Sunday, October 24, 2010

Actually, I Feel Stupider


My insight into white-people culture is mostly derived from what I have watched on TV. From this, it has become evident that white people get their children to eat unappealing food by convincing them it will make them strong and big (i.e. spinach).

So it's somewhat telling, and not at all surprising, that Asians get their children to eat unappealing food by convincing (read: threatening) them it will make them smart (read: acceptable/lovable). 

As a child, fish were one of the most unappetizing foods for me. This was exacerbated by the fact that my family ate fish "the Asian way", which is to say with all its bones intact. Hearing my father hack up tiny fish bones lodged in his throat must have damaged me psychologically. One time at Fortune Star Buffet I got a small eel bone stuck in my throat that stayed stuck for about a week. Obviously, I was traumatized.

Regardless, I, along with countless other Asian children across the globe, were forced to eat fish if we ever wanted to, "grow some brains" as my mother so delicately put it. 

Since then, I've learned to navigate around the bones and have come to genuinely enjoy fish. Specifically, Chilean sea bass (Kate Gosselin is also a fan) has convinced me that fish truly are the last frontier of proteins. There are new things to discover all the time! 

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Honey Soy Salmon

Salmon (I used a steak: "the Asian way." Certainly I would prefer a fillet but they are more expensive: definitely not "the Asian way.")
Soy Sauce
Honey
Red Pepper Flakes
Dijon Mustard

Mix half a cup of soy sauce, one tablespoon of honey, one tablespoon dijon mustard, and half a teaspoon of red pepper flakes in a bowl.



It should look something like this. Don't be intimidated by the color and strange murkiness. 

Marinate the salmon for about an hour (or overnight if you wish). I am aware that my honey is weird and clumpy.

Cook the salmon on a grill or in a pan with a tablespoon of oil on high heat for 4-5 minutes on each side. Make sure not to flip until the side has cooked completely. Otherwise the entire thing might rip to shreds.

Salmon is an oily fish so it's best paired with a light salad with a tangy dressing. Perhaps spinach to get the best of both worlds.

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The jury is still out on whether all the fish over the years have actually made me smarter. A more important question is what kind food will make me skinnier.

1 comment:

  1. Conversely, my insight into Asian-people culture is mostly derived from you.

    ReplyDelete