What the pho?
Posted In Beer
Another saga in my Adventurous in Appetite: throw all kinds of interesting foods at my digestive track to see how it handles them.
Dish #1: Pho, pronounced fuh, a typical Vietnamese noodle dish with veggies like fresh mung bean sprouts, green onions, and mushrooms and usually accompanied with fresh cilantro, a few lime quarters, some chili sauce (Sambal Oeleek), and some sort of meat. Usually the meat choices are a little on the “what the fuh” side for less daring diners but to sample the real deal, you need hearts and livers, tripe and tendons. I made mine with chicken hearts (which kinda resemble little fingers the mafia might serve) and livers (very gamey) as well as some thinly sliced chuck roast which went in the broth after serving it into bowls so it wouldn’t overcook. Delish! Serve with a lager or something with complimenting spice palate (ginger, herbs).
Dish #2: my take on spanikopita, a Greek pastry usually filled with spinach and feta. I used phyllo dough and filled some with salmon, swiss chard, feta, and greek spices and others with ground beef, onion, tomato paste, and cinnamon. Each triangle was brushed liberally with melted butter and baked for 30 mins in 375 degree oven until they developed this beautiful flaky crust. I also made a refreshing yogurt dipping sauce (with lemon juice, dill, mint, and fresh chopped cilantro). Serve with Belgian IPA.