In her debut cookbook, author Natalie Keng bridges the gap between her Asian and Southern roots. A native Atlantan born to Chinese parents, Natalie’s Egg Rolls & Sweet Tea: Asian Inspired, Southern Style features 100 recipes highlighting the best of differing cultures, cooking styles, and comfort foods. Natalie’s easy-to-follow recipes are full of fantastic fusion dishes and celebrate inclusivity and diversity. Today, we’re sharing three Asian-inspired appetizer recipes that are guaranteed to be the talk of the tailgate!
Wasabi Deviled Eggs
Deviled eggs are a true Southern staple not usually found on Asian menus. In this rendition of the iconic appetizer, wasabi provides a peppery zing, adding balance to the rich mayonnaise-based filling. Get the recipe HERE.
Chinese-y Surprise Dirt Beans
Natalie’s twist on the classic Southern boiled peanut features a delicious cinnamon and muscovado sugar infusion for a savory-sweet result. (Fun fact: “dirt beans” is actually a direct translation of the Mandarin word for peanut!) You can enjoy this salty, sweet snack straight out of the slow cooker. Get the recipe HERE.
Flying Chicken Roasted BBQ Wingettes
Inspired by the honey-braised chicken wings at Natalie’s dad’s popular Atlanta restaurants, these wingettes are guaranteed to impress a crowd. In a funny play on words, the Mandarin translation for airplane sounds just like “flying chicken,” hence the nickname of the dish. Serve them alongside Natalie’s sweet chili peach dressing or teriyaki sauce. Get the recipe HERE.
Consider this your new and improved tailgate menu!
Recipes from Egg Rolls & Sweet Tea: Asian Inspired, Southern Style by Natalie Keng. Published by Gibbs Smith. All images by Deborah Whitlaw Llewellyn.
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