RECIPE

© Kana Okada

Crunchy Asian Pea Salad with Honeyed Bacon

• Recipe by Ratha Chau

Chef Way This salad typically includes crispy slices of Chinese sausage. Ratha Chau also makes the spicy oil for the vinaigrette.

Easy Way To replace the sausage, which isn’t readily available, thick slices of bacon are brushed with a honey-soy mix and then baked in the oven until crunchy. Store-bought chile oil replaces homemade.

• Fast
• Healthy

Ingredients

1. 6 thick slices of maple-cured bacon (about 6 ounces)
2. 2 tablespoons honey
3. 1 tablespoon soy sauce
4. 1/2 teaspoon Chinese five-spice powder
5. 3 tablespoons pure olive oil
6. 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
7. 1/2 teaspoon finely grated lime zest
8. 1 tablespoon Asian fish sauce
9. 1 tablespoon chile oil
10. Salt and freshly ground pepper
11. 1/2 pound snow peas, julienned
12. 6 ounces snow pea shoots (8 cups)
13. 2 tablespoons torn basil leaves
14. 2 tablespoons torn mint leaves

Directions

1. Preheat the broiler and position a rack 8 inches from the heat. Arrange the bacon slices on a baking sheet in a single layer. In a small bowl, stir together the honey, soy sauce and five-spice powder and brush liberally over the bacon. Broil for 10 minutes, turning once, until the bacon slices are browned and crisp. Transfer the bacon to a work surface and cut into 1/2-inch pieces. Let the bacon cool.
2. In a large bowl, whisk the olive oil with the lime juice, lime zest, fish sauce and chile oil and season with salt and pepper. Add the snow peas, pea shoots, basil, mint and bacon and toss. Serve right away.