Forays into Fusion

RECIPE OF THE (YESTER)DAY: Chinese Meatball Subs

1lb ground pork
1TB soy sauce
1/2c bread crumbs
1 egg
3 green onions-finely sliced
2 cloves garlic
1TB brown sugar
salt/pepper
french rolls
Peanut Sandwich sauce (below)

Preheat oven to 400F. Mix together pork, soy sauce, bread crumbs, egg, onions, garlic, sugar, salt, and pepper in a mixing bowl until well combined. Form into large meatballs (~2TB) and place on a lined cookie sheet. Bake for 25 mins or until done. You can cut one with a knife to see how done the meatballs are. Split the french rolls in half and toast in a dry frying pan. Make the Peanut sauce. When the meatballs are done, place 2-3 meatballs into the bread and top with the peanut sauce.

Peanut Sandwich Sauce
1/2c water
2 green onions-finely sliced
1T vegetable oil
1/4c Peanut Butter
1tsp Hot Chinese mustard
1tsp Asian chili sauce

In a saucepan over medium heat, heat oil and onions. When fragrant, add peanut butter and water. When the peanut butter has "melted" add the mustard and chili sauce. Season with salt and pepper. Add extra water to thin the sauce to the desired consistency.

This recipe marks my first foray into fusion cooking (mixing cuisines of two cultures). I saw a recipe for chinese meatballs and thought maybe I could make them into a sandwich and then brainstormed the peanut sauce . They came out pretty good. I made them with a simple "pickled" slaw of cabbage, carrots, and cucumber with some vinegar, sugar, and salt. It turned out pretty good. I think you can start to create recipes once you learn how certain ingredients go together to make the food I have enjoyed for years in restaurants. I get excited whenever I can make something that reminds me of my favorite dishes. I also get excited when I can make a dish better than some of the bigger restaurants can. Makes it easier to stay home than to go out all the time to try new things. Of course you'll always be saving money when you make things from what you already have around the house, than eating out for interesting dishes.