, macadamias and breadcrumbs in blender and blend until roughly chopped. Spread the mixture out across a shallow dish.
  • Whisk eggs and milk in a mixing bowl.
  • Take a chicken breast and ‘dunk’ it in the egg mixture and then coat well with the crumbs mixture, ensuring all the breast is covered and place on a baking tray. Repeat for the remaining breasts.
  • Bake the chicken in preheated oven for 50min.  Let them rest for 10min before slicing carefully into thick strips.
  • Cook the soba noodles according to the packet instructions, being wary that soggy soba noodles are not nice! Once cooled and drained place noodles in large salad bowl.
  • Slice the shallots thinly in white section and thicker in green, and roughly chop the coriander. Remove skins and seeds of avocado and then thinly slice the avocado.
  • Place salad ingredients on top of soba noodles, drizzle with dressing, and gently toss together. Serve with chopped green chilli if desired and extra dressing.


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