Spicy Asian BBQ, On Budget

Top Vegas Chef Jet Tila Tries To Prep It On "Shoestring" Budget Of $35!

(CBS) 

Thai Barbeque Chicken

INGREDIENTS:
3-1/2 to 4 pounds chicken (This can be legs and thighs or breasts.)
2 tablespoons ginger root, grated
2 tablespoons lemongrass, minced
1 tablespoon coriander root, minced
2 tablespoons garlic, pounded
2 teaspoons black or white pepper
1/4 cup thin soy sauce
1 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons curry powder
1 cup coconut milk

METHOD:
Combine all ingredients except chicken in a blender and blend until smooth.
If using a whole bird prepare chicken by cutting out the backbone and laying the bird flat. Poke holes in the chicken using a fork.
Pour the marinade mixture over the bird and coat evenly. Rub the marinade into the bird. Let marinade covered in the fridge for at least 4 hours to 1 day.
Cook the chicken on the grill.

Honey Soy Ginger Daikon Salad

INGREDIENTS: Dressing
2 Green onions (2 inch white parts only) thin sliced
1/2 tablespoon Chinese dry mustard- made into a paste
1 ounce Pickled ginger, packed
2 ounces Lime juice
1/2 tablespoon Garlic, minced
1 tablespoon Shallots, minced
1/4 cup honey
2.5 ounces Soy sauce
1-1/2 ounces Rice vinegar
1 tablespoon Minced ginger
1 cup olive oil- added slowly
1 piece daikon radish, peeled
1/3 cup roasted peanuts, for garnish.

METHOD:
Combine all of the dressing ingredients except for the oil in a blender, pulse until blended together. With the blender running slowly stream in the oil until well combined.

Cut daikon lengthwise into very thin slices. Soak in a bowl of lightly salted water, chilled, 30 minutes. Drain daikon well. Drizzle with the dressing. Garnish with peanuts.
Serve immediately or chill for up to 4 hours.

Thai Sticky Rice

INGREDIENTS:
4 cups Thai sweet rice
4 cups water
Thai Bamboo Steamer

METHOD:
Soak sweet rice covered in water for at least three hours, preferably overnight. Transfer soaked rice into bamboo basket. Rice should sit on the bottom of the basket. Add four cups of water into the steamer pot. Heat water on high until boiling. Insert the basket into the pot and cover for 10 minutes. Flip rice once and let steam for another 10 minutes. Let rest for 10 minutes and serve warm.

Banana Egg Rolls With Custard Sauce

INGREDIENTS:
2 large bananas
4 egg roll wraps (1/2 of a 16-oz pkg.)
cooking oil, for deep-frying
coconut custard sauce

METHOD:
Peel the bananas and quarter lengthwise.

Lay egg roll wrappers on a flat surface with the point facing you. Arrange 2 of the banana quarters on center of wrapper. Fold and seal as directed on egg roll package.

In a deep skillet, pour the oil 2 inches deep. Heat to 365°F. Deep-fry one at a time, for 1 to 1 ½ minutes or till very golden brown. Drain on paper towels; keep warm in a 250°F oven till all are fried.
Serve warm with custard sauce.

Coconut Custard Sauce

INGREDEINTS:
1 cup Coconut Milk
4 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon Vanilla extract
2 teaspoons cornstarch with 2 teaspoons water

METHOD:
Bring the coconut milk, vanilla and sugar to a boil in a heavy small saucepan over medium heat, stirring frequently. In a small bowl, mix the water and cornstarch to blend and then whisk into the coconut mixture. Simmer over medium-low heat until the sauce thickens, stirring constantly, about 2 minutes.

So, how did Jet do in our "How Low Can You Go" competition?

Thai Yum Salad
garlic $.39
lemongrass $1.49
lime leaves $.39
red onion $.66
mint $.69
fish sauce $1.79
cucumbers $1.33
green onion $.69
mixed greens $2.00
peanuts $.99
total $10.42

Barbeque Chicken
chicken $7.56
ginger root $.79
coriander root $.79
soy sauce $1.39
curry $.79
coconut milk $1.49
sweet rice $.99
total $13.80
green onions $.69
dry mustard $.99
honey $2.19
daikon radish $.99
total $4.86

Banana Egg Rolls
bananas $1.00
egg roll wraps $2.99
coconut milk $1.49
total $5.48

Grand total: $34.56

Where does that leave him on our leader's board?

1. Paul Liebrandt $32.35
Corton

2. Scott Peacock $32.60
Watershed Restaurant

3. Joey Campanaro $33.27
The Little Owl

[phwtb]

Forgive me for asking, but since when is a $35 meal- prepared in your own home- considered a "shoestring budget"?

[whatdableep]

I think a recipe that is displayed like this should have ingredients that are easily obtainable.

[veils-2009]

Every now and then CBS's Early Show cooking segment gets a decent hit. The menu offered here is refreshing in many ways. Every entree seem appealing with bright and robust flavors.

For the uninitiated, fish sauce is a very powerful condiment. packed full of flavors. It is also very salty. In the appetizer one might not want to use a 1/2 cup of fish sauce as this amount might overwhelm the palate and hide the subtle flavors of the cucumber. The daikon radish on the other hand is a crunchy flavor sponge that takes up the flavors of food around it.

Even though this menu came in a about a dollar more than the other three listed, Jet Tila should be placed as number 1 in this competition for the foodie factor of the overall meal.