Roasted Lamb Shoulder Recipe

Too many people tend to stay away from lamb because of its strong taste. I think that’s a mistake. If marinated properly, lamb is so flavorful, tender and juicy without being overpowering. The key is to use lots and lots of garlic, and my go-to meat tenderizer, green papaya (I can't be thankful enough for Lulu's late grandma's secret).


This particular recipe calls for a large chunk of lamb shoulder. To ensure that the meat doesn't burn at the bottom of the cocotte ("Dutch oven" in French) while roasting, I place carrots and par-boiled potatoes underneath so they catch all the delicious flavors from the roasted meat. Just thinking about it makes me drool!

Breaded Tofu: Tofu Parmesan Recipe

Tofu parmigiana is one of the many variations on meat dishes I make, so I'm able to share a similar meal with my husband Lulu, who is a vegetarian. The last time I prepared this dish was to celebrate our wedding anniversary with a romantic dinner. It was a perfect date-night menu: I had chicken and he had tofu.

For this version, I breaded firm tofu with Japanese bread crumbs (panko). First, I flavored the panko with dried oregano and garlic powder. Then, I pan-fried the panko-dredged tofu, layered it with a creamy tomato sauce and a few slices of fresh mozzarella cheese and topped it all with Parmesan cheese. The cheese finished melting in the oven, and with a garnish of sweet basil the dish was complete. I served it with a side of linguine pasta. I guarantee you this dish is as delicious as the meat version!

Pasta Patty Appetizer Recipe

Making pasta patties is my way of using left-over pasta. I made a very simple pasta dish mixing pre-cooked elbow macaroni, ricotta cheese, Parmesan cheese and eggs. I wanted to create a nice contrast of texture, so I breaded the pasta patties using panko bread crumbs from Asian Food Grocer and gave them a quick pan fry.

I served the crunchy patties with tomato sauce and a light green salad. This is a great light meal for lunch, and can be put together very quickly if you have leftover cooked pasta on hand.

Ca Chung Tuong Recipe (Vietnamese Steamed Fish in Spicy Black Beans)

Cá chưng tương, which literally translates to "steamed fish in black bean sauce," is a staple Vietnamese seafood dish. It's placed in the oven and steamed on a bed of vegetables. It's seasoned so that the spicy, salted black bean mixture covers any fish smell while also infusing a ton of flavor.

A lot of Vietnamese cooking techniques are inspired by French cuisine because Vietnam was a longtime colony of the French empire. This dish is no exception. The whole fish is steamed, papillote-style in aluminum foil that acts like a steam chamber. The pocket infuses the fish with the flavor of the salty black beans. In addition to the black beans, I added fresh ginger, green onions and chiles. To prevent the fish from burning in the oven, I placed the whole salmon on a bed of fresh oyster mushrooms and thick slices of onions and carrots. Thin vermicelli noodles cover the fish to absorb any moisture.

I’d like to give a very special thanks to our awesome neighbor Tom for providing us the fresh fish in this dish. Tom is an avid fisherman in his spare time and graciously offered us his latest, impressive catch: a beautiful whole 2-½ pounds salmon.

Lentil Patties in Lavash Wrap (+ Giveaway)

Getting creative with sandwiches usually means changing the combination of meats, cheeses, veggies or sauces used. Another way to go is to use a different kind of bread. I’ve tried making sandwiches with naans in the past, and they turned out fabulously. So when our friend Lilea from California Lavash sent us packages of soft, thin, out-of-this-world lavash bread, I decided to make sandwich wraps with it. Fresh lavash bread is flexible and doesn’t tear so I tightly rolled up each lavash around the filling into a cone, folded the bottom and secured the wrap into a small glass cup.

For the filling, I used left-over mashed potato curry, tomatoes, lentil patties (for a vegetarian version), blue cheese, yogurt sauce and alfalfa sprouts for freshness. If you want to serve the same treats for your family, Pham Fatale and California Lavash have put together a giveaway this week. Just click the "like" button below and you’re entered in the contest! At the end of the week, we’ll pick three winners at random who will win two bags of whole wheat, original, spinach and pizza lavash. And check back again this week to see what else I do with lavash. Good Luck!