Gochujang Salmon

Serves 2

Gochujang is Korean red chili paste and easily accessible at any Asian market. Think of it as Sriracha's older, wiser, more mature cousin. And this recipe goes from nothing to the table in under 15 minutes. 

Ingredients

• 2 - 6 ounce salmon fillets

• 2 tablespoons Gochujang
• 1 garlic clove, crushed
• 1 tablespoon soy
• 1 teaspoon sesame oil
• 1 tablespoon honey
• Kosher salt
• Green onions diced, for garnish
• White rice for serving

Directions

1. Preheat broiler
2. Mix gochujang, garlic, soy, sesame oil & honey into a paste
3. Cover baking sheet with foil (it's messy), add salmon, season with Kosher salt and add a layer of the Gochujang mixture over top and sides of salmon
4. Place 5-6" away from broiler coils & cook about 7 minutes or until medium rare 
5. Garnish with green onions and serve with rice

Crab Won Tons

Makes about 30

This falls under the heading of "Don't make the same thing all the time". They're delicious, simple and different - plus they're baked, not fried. I would try to insist on fresh crab, but there's no point. You're going to use what you want and besides - canned in this case is actually not that bad. But if you do use the canned, buy the 'lump'.

Ingredients

• 4 oz cream cheese, softened
• 3 green onions, sliced very thin
• 1 cup crab meat, approximately
• 1 tablespoon Asian hot sauce (Sriracha)
• 1 package won ton wrappers, I like the round ones

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 400
2. Mix all ingredients well in bowl, except wrappers
3. Put about a teaspoon and a half of mixture in center of each wrapper
4. Dip finger tips in water and wet edges of wrapper lightly and fold in half - try to remove as much air as possible
5. Seal tightly and place won tons on baking sheet coated with cooking spray
6. Bake until they start to brown - should be about 15 to 20 minutes
7. While they cook, make the dipping sauce:
8. 3 tablespoons soy
9. 1/4 teaspoon sesame oil
10. 1 teaspoon sugar
11. 1 teaspoon dried crushed red pepper
12. 1 teaspoon green onion, finely chopped
13. Mix all ingredients and serve on the side

Citrus Soy Scallops

Serves 4

Too many people overcook scallops and it's time to stop. If you overcook yours, I'll have to come over and knock you in the head. You simply need lots of heat and little time.

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup soy sauce
• Juice of 2 limes
• Juice of 1 lemon
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 1 teaspoon fresh ginger, finely chopped
• 1 teaspoon sesame oil
• 1 lb large sea scallops
• peanut oil

Directions

1. Place all ingredients except scallops in a glass or ceramic shallow bowl.
2. Mix well and add scallops.
3. Marinate 5 minutes each side at room temperature. If you marinate scallops too long, they'll get mushy.
4. Transfer scallops to a plate and reserve marinade.
5. Heat 1/2 teaspoon oil in a large saute pan over high heat until hot and almost smoking.
6. Add scallops (cook in batches if necessary to keep from being too crowded) and saute quickly until seared brown and just cooked through - about 2 minutes a side.
7. Remove from pan.
8. Add marinade to pan and boil until reduced to about 1/3 cup, about 2 minutes.
9. Drizzle scallops with sauce.