Romantic asian dinner?!
Romantic asian dinner?
ok so my girlfriend really likes the asian culture and for our anniversary i think im going to suprise her with a romantic asian themed dinner... problem, i know nothing about asian anything i mean the closest i probably get is i know how to use chopsticks lol. so i was wondering if anyone had any good suggestions for dinner, decoration etc,etc. i plan on prepairing dinner myself but i know nothing about table settings or anything so help would be greatly appriciated. i would like to make this as authentic as possible. thanks!!
Answers:
Chinese Imperial Shrimp
1 pound jumbo shrimp, peeled and deveined (can use chicken)
1 medium carrot, cut into strips
1 small onion, cut into strips
1 can bamboo shoots, drained
1 Tbsp. ginger, minced
1 Tbsp. garlic, minced
2 tsp. sugar
1/4 cup ketchup
1/3 cup vinegar
1/3 cup water
1 tsp cornstarch
1 Tbsp. dried red chili pepper, chopped into small pieces
1 Tbsp. oil
salt to taste
In a small mixing bowl, mix sugar, ketchup, vinegar, water and cornstarch. In wok, add oil, ginger and garlic. Stir fry in high heat. Add shrimp, stir fry until shrimp is cooked. Add onion and carrot stir fry until onion is cooked. Add bamboo shoot, stir fry for one minute. Add salt to taste Add sauce mixture and chili pepper, stir fry for one to two minutes. Serve hot with steamed rice.
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Szechuan Noodles
**(This will feed an army; you may want to cut it in half!)
6 garlic cloves, chopped
1/4 cup fresh ginger, peeled and chopped
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup tahini (sesame paste)
1/2 cup smooth peanut butter
1/2 cup good soy sauce
1/4 cup dry sherry
1/4 cup sherry vinegar
1/4 cup honey
1/2 teaspoon hot chili oil
2 tablespoons dark sesame oil
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/8 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
1 pound spaghetti
1 red bell pepper, julienned
1 yellow bell pepper, julienned
4 scallions, sliced diagonally (white and green parts)
Place the garlic and ginger in a food processor fitted with a steel blade. Add the vegetable oil, tahini, peanut butter, soy sauce, sherry, sherry vinegar, honey, chili oil, sesame oil, and ground peppers. Puree the sauce.
Add a splash of oil to a large pot of boiling salted water and cook the spaghetti al dente. Drain the pasta in a colander, place it in a large bowl, and while still warm, toss with 3/4 of the sauce. Add the red and yellow bell peppers and scallions; toss well. Serve warm or at room temperature. The remaining sauce may be added, as needed, to moisten the pasta.
--Ina Garten
Have some candels, chop sticks and you might need to buy some chinese plates/bowls.
entree - chicken and sweet corn soup
dumpling soup
lettuce cups
mini dim sims and spring rolls.
main - beef and blackbean
ginger beef
singapore noodles
fish cakes
honey soy chicken
lemon chicken
garlic and soy chicken
sweet and sour pork
dessert
sweet rice cakes
fried icecream
after - asian tea
fortune cookie
Alright...here is a terrific menu...
Tomato and cucumber salad:
http://www.chinesefood-recipes.com/chine...
Egg drop soup...
http://www.chinesefood-recipes.com/chine...
Braised shrimp in ginger coconut sauce..
http://www.chinesefood-recipes.com/chine...
There are a ton of other great ideas on this site, depending on what she likes!
also...buy some asian tea in the ethnic food section or at an asian grocery...
Pier 1 sells a lot of asian accents, so I recommend them to find a lot of accessories for your dinner.
also, a cd of asian-inspired music would be really nice.
Make sure you have candles, and buy some fortune cookies too!! You gotta have those!
Have a wonderful night! Good luck!!