The last two days I've been nursing a very sore arm caused by a dramatic prat fall onto my tile floor. And to think I actually wanted a tile floor. They're evil. I've already had a nasty experience with the tile floor 6 years ago, when I slipped and fell, tearing the meniscus in my knee. Basically, the same thing happened on Friday, only this time I fell face down, banging my "bad" shoulder severely. The bad shoulder is a story in itself, acquired when I injured it years ago playing competitive tennis. Ever since then, my shoulder will erupt into hideous tendonitis if I so much as lift a pencil the wrong way. Naturally, the bad shoulder is punishing me now, so I haven't felt like cooking this weekend. But I've been thinking of a dish I made last week called Ginger Chicken. Ginger supposedly has restorative powers, and I could use that now. The dish was also delicious, so that's reason enough to have it again.
Why do I keep falling on my tile? Because I'm an idiot! Look up the word idiot in a dictionary and you'll find a picture of me falling on my tile floor. (Actually, I confess that this was the third time I've done a half gainer onto the tile.) Anyway, on to a better subject--this wonderful ginger chicken recipe. It was delicious and very simple to make.
The recipe claims it will serve four people, which is absurd. It will
serve two people nicely, with rice. I loved the way this dish tasted.
It combines fish sauce, red pepper flakes, caramel sauce (yes), garlic,
and a large amount of ginger.
Ginger Chicken (Food & Wine)
Note: If the amount of the ginger seems excessive, add half of it, as the recipe describes, as the dish is cooking. Then add half of the remaining ginger just before your serve it. Taste to see if you would like more ginger. If you do, add the rest of the ginger.
ingredients
2 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons sugar
1/3 cup plus 1/4 cup hot water
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 Thai red chiles, chopped, or 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper
1 garlic clove, minced
One 4-inch piece of fresh ginger, peeled and cut into slivers
1 pound skinless, boneless chicken thighs, cut into 3-by-1-inch pieces
1 1/2 tablespoons Asian fish sauce
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 small onion, cut into thin wedges
2 scallions, cut into 2-inch lengths
6 cilantro sprigs, cut into 1-inch lengths
directions
1. In a small heavy saucepan, cook 2 tablespoons of the sugar over moderate heat until bubbling and beginning to brown around the edges, 4 minutes. Gradually stir in 1/3 cup of the hot water and simmer for 3 minutes to dissolve the caramel. Remove from the heat.
2. Heat the oil in a casserole. Add the chiles, garlic and half of the ginger and stir-fry over moderate heat until fragrant, about 20 seconds. Add the chicken, fish sauce, salt and the remaining 2 teaspoons of sugar and stir until the chicken turns white, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the onion wedges, the remaining 1/4 cup of hot water and the caramel sauce and bring to a boil. Cover, reduce the heat to low and simmer until the chicken is cooked through and the sauce is slightly thickened, about 8 minutes. Add the scallions and cook for 3 minutes longer. Stir in the remaining ginger and remove the pot from the heat. Garnish with the cilantro and serve.
The chicken looks delicious, as for the tile floor, what kind of shoes are you wearing, and don't you think you might need to put down some mats on the rubber grippy things? My mother keeps asking me to put in a tile floor in her kitchen and this is exactly why I keep putting it off. (she's pushing 70 and just had her ACL done last year).
Posted by: steven | June 05, 2006 at 06:32 AM
mmmmmmmm.....beautiful!
Take care of yourself!
Posted by: Glenna | June 05, 2006 at 07:21 AM
Awww, poor Sher! I hope your various sore body parts are on the mend! I know what it's like to have old injuries flare up--my broken ankle from last year is sore as I write this, just because the weather is humid! Stupid body, always betraying us!
Posted by: Shannon | June 05, 2006 at 08:22 AM
Steven,
Yes, I was talking to a friend yesterday about getting different shoes. I forgot to mention that these falls always involve small amounts of water being on the tile. The shoes I wear are those hiking sandals. You would think they would grip better--but I think the design is made for hiking on dirt and rocks--not wet tile. So, I need a different shoe for the house. DON"T let you mom get the tile.
Glenna,
Thank you. I'm going to start using trekker poles around the house. :):)
Shannon,
Once you injure yourself it's like a car that gets body work. It may look OK, but it's never the same. My knee was operated on to repair the meniscus, but it's developed arthritis now and I walk like an old lady during the rainy season. Oh well--I could have much worse problems than this--so I should just deal with it and not whine.
Posted by: sher | June 05, 2006 at 09:28 AM
Sher,
oh dear, please take care! and hope your shoulder will get better very soon! My previous house had tiles in kitchen, just a drop of water on it could cause me a bad fall!
Btw, your chicken dish looks very authetic and delicious!
Posted by: gattina | June 05, 2006 at 01:33 PM
Such a great recipe, and of course, an awesome picture. I too bit the dust this weekend, this time in my garage, tripping over our pool cover, which my husband was washing in the driveway. I have a lovely skinned elbow and knee. Hope you aren't too wounded!
Posted by: kristi | June 05, 2006 at 03:22 PM
Sounds yummy ! Take care of yourself.
-Sonali
Posted by: Sonali | June 05, 2006 at 05:29 PM
Gattina,
Yes, that was what caused my fall--a few drops of water!!! Scary!!
Kristi,
Yikes, we don't want you to fall--it's you and Beastie that would go through that.
Sonali,
Thank you. I'm watching my step. :)
Posted by: sher | June 06, 2006 at 12:06 PM
Sorry to hear about your fall! This chicken looks fabulous, and I love ginger so much that I doubt if the amount called for will seem too much. I'm uncertain about fish sauce, though. Hate to say I've never used it, so I'm not sure what the flavor is. Why don't I try this recipe and find out? Good idea.
I see this comes from Food & Wine; I got a subscription to the mag for my birthday and am eagerly looking forward to the first one.
Posted by: Lisa | June 06, 2006 at 01:51 PM
that chicken looks delish!! I love ginger so it's definitely got my vote! I think ill be making this recipe sometime soon.
BTW hope you get better quickly : )
Posted by: jenjen | June 10, 2006 at 02:34 PM
That looks really yummy, I can almost smell the ginger !! Hope your feeling better!
Posted by: Pamela | June 15, 2006 at 06:31 AM
Lisa,
Sorry not to answer sooner! Fish sauce is one of those great Asian flavors that combine with others beautifully, and complement contrasting tastes. I love it.
JenJen,
Thank you, I am feeling better, just a little ache in my shoulder.
Pamela,
Oh, I really do love this dish because of the ginger. I always feel better after eating something with ginger.
Posted by: sher | June 16, 2006 at 12:05 AM