I’m here to tell you that an at-home Asian meal is 1,000x better than takeout. (And I love my takeout.) I’m sure that comes to you as no surprise, though, since homemade is almost always better. But if you’re reluctant like I was until recently about tackling a great homemade Asian dinner, this entire week is for you. I’m always trying to expand my horizons in the kitchen, and I immediately knew it was time to try my hand at my favorite type of takeout, Asian. And I’m not going to lie, I was especially inspired after peeking at this amazing dinnerware collection.
Sure over the years I’ve tried my hand at at-home asian. A stir fry vegetable dish here, some spicy shrimp dishes there, and I’ve definitely picked up a few tricks of the trade and favorite sauces along the way. When in doubt go Kung Pao. But for this spread, I wanted to push outside my comfort zone with some favorite restaurant dishes I’ve never tried tackling. For me that meant homemade vegetarian ramen, spicy vegan lettuce wraps (served on the perfect platter) and a lemongrass gin fizz cocktail with mint.
The vegetarian ramen recipe proved to be probably the simplest dish EVER to make…it’s really just noodles and broth with a whole lot of flavor. The spicy vegan lettuce wraps seriously can rival my beloved order from P.F. Changs, and the lemongrass mint cocktail is as refreshing as it is beautiful (especially in these festive gold tumbler glasses).
After making this feast, I’m convinced that takeout truly pales in comparison. I’ll be sharing a recipe each day, and starting today with my simple Asian-style grilled vegetables. Though I’ve got to be honest, I’m not sure there’s a need for an actual recipe, that’s how easy they are. All you need is a little toasted sesame oil, sesame seeds, and my favorite indoor grilling pans which are, side-note, a kitchen must for me. When I don’t want to brave the weather or take the time to heat up the grill, these pans are the solution. Anyway, let’s get our noodle on! Truly, MKR
P.S. I am just heartbroken that this gold bamboo flatware set is no longer available, who’s with me?! xo
- Varied vegetables such as baby bok choy, broccoli, broccolini, green onions
- Toasted sesame oil
- Sesame seeds for garnish (optional)
- Salt, pepper and cayenne
- Clean and wash vegetables. Slice or cut into large pieces for grilling.
- Spray grill pan with a non stick spray and heat on medium/high heat.
- Coat vegetables with 2-3 tablespoons of sesame oil, salt, pepper, and cayenne pepper if you like them spicy.
- Cook on grill pan, both sides, 3-5 minutes each side.
- Remove from grill pan and enjoy.
