'Eat a Bowl of Tea' Love Bites Recipes and Photos

In honor of Valentine's Day, and to accompany the film 'Eat a Bowl of Tea', this month's menu is a suite of tasty morsels that I call Love Bites, little dishes that can be eaten with chopsticks and fed to your Valentine one bite at a time. The menu includes Shrimp Summer Rolls, Velvet Crab in Crispy Wonton Cups, Shrimp Toast, Mushu Spring Rolls, Crispy Duck, and Orange Chicken.

 

 

1 cup tiny bay shrimp

1 carrot, coarsely grated

1 cucumber, finely julienned
12 large rice paper wrappers, trimmed to 5" square

 

Divide the shrimp, carrots, and cucumbers into 12 equal portions. Fill a large shallow dish with about ½ inch of lukewarm water and soak the rice paper wrappers one at a time until they are soft and flexible. Gently lift the wrapper out of the water, and hold it over the dish to drain off excess water.

 

Lay the wrapper on a clean plate, point down in a diamond shape. Distribute and arrange one portion of the shrimp, carrots, and in the center of the wrapper. Fold the wrapper upwards to cover the filling. Fold the left and right sides inward toward the center, and snugly roll the wrapper and filling toward the upper edge. The rice paper wrapper will stick to itself to form a sealed roll. Try to roll as tightly as possible, taking care not to tear the wrapper. Repeat the process for the other wrappers. Serve with Nuoc Cham dipping sauce.

 

 

1/4 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup nuoc mam (nam pla) Asian fish sauce
1 cup fresh lime juice
2 cloves of garlic, finely diced
1 small fresh chili pepper, finely diced, seeds and membranes removed.

 

Mix all ingredients together and allow to stand for 1 hour (or overnight in the refrigerator) to marry flavors.

 

 

 

 

 

 

3/4 pound shrimp, shelled, deveined, and minced into a fine paste
4 water chestnuts, finely chopped
2 green onions, finely chopped
1 teaspoon grated ginger
1 teaspoon Chinese rice wine
1 egg, lightly beaten
2 teaspoons cornstarch

 

12 slices white bread, crusts removed
Vegetable oil for deep-frying

 

Preheat oven broiler. Combine all shrimp paste ingredients in a mixing bowl. Cut each slice of bread in half diagonally. (You may also use cookie cutters to form more intersting shapes). Using a tablespoon, spread the shrimp paste thinly and evenly over the surface of each bread triangle and press with the back of the spoon to ensure that the shrimp paste sticks firmly to the bread. Place the shrimp toasts on a baking sheet, and broil in the oven until shrimp paste is slightly pink, about 2 to 3 minutes, checking frequently to prevent overbrowning. Remove from the oven and set aside.

 

 
Mushu Spring Rolls

 

1 tablespoon sesame oil

1/2 lb ground pork
2 scallions, finely chopped

1 clove garlic, finely minced
1 cup Napa cabbage, finely shredded
1 tablespoon ginger root, finely shredded

1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 tablespoon hoisin sauce
2 teaspoons Chinese rice wine
1 teaspoon cornstarch

 

36 Mini wonton wrappers

Vegetable Oil for deep-frying

 

Heat the sesame oil in a wok. Add ground pork and stir fry until done, about 5 minutes. Add scallions, garlic, ginger, and cabbage, and stir-fry until tender, about 5 minutes. Add hoisin sauce, rice wine, and corn starch, and simmer until liquid is thickened. Remove from the heat and allow the filling to cool.

 

Place each wonton wrapper point down, in a diamond shape. Spoon a tablespoon of filling across the center of the wrapper. Fold the bottom point upward around the filling. Fold in the left and right points toward the center to enclose the ends, and roll snugly toward the upper point. Moisten the upper point with warm water and press to seal.

 

Heat the oil in a wok to 375 degrees. Deep-fry the spring rolls two or three at a time, turning once, until golden brown on both sides. Remove promptly and drain on layers of paper towels. Serve hot with Hoisin Sauce.

 

Crispy Duck

 

4 boneless duck breasts

 

To prepare the sauce, combine all ingredients in a small saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer until thickened. Allow to cool.

 

Rinse the duck pieces and pat dry. Using a metal skewer, pierce the skin of each piece in several places at a horizontal angle, being careful not to pierce the meat. Fold the edges of the skin around the meat and place skin side up on a wire rack in a shallow roasting pan. Cover and roast at 375 degrees for 25 to 35 minutes, until meat reaches desired doneness, from medium rare to medium well, depending on individual preference. For crispy skin, switch to the broiler for the last 5 minutes, checking frequently to avoid burning. Remove from the oven, allow to cool and slice into thin strips. 

 

 

 

Vegetable oil for deep-frying

 

Combine egg white, cornstarch, biscuit mix and water, and stir to form a smooth batter. Add chicken and stir thoroughly to coat. Heat oil in a wok or skillet to 365 degrees. Carefully drop chicken pieces into the oil one at a time without overcrowding the pan. Fry until golden brown on both sides, turning once. Remove from oil and drain on layers of paper towels.

 

Transfer chicken pieces to a mixing bowl and drizzle with orange sauce. Toss gently to coat. Serves 4.