Monthly Archives: March 2011

Smoked BBQ Pork Chops (From the Oven!)

March 29, 2011 Filled under Beef, Lamb, and Pork, One Pan, Reviews
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Every summer for the past few years, I’ve thought about buying a smoker for the back yard. It seems like it would be so much fun! But every year, summer ends and I’m still smoker-less. I’ve experimented with smoking things using my gas grill, but it’s just not the same.

Which is why I was so excited to see “Smoker Bags” at my last trip to Fresh Market. These bags promise smoked meats and vegetables right from your oven. It sounded too good to be true, but for $2.99 I couldn’t resist.

I made a quick garlicky BBQ rub for some pork loin chops, diced some potatoes, and let the bag work it’s magic. I have to admit, I was very impressed with the results. As promised, everything was infused with a subtle hickory flavor — enough to be detectable, but definitely not overpowering. The meat was juicy and tender and reminded me a lot of ribs (minus the fat)!

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The concept behind these bags is pretty neat — wood chips and wood “syrup” are encased between heavy layers of foil and let off smoke when heated. You just fill the bag with whatever you want smoked, seal it up, and pop it in the oven. After about an hour you cut the bag open,marvel at the smoke that escapes, and enjoy your dinner. There’s virtually no mess, and the bags have a ton of room – I wish I had thought ahead and made some chicken for the next night too.
These bags take a little more time than I generally like to spend on a weeknight meal, but since it was also one of the easiest meals I’ve made in a long time, I didn’t mind at all — especially since the result was so delicious.
(I unfortunately don’t remember the name of the bag that I bought — does anyone recognize it?) but a Google search shows a few similar products.
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Thai Chicken Sandwiches with Ginger & Sambal Oelek

March 21, 2011 Filled under Asian, Chicken and Poultry, Light, Sandwiches, Thai
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Served with spring mix and endamame dressed with wasabi vinaigrette, this Thai Chicken Sandwich has recently become one of my favorite things to make for a nice lunch or a quick dinner. I can’t get enough! A simple ginger, lime, and sesame marinade ensure there’s a ton of flavor in every bite and I love the contrast between the fiery chili sauce and the cool, crisp cucumbers. And that’s really all there is to say about it.

Sambal Oelek is a chili paste that is similar in flavor to sriracha, but thicker and less vinegary (you can find it in the Asian aisle of most grocery stores). This stuff is basically pure chili pepper, so it has some pretty serious heat — a little goes a long way! Start with a very small amount and add more to taste. I like a lot of spice and use about a quarter and teaspoon on my sandwiches.

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Thai Chicken Sandwich with Ginger & Sambal Oelek
Serves 2.

  • 1 Tbs chopped fresh Ginger
  • 1 clove Garlic, minced
  • 1/2 tsp Lime Zest
  • 1 tsp Sesame Oil
  • 2 Tbs Lime Juice
  • 2 small Chicken Breasts*
  • 2 Whole Wheat Sandwich Rolls
  • Sambal Oelek, Sliced Cucumber, and Lettuce for serving

In a shallow dish, combine the ginger, garlic, lime zest, sesame oil, and lime juice to form a thin paste. Add the chicken breasts and toss to coat. Cover and let marinate for at least 15 minutes.

Heat a grill pan over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and cook for 4 minutes on each side, or until cooked through.

Serve on a roll with lettuce, sambal oelek, and cucumber.

*Instead of buying a package of small chicken breasts, I like to pick one larger breast out of the case. I then split it widthwise (almost as though I was butterflying it, but I keep going to cut all the way through) to get two servings. This leaves plenty of surface area for the marinade, and the thinner cut cooks up quickly.