Many people have started cooking with quinoa because it’s considered to be healthier than rice or pasta. Tonight we’re learning how to make it Pad Thai style. Let’s grab a Bite with Belkys.
The Chef: Ryan Smith
The Restaurant: Ice Box Cafe on South Beach
The Dish: Pad Thai Quinoa
Ingredients:
- 2 Cups Quinoa
- 6 cups of water
- 1 tbs. extra sesame oil
- 1/2 tbs. salt
- 1/2 head Napa cabbage
- 10 snow peas
- 1 medium carrot
- 1/2 white onion
- 1/2 lb. shiitake mushrooms
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup low sodium soy sauce
- 2 tbs. fish sauce
- 2 tbs. Sambal Oelek
- 2 tbs. Tamarind glaze
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 2 tsp. sesame oil
- 2 Salmon filets
Method of Preparation:
- Start by boiling water, then add salt. Add Quinoa and cook until water is absorbed- about 20 minutes. Fluff and set aside.
- While the Quinoa is cooking, julienne your veggies.
- In a sauté pan, heat sesame oil on high and add carrots and onions. Cook for a minute, then add the snow peas, cabbage and shiitake mushrooms. Sauté for about two minutes.
- -Make an open area in the middle of the pan so that your veggies form a ring around the edge. Add two eggs and scramble them in the center of the pan. Once they’ve started to scramble mix them in with the vegetables.
- Now, add the cooked Quinoa and 1/4 cup of Pad Thai Sauce.
- To make the Pad Thai sauce from scratch- mix 1 cup soy sauce, 2 tbs. fish sauce, 2 tbs. Sambal Oelek sauce, 2 tbs. Tamarind glaze, 1/4 cup sugar, 2 tsp sesame oil and puree in a blender or food processor until well blended. You can also buy Pad Thai sauce from your local Asian supermarket- or find it in the ethnic food section of your grocery store. Mix well and let cook for another minute or so.
- Sprinkle in toasted peanuts and give it a stir.
- For salmon, heat a separate pan on high and sear the salmon flesh side down for one minute. Turn the fish over and top with crushed Wasabi peas and place in a 375 degree oven and cook for about ten minutes.
To Plate:
Drizzle Pad Thai sauce on a plate and mound Quinoa in the center. Drizzle with 1 tbs. of Pad Thai Sauce. Serve as a main course, or top Quinoa with a filet of Wasabi Salmon and serve.
Serving suggestion: Pink Elephant Martini
Serves: 2
Icebox Cafe
1855 Purdy Ave
Miami Beach, FL 33139
(305) 538-8448