Chipotle Chicken Burrito Recipe

The best part of chicken burrito is the flavor bursting from the spicy chicken. I first soaked the chicken in buttermilk to guarantee tenderness, then tossed the chicken in a sweet and spicy chipotle sauce. I got inspired by Chipotle's cilantro-lime rice, which pairs perfectly with the chicken. I also added a small amount of black beans (I'm not a huge fan), sour cream, baby spinach and shredded cheddar cheese.

I think I went a little over-board with the over-stuffed burrito. I don't how many calories are packed in this meal, but we ended up cutting each burrito in half. I've recently been craving spicy food and this meal fits the bill. I think I've mentioned it in the past; before I got married, I could barely tolerate the spiciness from a dash of black pepper or heaven forbid a chipotle pepper! Now, being married to Lulu, I crave a hint of chiles. Ah, what we do for love!

Duck Noodle Soup Recipe

Roasted duck soup combines succulent roast duck with an incredibly flavorful broth. I cook the roasted duck remnants with beef bones and let them simmer for hours until the broth is sweet and delicious. I then complete the soup phở-style. By that, I mean, egg noodles are quickly boiled, then covered with the broth. The soup is finished with pieces of roasted duck, steamed bok choy and bean sprouts for extra crunch.

To me, the key to making great soup is to focus on the broth. It takes a lot of patience to get the flavor of the broth just right, but I think it's so worth it.

Banh Xeo Recipe

The exact translation of bánh xèo is a "sizzling cake that is deflating". The crêpe-shaped dish is made out rice flour, coconut milk and other herbs and spices. It's a lot thicker than the French version but equally delicious.

Bánh xèo is a specialty from Saigon, the region where my "Papa" comes from. When I was young back in France, I remember we would have family gathering every weekend with all my dad's family at Ông nội's (my paternal grandfather's home). Uncle Philippe (Chú mười) would be in charge of the cooking and he would make the most delicious bánh xèos, just like the ones available in the streets of Saigon. And now it's become one of our family's favorites. I try to make them when we have time on weekends and it's always a hit. As usual, I made one veggie version, as well as one filled with grilled meat and shrimp. These are great options, but the filling is really up to you!

Ga Kho Gung Recipe (Vietnamese Ginger Chicken)

Ginger chicken, called "gà kho gừng" in Vietnamese, is a very flavorful caramelized chicken dish. Like many Vietnamese dishes, ginger chicken is a quick and easy meat entree to make when I'm in a hurry. The caramel is formed with honey and coconut soda, the chicken is coated until slightly browned and finally the dish is flavored with shredded fresh ginger.

This time, in addition to the jasmine rice that we always have ready in the rice cooker, I served some greens alongside the chicken. The result is an almost effortless, delicious meal. I like that!

Pomegranate Chicken Recipe

I've been wanting to cook with pomegranates for some time, but for some reason I keep postponing the experiment. We've harvested a lot of sweet, juicy and delicious pomegranates in the last 4-5 months , but what can I say, I'm a procrastinator, so I’ve waited until the very last fruit ripened on our tree to give it a shot. I should learn from my mother-in-law, who has been diligently extracting the juice for my father-in-law regularly this winter.

Like I said, I only had one fruit, so I used it as garnish for a chicken dish. To reinforce the pomegranate flavor, I made a glaze for the chicken with pomegranate paste, sumac and orange juice. The acidity of the fruit is an unconventional meat tenderizer, but very effective. The chicken came out moist, flavorful and succulent. It’s definitely worth making again, and not waiting till the last minute to do so!