bibimbap

Nasi Goreng Chicken
Nasi Goreng Chicken

Nasi Goreng Chicken excerpted from Bibimbap: and other Asian-inspired rice & noodle bowl recipes by Louise Pickford. Photography by Ian Wallace.

Bibimbap: and other Asian-inspired rice & noodle bowl recipes by Louise Pickford.

Rice and noodles are at the very heart of Asian cooking, providing the building blocks to what is a varied, healthy, and fascinating cuisine. They are mostly served as one-pot dishes in soups, salads, and stir-fries and provide the carbohydrate element alongside fresh vegetables, herbs, meat, and fish, balancing the nutritional benefits of each dish. Bibimbap itself is a Korean rice dish consisting of rice, topped with a variety of seasoned and sautéed vegetables, plus kimchi and a gochujang sauce. It is also often served with a fried egg on top to finish. The perfect all-rounder delicious meal in one bowl.

“Bibim” means “mixing” and “bap” means “cooked rice,” but this Asian-influenced dish is just the start. It is such a versatile idea and can be used as a basis for all manner of other one-bowl rice and noodle dishes. Begin with the basics of putting a one-bowl rice or noodle dish together and what flavours and ingredients go together well, then move on to trying endless combinations. Discover dishes such as Chilled Soba Noodles with Dipping Sauce, Wild Garlic Miso Pork Stir-fry, or BBQ Pork Noodle Bowls, and not forgetting Chicken Noodle Soup or a Spicy Noodle Seafood Broth.

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Book Review: Bowl by Lukas Volger

Bowl by Lukas Volger: Vegeterian recipes for Ramen, Pho, Bibimbap, Dumplings, and other one-meal dishes

I liked this cookbook—a lot.  It’s by Lukas Volger, a New York-based chef who set out to develop one-bowl meals that are all the rage today—but in vegetarian form. The possibilities for improvisational meals full of seasonal produce and herbs are nearly endless.

Volger’s ramen explorations led him from a simple bowl of miso ramen to a summer ramen with corn broth, tomatoes, and basil. From there, he went on to the Vietnamese noodle soup pho, with combinations like caramelized spring onions, peas, and baby bok choy. His edamame dumplings with mint are served in soup or over salad, while spicy carrot dumplings appear over toasted quinoa and kale for a rounded dinner. Grain bowls range from ratatouille polenta to black rice burrito with avocado. And unlike their meatier counterparts, these dishes can be made in little time and without great expense.

Volger also includes many tips, techniques, and base recipes perfected over years of cooking, including broths, handmade noodles, sauces, and garnishes.

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