Romantic Recipes for Two

This is a wonderful one course meal in itself. It's also good for hot summer meals, or a light dinner, as well as a wonderful romantic dinner for two. Can be served with a light white wine if desired, and follow the meal with a pot of Jasmine Tea.

The Webmistress's Oriental Chicken Salad

1 bunch leaf lettuce (cut or tear each leaf into halves or quarters depending on size)
1 package rice vermicelli
2 fully cooked boneless chicken breasts, shredded
1 grated fresh carrot
1/2 cup crushed unsalted roasted peanuts
1 small fresh cucumber julienne cut (dispose of the seeds)
1 half cup fresh cilantro
fresh mint leaves (optional)
2 green onions sliced thinly, greens included
4 cherry tomatoes cut into quarters

Boil the rice vermicelli until tender. Should be like "al dente" when done. Drain and chill. Arrange the leaf lettuce in a circle covering both plates. Place approxiamately one cup of the chilled vermicelli on top of lettuce on each plate. On the top of the vermicelli, place the shredded chicken breast. One breast for each plate. On top of that place the julienned cucumber. To both plates now add the cilantro, dividing it evenly among both plates. Sprinkle the finley sliced green onions over both and then top with the grated carrot. Add a couple of leaves to the top of each stack as a garnish, and sprinkle the peanuts all over each salad. Place quartered cherry tomatoes around the edges of the salad on each plate. Pour dressing over the salad and serve. Use as much as you normally would any salad dressing. This can also be served in bowls for ease of mixing together when eating.

Dressing

One half cup Nuoc Mam (fish sauce)
one cup water
1/4 cup sugar (more or less to taste)
4 cloves miced garlic (fresh is best)
6 green oninons minced.

Garlic and onions can be minced together in a small bowl with sugar and then added to the water and sauce. To this add the juice of one whole lemon freshly squeezed. Again, more or less to taste. Now add aproxiamately one to two teaspoons fresh ground chilli pepper paste. Mix thouroughly and chill. Pour over the top of the salad when ready to serve.

Back to the Recipe Index