Fried Plantains

Time: 15 minutes
Servings: 4

* 2 ripe plantains
* 1/2 cup of oil
* salt (optional)


1. Peel the plantains & cut diagonally in 1/4- inch thick slices.

2. Deep fry the plantains until golden brown. Sprinkle a little salt for flavor. Serve immediately.

Arroz con Maiz

A recipe from the Dominican Republic.

Time: 35 Mins
Servings: 8

* 4 cups rice
* 1/2 cup of sweet corn
* 1 cube bullion of vegetable stock
* 1/2 cup of pineapple cut into small cubes
* 5 cups water of boiling water
* 5 spoons of oil
* Salt

1. Heat 3 tablespoons of oil. Add the corn, vegetable stock cube & pineapple. Stir until the cube has dissolved. Add the rice & mix well. When everything is well mixed add the boiling water. Salt to taste.

2. Stir regularly to avoid excessive sticking. When all the water has evaporated, cover with a tight fitting lid & simmer on very low heat. Wait 15 minutes & uncover. Stir, add the remaining oil & cover again. Wait another 5 minutes. Try the rice, it should be firm but tender inside.

3. If necessary, cover and leave another 5 minutes on very low heat.

Tofu and Beansprout Fritters

This dish is called Bakwan Tahu in Indonesia.

* 1 chopped onion
* 4 cloves garlic, finely chopped
* 1 tsp ground corriander
* 1 lb firm tofu
* 3 tbsp finely chopped parsley
* 1 tsp salt
* 1/4 tsp chili powder or freshly ground pepper
* 1/2 cup beansprouts
* 1 egg, beaten
* 2-3 tbsp all-purpose flour
* 1 tsp baking powder
* about 1 cup peanut oil

1. Heat 2 or 3 tbsp of the oil in a wok or frying pan. Fry onion & garlic, stirring the whole time, for 3 minutes or until just turning light brown.

2. Put the onion & garlic (without the oil) into a glass bowl & leave to get cold. Keep the in the pan. When they are cold, put the rest of the ingredients, except the oil, into the bowl & mash with a wooden spoon, mixing everything together.

3. Put the rest of the oil into the frying pan that contains the little bit of oil left for frying the onion. Heat.

4. When the oil is hot, drop a spoonful of the tofu mixture into it, then 3 or 4 more. Fry until golden brown. Take out the fritters with a slotted spoon & drain them on an absorbant paper towel. Finish frying the rest of the mixture in this manner.

Gallo Pinto

A recipe from Costa Rica!

servings: 4-6

* 2 tbsp canola oil
* 1 small onion, finely chopped
* 2 cloves garlic, minced
* 3 cups cooked white rice
* 2 cups cooked black beans, drained and rinsed
* 1 tsp ground cumin
* 1 tsp ground corriander
* 1/2 tsp ground ginger
* 2-3 tbsp vegetarian worcestershire sauce (we substituted Supreme Garlic flavored A1 Steak Sauce because it had many of the same ingredients)
* salt & freshly ground black pepper
* fresh cilantro
* sliced green onion

1. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat.

2. Add onion & saute until it begins to soften and turn translucent. Add garlic. Saute for 5 more minutes, or until onion is golden.

3. Add spices & worcestershire. Stir.

4. Add the beans & then the rice. Cook until mixture is heated through.

5. Add salt & pepper to taste. Serve hot. Garnish with cilantro & green onions.

Korean Vegetarian Dumplings

servings: makes 50 dumplings

* 2 10-oz packages firm tofu
* 1 medium onion, finely chopped
* 1 leek, chopped
* 2 green onions, finely chopped
* 2 garlic cloves, minced
* 2 tsp sesame oil
* 2 tsp salt
* 1 tsp black pepper
* 50 dumpling wrappers
* vegetable oil for frying

1. Press the excess water from the tofu. Crumble the tofu and place in a large mixing bowl.

2. Add remaining ingredients (except the wrappers and vegetable oil) & combine until mixed.

3. Pour some cold water in a small bowl for dipping.

4. To make the dumplings, place a wrapper in the palm of your hand. Spoon enough filling into the middle to leave about 1/2 inch of empty wrapper. Dip your finger in the cold water & wet 1/2 the edges of the wrapper, then fold in half & press to seal it. Repeat with all of the wrappers.

5. Pour enough vegetable oil to cover the bottom of a pan & heat over medium heat. Place several dumplings in the pan, but don't let them touch. Fry until golden brown & crispy on one side, them flip them and cook all sides until golden & crispy all over. Cook all dumplings, adding more oil as needed.

Quick Kimchi

A Korean recipe!

*2 Nappa cabbages
*1 medium Asian radish
*1/4 cup coarse sea salt or kosher salt
* water
*4 green onions, sliced into pieces about 1 inch long
*5 garlic cloves, minced
*2 tablespoons fresh ginger, minced
* 2 tablespoons chili powder

1. Wash the leaves of the cabbage & cut them into about 2-inch lengths. Peel the radish & halve it lengthwise down the center, cut lengthwise again, & then slice into 1/2-inch thin squares.

2. Dissolve salt in 1 cup water. Place the vegetables in a large bowl and pour the salt water over them. Let soak for at least 6 hours or overnight.

3. The next day, drain the vegetables & retain the salty water. Add the green onions, garlic, ginger, & chili powder. Mix the vegetable by hand (you might want to use gloves so the chili doesn't stain your hands). Pack into a 1-gallon jar (or an appropriate amount of smaller jars). Pour the salted water over the mixture. Leave about an inch of space on top of the jar.

4. Let sit about 2 or 3 days, depending on how fermented you like your kimchi. Refrigerate after opening.

Cantonese-style Fried Rice

Servings: 3-5
Prep time: about 20 min

*2 or 3 eggs
*2 tsp salt
*1/2 tsp dry sherry
*2 tbsp onion, minced
*5 tbsp cooking oil
*4 cups cooked rice
*1 tsp Chinese brown gravy syrup or 1/2 tsp Kitchen Boquet or Gravy Master
*1 cup bean sprouts or the shredded thick part of lettuce as a substitute

1. Beat eggs with salt & sherry.
2. Heat oil in wok over medium-high heat. Stir in onion then egg mixture. Scramble and break into pieces until quite dry.
3. Add rice, gravy & bean sprouts. Stir constantly until the ingredients are well blended & thoroughly heated (about 8 to 10 minutes).

Note: 1/2 cup of diced or shredded meat or fake meat can be added with rice, if you want.

Note: Never use soy sauce because it makes the rice too soft.

Note: Fried rice is the way Chinese use leftover rice, so its fine to use day-old rice for this recipe.