Take a drive, a walk, a bus ride--invite a friend perhaps--and step out of your routine and into an Asian market to explore the wonderful world of festivities and tradition reflected in the ingredients used to create Asian appetizers and desserts.
At weddings, for example, it is typical to see a cured pork sausage roll sliced up and placed on a serving platter along with jellyfish, marinated beef shank, marinated squid, barbecue pork, or cuttlefish, all equally portioned out and decorated by daikon and carrots cut out and shaped like flowers. Served family style, these delicacies are shared by guests at the table, just as they have been for generations.
Specially made spring rolls and chicken corn soup are also items that appear on a Chinese wedding menu. “When the chef would make these spring rolls, we would always ask him to make extra,” said Randy Lin, manager of Tim’s Oriental and Seafood Market, whose family once owned a restaurant. “It is in my blood to love to eat,” said Lin.
At Tim’s Oriental and Seafood Market, shark fin soup can be found with abalone. This dish is often served during formal dinners, for special events, and for special guests.
On more casual occasions, dumplings are commonly served and are now enjoyed world-wide. A vegetable mixture of cabbage, cucumber, and carrots, pickled in vinegar and star anise seed, can make up a delicious salad accompaniment.
“I have memories of my dad making these rice-filled chicken wings during special occasions. Sometimes we ask him if he will make food from the old days,” said Lin.
Peeking duck is a popular main dish. As an appetizer it is often served with steamed buns and sauce and served on a platter with green onions. Guests compose their own small sandwiches.
Lettuce wraps are another build your own appetizer that have spread in popularity. Guests can combine finely chopped pork, chicken, or beef with any combination of vegetables. The meat and vegetables are mixed with hoisin sauce and then “wrapped” in lettuce for an easy to eat treat.
Among Chinese communities festive desserts include red bean soup, mung bean soup (mung bean is green on the outside and yellow on the inside), and almond gelatin, which can be upgraded into a fruit cocktail. For a more exotic choice, lily flowers and white fungus soup is not only popular at weddings and birthday parties, but it is also enjoyed by people searching for health benefits.
Halo-halo is a popular Filipino treat served mostly over summer due to its refreshing shaved ice. It can be made with flavors such as shaved coconut, fruit cooked in sugar, grass jelly, red beans, mung beans, condensed milk, or purple yam (ube halaya).
A good source for unusual ingredients is Tabares, a Filipino market on Pat Booker Road in San Antonio, Texas. April Ladrigan, daughter of the owner of Tabares, was born and raised in the Philippines. She has memories of enjoying halo-halo with the variety of fruits used in her native country, where the weather demands cool treats. “Halo-halo is special because it is unique to the Philippines, unlike ice cream which is all over the world,” said Ladrigan.
Whether cooking for a special occasion or for friends, Asian appetizers and desserts can make any event memorable. And shopping for the ingredients can be an adventure in itself.
Comments