"Always eyeing her next meal" -- that may be what’s on my headstone. Cooking is about planning and along with that, the anticipation of the next chance to eat something delicious. Or, the next occasion to treat someone to a favorite dish. But let’s face it, 2021 will continue to be low-key in terms of Labor Day festivities. We have plenty of future Labor Day weekends to celebrate with friends.
That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t cook something wonderful. I plan to keep things simple. We all need a break, less stress and more happiness. That’s what I contemplated as I selected the following fifteen (15) recipes for your consideration. They’re fun and doable with accessible ingredients. We’re cooking in exciting times because ingredients for preparing Asian foods are closer at hand.
From main dishes and salads to sides and pickles -- keep these ideas in your back pocket as you ponder and plot your Labor Day long weekend fun.
Low Lift, Big Payoff Mains
Thai Black Pepper Chicken Skewers - What was Southeast Asian food like before chiles arrived? Plenty exciting. Peppercorns were around, which explains why they star in these fantastic skewers (at the top of this post). Yes, the skewer recipe is doable with grocery store ingredients! Check the recipe for details.
Easy Chinese Barbecue Pork Ribs - One of my favorites from a great cookbook by the inimitable Joyce Chen. Yes, her ribs recipe is incredibly easy and stood the test of time. Give it a whirl.
Pok Pok Thai Pork Ribs - With white pepper and nutmeg, these ribs by Andy Ricker are incredibly tasty, especially with the piquant sauce. Add the ribs recipe to your menu.
Grilled Pork Belly Lettuce Wraps - This Korean-Vietnamese collaboration was informed and inspired by a trip to a Korean market with Hyunjoo Albrecht, a Bay Area Korean food expert and owner of Sinto Gourmet kimchi. The recipe isn’t a gut buster because the pork belly is balanced with the raw accompaniments. Give the recipe a try.
Grilled Pho Beef Tri-Tip - In California, grilling tri-tip is a thing. It is a lovely thing that tastes great when simply seasoned with salt and pepper. But if you apply a Viet-ish spice rub, it becomes a wonderful expression of Vietness in the Golden State. The pho beef tri-tip recipe is terrific as a main, but do save leftovers for banh mi sandwiches, a beef pho topping, or topper for the jicama salad right below.
Grilled Beef and Jicama Salad - Vietnamese cooks usually pair grilled beef with green mango or papaya. I went with readily available crunchy jicama for this modern take on Vietnamese salads. Grab the easy low down.
Grilled Hoisin Glazed Chicken Wings - Yes, you can have wonderful wings and without frying or heating up the oven! The hoisin-glazed wings get a bit of edge when grilled. Take flight with the recipe.
Easygoing Sides
Sweetened Condensed Milk Rolls - These rolls are easy to make, eat and reheat. They were popular last year and would be great alongside and grilled morsels you prepare. Bake up the SCM rolls!
Malaysian Herb and Rice Salad - A great way to use summer’s bounty of fresh herbs, nasi ulam is a recipe I return to yearly. It’s a great way to use leftover rice and is served at room temperature. Go for it.
My Lazy Day Caesar Salad - The long weekend is for lounging. This casual caesar salad includes fish sauce in the dressing. I adore the croutons but if you want to skip it, make the caesar salad recipe without the bready bits.
Grilled Okra - No worrying about slime when you grill up okra! I’ve been cooking them that way for years. You don’t need a formal recipe but there are some tips in the okra recipe to keep in mind.
Pickles for Labor Day
Green Tomato Pickle - I used to steal tomatoes from unsuspecting neighbors but now, a kind neighbor, Ellen, gifts me hers. My mom adores this green tomato pickle as a summer time treat. Put up a jar or two.
Sweet Pickle Relish - Deviled eggs and hotdogs will get a lovely lift with homemade pickle relish. For that fact, anything grilled will too! I think of sweet pickle relish like a chutney and will plop a bit on my plate to swipe savories through. Prepare a jar of it.
Quick Green Mango Pickle - Even with my not reading a recipe well, this Indian pickle turned out tasty!
Stein’s NY Half-Sour Pickles - From Richard Stein, avid gardener and former host of a food radio show on KPLU in Seattle, this old fashioned pickle is just delicious. It takes a week to mature so get going! Stein’s pickle is terrific in banh mi, with cold cuts or just plainly for nibbling.
Hope these ideas stimulate your senses and lead you into the kitchen.
Jen says
Where can I find recipe for that chicken in stixk o first photo?
Andrea Nguyen says
It was linked in text and points to here: https://www.vietworldkitchen.com/blog/2018/10/thai-black-pepper-chicken-skewers-recipe.html
Sorry for the delayed response, Jen!
DB says
You never cease to amaze1 is there another name for tri=tip? Kind regards to you and your family.
Andrea Nguyen says
Thank you!!! Another name for tri-tip is bottom sirloin. It's usually cut as a triangle so you can identify it. Sometimes the cut is sliced into steaks.