Dinner Delight

All I can say at this point is "wow" ... I have the best of intentions of getting this blog back up and running again and post one or two posts and then can't seem to get my mojo back.  Either life interferes or my menu just doesn't seem too inspiring and I figure no one wants to see pictures of boring meals.  (Or I honestly just run out of things to say ...)  So, here I go again, and we'll see if I can make it "stick" again.  I do miss blogging and the food blogging community - man how is grown!  Well, enough prelude, on to the actual post ...

This summer I spent 10 weeks working full time plus and it was an experience.  The good thing is I know I can do it - and really don't mind - but that leaves meal planning and cooking up to either chance or sheer luck.  This week I'm back to part time and had a menu but decided that what was on it I really didn't want.  Do you ever do that?  And if you do, do you suck it up and stick to it, or change it?

I had bought a pound of ground pork and was going to make won tons and egg rolls but decided I didn't really want to make them (they are extremely unhealthy, sigh, and I'm trying to get us to eat a little healthier).  The problem is there's not a whole lot of options for ground pork.  For such a mild meat, it's got a very distinctive taste to it that doesn't always make a good substitution for ground beef.  In comes this recipe for Thai Ground Pork Salad from Food & Wine.

I served it with white rice, an egg roll (one of the kind that is from the refrigerated section of the supermarket that you bake), and some California rolls.  Wrapped up in a lettuce leaf, topped with chopped peanuts, diced jalapenos, some Srirachi sauce, and a squeeze of lime, it was perfect for dinner - and everyone requested I make it again soon.  Yum!

 

 

I served it in small ramekins and let everyone make their own lettuce wraps.  Funny thing is Liam asked me to make more next time but yet there was still a small amount of pork in his bowl.  I would definitely recommend buying 2 heads of Boston Bibb lettuce though - one was barely enough for us and I halved the recipe using only one pound of ground pork.

Thai Ground Pork Salad
(courtesy of Food & Wine)

• 2 pounds ground pork
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 small shallots, minced (I used a white onion minced)
• 1 large jalapeno, seeded and minced, plus sliced jalapeno for garnish
• Juice of 1 lime, plus lime wedges, for serving
• 2 tablespoons Asian fish sauce
• 1 teaspoon light brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon Sriracha, plus more for serving
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 1/2 cup chopped cilantro
• 1/2 cup chopped mint
• 1/2 cup chopped basil
• Salt and freshly ground pepper
• 1 cup chopped salted peanuts
• 1 large head Boston or other leafy lettuce, separated into leaves

1. In a bowl, mix the pork, garlic, shallots and minced jalapeño. In a small bowl, whisk the lime juice, fish sauce, brown sugar and the 1 teaspoon of Sriracha.
2. In a skillet, heat the oil. Add the pork mixture and cook over high heat, stirring to break up the meat, until no pink remains, 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the lime juice mixture. Let stand for 5 minutes. Transfer the meat to a bowl; stir in the herbs. Season with salt and pepper. Top with the peanuts and sliced jalapeños. Serve with lime wedges, Sriracha and lettuce for wrapping.

Comments

[paula/the cookbook junkie]

I'm so used to checking your blog and not seeing a new post that I got really confused for a moment when I saw a new post. Welcome back!

Gotta love a salad made out of 2 pounds of meat LOL. That looks really good minus the fish sauce and the peanuts. I know I should try another brand of fish sauce before giving up on it but I'm not sure I'm ready yet. What brand do you like?

[Alisha]

Thanks for not giving up on me, Paula! I wish I could post more but can't seem to get the energy.

We're actually having this again this week which is a first in a long time. Is it the smell of the fish sauce you don't like? I can't stand it but don't mind it in things. I think the brand I used is taste of Thai. As for the peanuts they weren't necessary - so you could leave them out.