Sandwiched in Gratitude

Tuesday, April 28, 2009 77 comments

Mango, cashews and chicken in a sandwich so tasty, it's better late than never!


Hodie non cras [Today, not tomorrow] 
-- motto of the 1st Hussars, Royal Canadian Armoured Corps

Last week's tribute to St. Expeditus, patron saint of procrastinators, couldn't have come at a better time. My tomorrow-is-another-day attitude has resulted in a shameful failure to express prompt gratitude to fellow bloggers for their recognition in the past weeks as well as in missed opportunities to participate in some great events. So today, I set things to right!

Thank You . . .

. . . Phyllis at me_HUNGRY!

Several weeks ago, Phyllis not only generously shared her oh-so-delicious recipe for pork and century egg congee at my request, she also extended her 'Sisterhood Award' to me and nine awesome bloggers. I met Phyllis on Foodbuzz almost two months ago and since then, visiting her site has become a habit of unadulterated food fun. In the past, we've exchanged chalkboard messages about eating sago larvae (she has), balut (I have), and century egg (we both have). If you think these are strange foods, then I urge you to take a walk on the weird side - check out Phyllis' regular feature, Weird Food Wednesday, as well as her many adventures in Big Apple eating.

. . . Jenn at Bread + Butter!

Jenn's food blog is barely two months old and she's already surpassed the total number of posts I've written since October 2008! Her simple yet incredibly creative dishes are a constant delight to her readers so it's no wonder that the accolades are starting to roll in. Last week, I was pleased to learn that I was among eight bloggers with whom Jenn shared her 'Friends' award. Powered by her boundless dynamism, her blog will leave you energized and craving more. A serving of this Bread + Butter is guaranteed to whet your appetite.

. . . Sam at My Carolina Kitchen!

In March, I joined Joie de Vivre in a discussion of the book Mindless Eating and it was through these posts that I connected with Sam - a food columnist, avid traveller and marvelous cook. A few days before Easter, I found two treats awaiting me on her blog: a fabulous recipe for Asparagus Goldenrod (which I served with our Easter Sunday meal) and the 'Adorable Blog' award, which she shared with me and Joie. Sam currently writes and blogs from North Carolina after having attained the quintessential dream of living on a tropical island in the Bahamas. But you can't keep a peripatetic soul in one place for very long - visit her site and revel in her experiences of culinary delights in the Provençal countryside through beautiful photographs and vivid reminiscences. Bon voyage et bon appétit!

. . . Phanitha at Phanitha's Kitchenette!

Ever wondered what Indian food tastes like . . . coming from a Japanese kitchen? Wonder no more as Phanitha demonstrates the marvelous dishes she cooks from her home in Tokyo. While there are plenty of traditional Indian recipes, such as dosas, chutneys and curries, she proves herself equally adept at Italian and Mexican cuisine and even ventures into fusion cooking with her own version of Indo-Chinese foods. Phanitha has received well-deserved recognition and last week, she kindly shared the 'I *heart* Your Blog' award with fourteen bloggers, including me. Drop by Phanitha's Kitchenette and you'll find that your *heart* and appetite are in the right place.

As always, I share these awards with all of my blogging friends. For more delectable food blogs, please click on the award links above to see which extraordinary bloggers were also recognized by these four peers and check out my blogroll, 'More Blogs to Love', in the right-hand column.

I'd also like to acknowledge having been recently 'memed' by Christine at Maman and Gourmand and Bytes from Texas: ladies, I'm working on my lists and will post soon, so help me, St. Expeditus!

Now, How About That Sandwich?

Thank goodness for second chances. Back in February, one of my favorite bloggers, Lori at Fake Food Free, co-hosted The Great Peanut Butter Exhibition #5 - Sandwiches (now that's a mouthful). I had every intention of entering but as we all know, the road to perdition is paved with plenty of those. But redemption has presented itself in the form of a sammich.

Earlier this month, Lori tempted us with Mango Week* by offering a variety of delicious dishes featuring this fabulous fruit. Then, she issued her Mango Recipe Challenge - to create our own mango recipes for the chance to win a box of goodies from Brazil! 'Nuff said.

[*For more mango mania, check out these great recipes from Mel at Bouchonfor2 and Kevin at Closet Cooking]

Lori, a certified nutritionist currently living in Brazil, offers not only healthy recipes and nutritional information but also insights into the country's food culture and its amazing array of edibles. One of her most interesting entries was about cashews, a nut that is a whole lot more than meets the eye! It was also the central ingredient in my never-submitted entry for the aforementioned PB Challenge. So, when this mango contest came up, I knew instantly what I would make.

In preparing this sandwich recipe, I was pleased to realize how it evoked both Brazilian and Filipino elements - the mango (mangga in Tagalog) is the national fruit of the Philippines and the cashew (caju in Portuguese) is native to Brazil. With that, I'm pleased to present my entry to Fake Food Free's: 


Caju-Mangga Chicken Sandwich 
Forget the mayo-based chicken salad sandwich - this recipe bathes mangoes and marinated chicken in a creamy, spicy and altogether irresistible dressing made with ground cashews and coconut milk. The sauce is adapted from a recipe by Amy Besan and Romy Dorotan of Cendrillon, the celebrated Filipino/Pan-Asian restaurant in New York, which sadly closed in early March 2009 after more than 13 years of business. 



Yield: approx. 2 cups of sauce and 2-4 sandwiches

Ingredients and instructions:

For marinated chicken*:

1 lb chicken (breast or dark meat), cut into strips
2 Tbsps soy sauce
2 Tbsps mirin (seasoned rice vinegar)
1 tsp minced garlic
1 tsp minced ginger

1. Mix all the above in a bowl and let chicken marinate in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes;
2. Grill, sauté, stir fry or bake chicken as preferred and let cool;
3. Shred or chop meat and set aside.

*For a time-saving option, you can use a deli-roasted chicken.

For Cashew-Coconut Sauce:


1 cup roasted cashews, finely ground
1 lemongrass, minced
1 large shallot, minced
2" piece of ginger, minced
2 tsps canola oil
1 tsp sesame oil
1 cup coconut milk (I used 'light')
1 Tbsp sambal oelek or other chili paste/sauce
1 Tbsp soy sauce
1 Tbsp fish sauce (a.k.a. patis, nuoc mam or nam pla) 

1. Heat canola and sesame oils in sauté pan and lightly brown lemongrass, shallots and ginger;
2. Add ground cashews and coconut milk, and simmer for about 5 minutes;
3. Add chili paste, soy and fish sauces and heat through;
4. Sauce will thicken as it heats; to thin out, add water or more coconut milk as needed.

Alternative serving suggestion: 
This sauce is delicious with chicken or pork and served over steamed rice. Simply add 1/2 cup of chicken broth (or more, depending on preferred consistency) during cooking. Add pre-cooked meat toward the end and mix well. Serve over freshly steamed rice.

For sandwiches:

1 large ripe mango, diced
Chopped cilantro
2-4 bolillo* rolls, toasted
Lettuce leaves (optional)

1. In a bowl, combine shredded chicken, diced mango and cilantro. Add sauce by spoonfuls until desired consistency is reached;
2. Spread mixture on rolls and serve immediately!

*Bolillo is the Mexican name for this baguette-like small loaf; in Brazil, it is known as pão francês or pão de sal ('French' bread and 'salt' bread, respectively).

Bom apetite!

Lori is accepting entries to her Mango Recipe Challenge until May 22nd so there's plenty of time to put this delicious fruit to tasty use! Please visit Fake Food Free for more details.

77 comments:

  • Dewi said...

    This mango sandwich sound insanely delicious. Couldn't stop my mouth from dripping... I love the sambal in there. Yummy and spicy ...

  • Justin said...

    that sandwich looks great. Cendrillon was a cool restaurant. I read that quote when they closed about how they wanted to be a neighborhood restaurant, but that Soho wasn't a "neighborhood" anymore. they're right about that.

  • Anonymous said...

    I LOVE this sandwich with mango and the cashew-coconut sauce sounds wonderful! I will definitely be making this for my daughter whose favorite fruit is mango and of course she loves sandwiches of all kinds!

  • The Beancounter said...

    I could have joined this one but we're in the wrong season!!!!! Grrrr!!! No mangoes in the market!!!! Love your recipe though and that tinny weeny bit 'bout Brazil's pao de sal...sounds family! heheheheeh

  • Jenn said...

    Thank you for the kind words. You definitely deserve the award.

    Mangoes are definitely my favorite. I always prefer to eat them fresh. Don't think I've had them in a sandwich, yet.

  • Daily Spud said...

    You'll have to give me some of that cashew-coconut sauce straight away and as for mango in a sammich, well, what an excellent idea. I actually had some mango yesterday (a rare treat here to get nice mango) and I realised all over again why it's one of my favourite fruits.

  • Chef E said...

    I have been wanting to make a dish with similar ingredients of the mango sauce...man this sandwich would go over well in this house, so thanks for sharing your wonderful talents and you deserve the recognition...I know I have forgotten someone's award, and I cannot remember who...I'm bad as my son would say!

  • Phyllis said...

    Aww... you are so welcome, glad to be blogger 'sisters'! Your post just put a big smile on my face! And I still think you are the braver one for actually trying balut!

    The caju mangga sandwich is really unique - I can't wait to make it!

  • Anonymous said...

    Your title had me thinking of a restaurant here in SF - Cafe Gratitude, and I thought you had some extrasensory something going on becasue it is on my list to take you to. Its totally a raw place so chicken would not be on the menu. The recipe sound deliciousn and certainly not a typical chicken sandwich - I look forward to trying.

  • Tangled Noodle said...

    Thanks for the comments, everyone!

    Elra - The sambal is awesome! It gives a really nice, tingly heat to the sauce. I'm addicted to it now.

    Justin - I was so disappointed to hear the news and wondered why they closed (aside from current econ conditions, etc.) However, their website did mention a new restaurant . . . I'm so curious about it.

    Mrs. Lavendula - I read somewhere that mangos are considered by far the most popular fruit in the world. I can totally believe it - I love them, too!

    5 Star - Yay! I think she'll really enjoy this and the chili paste can be totally to taste. 8-)

    Bob - Thanks! Try the sauce, even without mangoes (maybe peaches, instead?) The ones we had in in the Philippines are different from the ones I get at my local grocery store but I love mango, no matter the kind! Good luck with finding some good ones!

    Pearl - Wow, indeed! The sweetness goes really well with the slight spiciness of the sauce. 8-)

    Forager - I am totally in love with the sauce, even w/o the sweetness of the fruit. But adding that extra flavor really kicked it up!

    Beancounter - I thought the same thing about pao de dal! 8-D I keep intending to make your pan de sal recipe - I guess I need to pray harder to St. Expeditus! I'm still thinking about all that delicious food you served at your b-day blowout. Maybe next year, we'll swing a trip to Australia and knock on your door . . .

    Jenn - Thank you! I don't eat mangoes nearly as often as I'd like. Are you able to find Philippine mangoes fairly easily in LA?

    Sophie - Thank you so much! The sammie is definitely yummie! 8-)

    Spud - The sauce didn't last long with Mr. Noodle around but I'll let you know when I make it again. Like you, every time I eat a mango, I wonder why I don't eat it everyday. You and I are on the same boat - mangoes don't grow very well in either Minnesota or Ireland. Boo.

    Mediterranean Kiwi - That's great! Do you know what variety of mango is grown on Crete? I didn't realize that cashews were so dangerous though - apparently, they're encased in a sheath that causes your skin to blister. Yikes!

    Joelen - Thanks! The sauce was originally for lumpia sariwa but it's so delicious that I couldn't settle for just a tablespoon or two. It had to be a total sandwich! 8-)

    Spryte - Thank you! The sauce is super easy and was originally for fresh lumpia. Keep it mind for a great dip!

    Chef E - I had to make sure that I wrote everything down because I swear I'm losing brain cells at an accelerated pace every year! I hope you'll make that dish you were considering and post it - I'm all for mango recipes.

    Karen - Thank you! It was tasty enough that my husband has requested that it be placed on our regular dinner rotation!

    Teanna - Awww! That is the best thing I've heard in ages! I'm so happy you like it - I am positive that you will love it as much as we do! Let me know what you think.

    Mel - I could NOT not have mentioned your mango recipes: they are so outstanding! I am going to make your mango-cashew chicken ASAP as I am convinced it is the best combo EVER! 8-)

    Phyllis - It was a wonderful day when we connected over virtual balut and pei dan! 8-D

    I hope you enjoy the sandwich. We'll miss you while you're on vacay but I hope you have a wonderful time with your family!

    Reeni - Thank you! Apparently, its siren song is so irresistible that I had to squirrel away some of the leftovers so that hubby didn't just spoon it up by himself!

    Duo Dishes - I wish I could take all the credit but it was just a matter of taking a favorite sauce for one dish and matching it with something easy to make (chicken sammich!) So glad you like it - I hope you'll give it a try!

    Diva - Believe me, it's totally spoonable! 8-) But putting it on chicken or anything else makes it seem a little more genteel. 8-P

    Ozge - You've opened my eyes to new, wonderful dishes so I'm happy to reciprocate! 8-)

    Oysterculture - Oooh! I can't wait - we've never been to a raw food restaurant yet so it will be a great new experience. Maybe this is a sign that a visit is imminent . . .

    I hope you'll try the sauce at least - it's great not only as a dressing for a sandwich but also as a dip or a sauce over steamed rice or rice noodles!

    Lisa - With the fabulous dishes you create, I'm sure your hunger was satiated pretty well! Thanks so much - sweet and spicy is such a marvelous combo.

    Heather - Thank you! And I was really happy about how well the sauce turned out. 8-)

  • Carolyn Jung said...

    I've enjoyed many a chicken salad sandwich with mango chutney. But your sandwich with a cashew sauce is sure to beat all of those. What a wonderfully inventive way to dress up a brown-bag lunch.

  • gastroanthropologist said...

    Congrats on all the lovely awards!

    I'm planning on entering Lori's contest too - but I haven't even decided what I'm going to make yet!

    More recently I've been using mango in savory and love it - before it was plain or in sweet things (I've made more mango sorbet than any other ice cream/sorbet at the restaurant I used to work at - it was often used as a palate cleanser) and the occasional salsa.

  • Lori said...

    This is fantastic! And here I thought that I had found the only chicken and mango sandwich combo. Ha! I will be trying this for sure. I'm loving this contest b/c I'm learning about how mangos are used in different cultures. It is such a versatile fruit.

    No worries about the last contest. I have let many pass me by that I had every intention to enter. Sometimes things just come up and there goes the deadline. :)

  • Gera@SweetsFoodsBlog said...

    Congrats for your awards! Every time I see your post I must take a cup coffee and read your excellent posts with enough time a lot of material...next time I should taste the different sandwiches. The mango looks super!

    Have you tried caju salted and roasted mmmmm endless eating :)

  • MaryBeth said...

    This has to be the most interesting combo of items I have seen on a sammie in a long time. The aroma and flavor must be simply out of this world good!!

  • Tangled Noodle said...

    Carolyn - Thank you! I wasn't sure how my husband would like it; he's wary about fruit in a savory dish. But he loved it and has asked that it go on the regular rotation. 8-)

    Selba - I am convinced that mango makes everything taste better!

    Gastroanthropologist - Thank you! And I can't wait to see what you settle on for Lori's contest. My husband and I love mangoes but like you, my first thought is always on something sweet (a favorite is fresh mango slices over Thai sticky rice - yum!) More and more, I've really come to appreciate the wonderful contrast of sweet and savory/spicy in dishes.

    Lori - It's mango mania all over! I've seen so many wonderful recipes, including salsas and in stir-fry, that I'm really taking a second look at this fruit. In fact, it makes me look at any fruit differently - to consider it in something other than a dessert. I can't wait to see all the other entries!

    Christine - I hope you'll try this! Better yet, do your baking magic with mango. Although I'm loving it right now in savory, I would never turn down a sweet treat! 8-)

    Kevin - Thank you! When I saw all of those magnificent mango recipes on your site, I just had to add a link. I hope you'll consider sending one in to Lori's contest!

    Gera - Gracias! I love roasted and salted caju but of course, must watch out for too many calories. 8-) Since I can't eat peanut butter, I always have cashew butter in the refrigerator.

    Cynthia - Yay! If you do try this, please let me know what you think.

    Mango Lover - Saw your salsa: talk about spicy and sweet! The sambal oelek in this can pack a kick if you're more liberal with it than me (I'm still working up my heat tolerance).

    Mary Beth - Thank you! This was definitely a case of lick-the-spoon-and-the-bowl for every last drop. 8-)

  • Sapuche said...

    The 1st Hussars have a noble motto. Mine, unfortunately, is more like cras non hodie. Anyway, congrats on all your awards! You deserve every one of them, and it was super nice of you to introduce your awarders and give a summary of their own blogging work in your post. There were a couple I wasn’t aware of, and I’ll be checking them soon!

    Also, your caju-mangga chicken sandwich looks really flavorful, and if anyone were to hold your multicultural creation anywhere near my face, I’d strike like a snake and eat a full half of it in one bite. That sauce, in particular, had me whimpering when I read what was in it. Minus the oils, everything in it makes my favorites checklist. I’d say you’ve got a very good chance at finding some Brazilian goodies in your mailbox soon!

  • Anonymous said...

    Hi Tangle,
    Love everything about this post: the title, the awards, the write-up and of course the sandwich! Congratulations to you and thanks for sharing this delicious sandwich recipe.

  • Tangled Noodle said...

    It's a gorgeous Sunday morning and we're getting ready to head out for a hike with Hyper-Dog!

    Sapuche - Thank you so much! Going to each other's blog is such a great way to find new blogs and friends - I've wandered off to links you've posted (sorry!) that I haven't visited before. But I promise, I always return to your posts! 8-)

    At the risk of sounding like a brag, the sandwich filling turned out great. With all the other flavors going in, the oils are really only for sauteeing and can be substituted for anything else. I'd love to receive Lori's prize but there are some incredible mango recipes flowing in from what I understand. The fruit will be flying!

    Juliana - Thank you! The mangoes added such a nice flavor to the spiciness of the sauce. I hope you'll try it!

    Phanitha - All my thanks to you! I love that you present such a variety of recipes on your blog - truly international cuisine. 8-)

    Beancounter - Yay! Let me know if you ever find yourself anywhere in the vicinity of Minnesota (who knows, you might find yourself here on a layover)!

    Banana Blossom - Thanks so much! I was happy to see your new posts although I did enjoy looking at your spring blossoms photos. You posted those several weeks ago but we are just now starting to get buds and blossoms on our trees!

    Girlichef - Thank you! (Totally off-topic but I had lengua tacos yesterday and I told my husband that I wish I could make it at home. Then I remembered that you have a post on how to do it! Now I just have to find some tongue - which sounds so naughty!)

    Sweta - The more I read blogs from other countries and cultures, the more I'm amazed at the similarities! Even though they seem different, Portuguese and Hindi are both Indo-European languages and I understand that hindi and latin-based dialects share so many same-sounding words. And since the Philippines was a Spanish colony, it makes sense that the word for mango is so close, too! 8-) I can't wait to see all the recipes for Lori's contest but I'm going to stop in and check out your mango dosa!

    Cpsanti - Please do and let me know what you think!

    Scate - Thank you for the meme-ing! I will try to be very honest about my traits . . . 8-D

    Chitra - Thank you! I was so flattered to receive them; they came from such great bloggers!

    Acdee - [LOL] It looks like a monster sandwich, doesn't it? The sauce was originally for lumpiang sariwa but I changed the peanuts to cashews and cooked it longer so that it was really thick. Thanks so much for visiting and for your Foodbuzz friendship! I really like your site, too, and will be visiting often!

    Hornsfan - It tastes as good as it looks (I really have to stop patting myself on the back!)

    Sarah - Thank you so much! The sauce recipe was a great one to start with - I was fortunate that two of my favorite ingredients (cashew and mango) went so well with it.

  • Shelby said...

    Love this! Anything with Mango, anything with Coconut milk....it always appeals to me! Those are 2 magic words!

    Congrats on your awards!

  • Claudia said...

    This is beautifully creative. All I ever do with mangoes is - well - eat them. And once in blue moon - mango salsa. Congrats on the awards! Fun times.

  • Tangled Noodle said...

    Happy Monday and Cinco de Mayo Eve!

    HoneyB - Thank you! Usually, I equate coconut (milk) and mango with sweet desserts but now I'm all about these two in savory dishes. Magic indeed!

    Gaga - Thanks! So far, I've only made if for my husband and myself but I plan to serve it for a casual lunch sometime.

    Joie - I've been so behind in my readings, it may seem that I've disappeared! But I have only 1 week left in the semester and hopefully I'll have more time. Although this recipe uses high-cal ingredients such as nuts and coconut milk, a little bit of sauce really goes a long way!

    Claudia - Thank you! This sandwich is definitely tasty but sometimes, a mango by itself is pure deliciousness.

  • Maris said...

    I love mango - I was in the market today and the owner offered me part of the mango he was eating.

    That's nice an all but um, I'll buy my own. Haha!

  • MaMely said...

    I love the idea of mango in a chicken sandwich. it looks so delish!!I still have half a case of magoes from Calif. I'm going to try this one.

  • Jacoba said...

    I think you should bear in mind the amount of time and effort you put into your posts before you feel bad that other write more than you. As I said before (and I'm not flattering you) it's an amazing and you are a really talented writer. I have one problem, though - that isn't sandwhich, it's a burger!!! Heheh - in SA that would be a burger or a "roll". Looks delicious - may copy that on the weekend!

  • Jescel said...

    now i haven't had manggo in this form. my curiousity is piqued. it is indeed mango season.. i also have manggo in my latest post.. and congrats on the many awards. wow, how popular you are!

  • Dee said...

    Wow! What a tasty treat! Cashews, Sambal & Mango!! Wow, wow! I am in love with Mangos 24/7 & might have to give this a try the moment we get settled back in Texas again. Keep up the good work. I too have been shamed that I have fallen behind & hope to catch up soon as soon as the movers leave & we head for the border! Thanks for posting this one!

  • Tangled Noodle said...

    Apologies to those who left comments a few days ago - I'm finally catching up (I think)!

    Joie - It's probably the reason why I go on and on about 'commensality': the more conversation there is, the more I'm too busy yakking to chow down! 8-)

    Maris - Ooooh Awkward! 8-D I have a hard time even sharing a mango with my husband (because I want more for myself, not b/c I'm afraid of cooties!)

    Screamin' Mama - I've had green mango (more sour) in meat dishes where it's more like a vegetable but this seemed to make a lot of sense with the coconut milk and cashews. Except for the chili paste, it would almost be a dessert! 8-)

    Neena creates - Thanks! Can you tell I need a saint like this? I haven't even visited your latest post yet - I promise to stop in tonight!

    Sippity Sup - Thank you! I was going to make a rhubarb-sour cream cake for Mother's Day but the awesomeness of your rhubarb-ricotta-mascarpone cake is lingering . . . it may have to be Sunday's centerpiece.

    Maya - We practically did! I thinned out some leftover sauce with more coconut milk and poured it over some sauteed pork strips over rice. Mmmmmm. . .

    MaMely - If you do make it, please let me know what you think!

    Jacoba - Thank you so much! I feel terrible that I haven't been commenting on your posts but they're first on my list of reading. I noticed that you have yam som o, one of my favorites! I look forward to reading it. As for this sandwich/burger/roll, please let me know if you do try it out. BTW, if this is considered a burger or a roll, what would a sandwich be in SA?

    Elin - You're welcome! I've had fruits in savory dishes before but mango seemed so perfect for this because of the coconut milk and cashews, and it is!

    Jescel - Thank you! I would eat mango everyday, especially if I could get the Filipino variety!

    Dee - I tell you, it's the holy trinity of deliciousness! Wishing you a safe and hassle-free return to Texas! At some point, we'll all catch up with each other. 8-)

  • Tangled Noodle said...

    Natashya - Thank you! Although I like creamy textures, mayo-based sandwich fillings were never my favorite. But switch it with nuts and coconut milk and I'm all over it! 8-)

  • Cris said...

    Oh the things you do with mango and cashew... always good recipes... Sweetie, have you tried cashew juice? If not, a Brazilian store near you will certainly have it...

  • Tangled Noodle said...

    Cris - Obrigada! I've been looking for cashew juice after my husband told be about drinking it during his trip to Brazil last year. He says that it's even used to make caipirinhas . . . mmmmm!

 

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