SNAP-Ed’s Spotlight for May 24 is provided to us by, Grace Yung Watson, the Economic Assistance Policy Analyst & Writer for the Dept. of Transitional Assistance
I am a child of Chinese immigrants, among the first generation of American born children in my family. Only in recent years have I been able to articulate why Asian foods (e.g., Chinese, Vietnamese, Korean, Thai, etc.) are exceedingly important to me – to the point where I cannot bear going without for even one week. Prior to leaving home for college at age 18, I had eaten Chinese home cooking every single day of my life. It took decades for me to recognize that enjoying Asian cuisine is not simply a matter of preference for me. It provides me with a deep existential connection to my heritage and family of origin, and I experience a visceral sense of homecoming.
My friend kindly gave me his mom’s recipe for Chinese Peanut Noodles decades ago.
May Ling’s Chinese Peanut Noodles
1 cup peanut butter or sunbutter (if allergic)
7/8 cup light soy sauce
1/3 cup sugar
¼ cup sesame oil
¼ cup white vinegar
1 cup vegetable oil
1 cup water
1/8 cup minced garlic
¼ cup minced ginger
1 cup finely chopped scallions/green onions
2 Tbsp. Spicy hot oil (optional)
1 lb cooked chicken, shredded (optional)
2 lbs pasta/noodles of choice (I use whole wheat spaghetti)
Instructions
- Puree all ingredients (except for scallions) in blender
- Add scallions and pulse a few times to mix
- Boil chicken until cooked and shred
- Mix noodles, chicken, and sauce together
(Yield: enough sauce for 2 pounds of noodles. Serve warm or cold)
“Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month is observed annually in May to celebrate the rich contributions that generations of Asian American Pacific Islanders (AAPIs) have made to American history, society, and culture… information has been curated by the Federal Asian Pacific American Council (FAPAC) to educate the public about AAPIs and celebrate AANHPI Heritage Month.” (Federal Asian Pacific American Council, https://fapac.org/).
