Flavour of the month

Celebrate Chinese New Year with a fab feast

Chinese Dragon

Are you fired up with enthusiasm for all things Chinese? Then savour the flavour of our fusion dish over Chinese New Year.

Traditionally, the two-week long celebrations begin on the Sunday following New Year's Day, which in 2012 falls on Monday 23 January.

The Chinese year is represented by one of 12 animals and 2012 is the Year of the Dragon. Are you a Dragon?

A person born in the Year of the Dragon is said to be passionate, brave and self-assured, and they can make succesful sales people, lawyers, actors and politicians. But can they cook? We're sure everyone will succeed with our scallop dish with an eastern twist.

We've also added a hot recipe for Asian coleslaw, to spice up a savoury or salad dish of your choice.

Scallops with soy vinaigrette

Scallops with soy vinaigrette

Scallops with soy vinaigrette

Provided by Sue Lawrence at Donald Russell.
Serves four

Ingredients
500g king scallops
4 tbsp olive oil
3 tbsp white wine vinegar
2 tbsp soy sauce
1 tbsp lime juice
1 tbsp sesame oil
2 tbsp sunflower oil
Mixed leaf salad (eg rocket and baby spinach)

Method
Examine the scallops – gently remove the small white 'tendon' and any little creamy bits with your fingers.

Heat a frying pan to very hot and lightly brush the scallops with the olive oil.

Once the pan is hot, add the scallops, season and leave without touching for 1 minute. Cook on the other side for 1 minute until just done (they should feel firm yet springy). Cooking time should be a maximum of 3 minutes, as the plumper ones will need 2½ to 3 minutes.

Meanwhile, place the white wine vinegar, soy sauce, lime juice, sesame oil and sunflower oil in a screw-top jar. Shake until the ingredients have combined and check the seasoning.

To serve, place the hot scallops onto a pile of mixed salad leaves then drizzle over the soy vinaigrette.

Serve with crusty bread.

Asian coleslaw with chilli

By Jane Baxter, Riverford Field Kitchen
Taken from the Riverford Farm Cook Book
Serves four

Asian coleslaw with chilli

Asian coleslaw with chilli

Ingredients
½ cabbage, finely shredded
3 carrots, coarsely grated
2 apples, grated
1 red pepper, sliced
100g beansprouts (optional)
1 tomato, chopped
2 tbsp crushed roasted peanuts

The dressing
1 garlic clove, crushed
½ onion, finely sliced
1 chilli, chopped
1 tbsp Thai fish sauce
1½ tbsp brown sugar
3 tbsp lemon juice
Dash of sweet chilli sauce

Method
Combine all the dressing ingredients, either in a pestle and mortar, or by whisking them together in a bowl. Then set aside.

Mix together all the vegetables, toss with the dressing and pile on a serving plate. Sprinkle with the roasted peanuts.