TOPAZ HORIZON

But hey, eating shouldn’t just be about filling your stomach. Good food can work wonders for the soul – and your ego – since you’re actually going to do this. A quick scan through The Maya Kitchen’s trove of recipes has provided these 2 simple ways to transform your instant meals into tastier, healthier, and over-all, fancier dishes. Let’s get down to business! 

From canned tuna to Italian sandwich!

This Chili Corned Tuna Salad in Panini Toast provides a yummy twist to your canned staple. And you can do this in just 3 steps! Start by mixing drained corned canned tuna with celery, onion, pickle relish, mayonnaise, chili powder, salt, and pepper in a bowl. Lay thin cuts of cucumber and red onion on top of a slice of toasted batard bread. Lastly, spread the tuna salad mixture onto the bread. Enjoy it by yourself or share the hefty servings!

CHILI CORNED TUNA SALAD IN PANINI TOAST

1 can corned tuna, 380 grams, drained

2 tablespoons celery, chopped

1 piece red onion, sliced or chopped

3 tablespoons pickle relish

3 tablespoons mayonnaise

1 teaspoon chili powder

salt and pepper to taste

3 pairs prepared buttered batard bread slices, pressed in panini machine

cucumber, thinly sliced

red onion, thinly sliced

1. In a bowl, put and mix together drained tuna, celery, onion, pickle relish, mayonnaise, and chili powder. Season with salt and pepper. Set aside. 

2. Get a piece of toasted batard bread and lay pieces on top, thinly slices of cucumber and red onion slices. 

3. Scoop a dollop of the tuna salad mixture on top of the cucumber and onion, placing them alternately on top of one another, then cover with another batard bread on top. 

4. Serve with slices of lemon on the side.

Yield: 3 servings

Instant noodles to Thai stir-fry!

Your favorite pack of instant noodles is filled with endless possibilities far beyond the instructions on the back. Use it to whip up this Thai Chicken and Peanut Stir-Fry Noodles recipe, a great (and healthier!) option to your usual instant fare. Pan fry pieces of chicken until lightly browned, then add in carrots, onion, garlic, mushroom, bell pepper, and oyster sauce. Cook the noodles together with peanut butter sauce for 5 minutes. Place noodles on a platter, then top it with the stir-fried chicken, vegetable mixture, wansoy leeks, and roasted peanuts. And voila, you’ve added a Thai dish to your menu! 

THAI CHICKEN AND PEANUT STIR-FRY NOODLES

3 tablespoons oil

150 grams chicken breast fillet, chopped

1 piece large-sized carrots, julienne

1 piece medium-sized onion, sliced

1 tablespoon garlic

100 grams sliced fresh shitake mushrooms

1 cup bell peppers (red, yellow and green)

3 tablespoons oyster sauce or light soy sauce

500 grams fresh egg thick noodles “miki”, blanched, washed and cleaned

prepared peanut sauce

1/3 cup wansoy, chopped

2 stalks leeks, sliced diagonally

freshly roasted peanuts, as needed

Peanut Sauce:

3 tablespoons creamy peanut butter 

2-3 tablespoons Chinese chili-garlic sauce

1 cup water

2 tablespoons rice wine/mirin

2 tablespoons brown sugar

1 teaspoon grated ginger

salt and pepper to taste

1. In a clean bowl, mix all ingredients together until all sugar has dissolved. Set aside. 

2. Heat oil in a sautéing pan and pan-fry chicken until lightly browned.

3. Add in carrots, onion, and garlic and continue sautéing until onions and garlic are translucent and aromatic.

4. Stir in mushrooms, bell pepper, and oyster sauce, give a quick stir. Do not overcook the vegetables. Set aside a little amount of stir-fried chicken and vegetable mixture for toppings.

5. In the same pan, toss in noodles and pour in the prepared peanut sauce. Cook no more than 5 minutes.

6. Before turning off the heat, mix in the wansoy and leeks into the noodles.

7. Serve noodles on to the platter, top with the remaining stir-fried chicken and vegetable mixture and sprinkle on top with roasted peanuts before serving.

Yield: 5-6 servings

Nothing beats quick, easy-to-follow recipes from The Maya Kitchen to help you turn your instant meals into everyday gourmet dishes. Learn more uncomplicated ways to eat well at www.themayakitchen.com. 

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Learn great recipes at www.themayakitchen.com. If you want to take your baking and cooking skills up a notch, check out Maya Kitchen’s course offerings at the website, email contactus@themayakitchen.com, or visit The Maya Kitchen Culinary Center every Tuesday to Saturday at 8F Liberty Building, 835 A. Arnaiz Avenue (Pasay Road), Makati City or call 8921185 or 892-5011 local 108 or +63929 679 6102.

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