When my husband and I were in Hong Kong on what would turn out to be our engagement trip, we became devotees of a local diner that served this ketchup-based sauce over almost anything. We Americans tend to recoil at the thought of serving the lowly condiment ketchup with anything besides hamburgers and French fries. In this recipe, ketchup is used as a subtle accent, so for the best and freshest flavor, choose a high-quality organic ketchup. This Glorious One-Pot Meal is fabulous with a fillet of salmon or tuna, but you can use chicken or beef instead. It’s hard to resist this mouthwatering sauce. Substitute any vegetables you wish; just try to provide a rainbow of green, red, and yellow vegetables to maximize nutritional value.

　　

Ingredients

serves 2

　　2 teaspoons sesame oil

　　1/4 medium onion, chopped

　　4 garlic cloves, minced

　　1 cup white rice

　　1 to 1 1/2 teaspoons Asian chili paste

　　1/2 to 3/4 pound fish fillets or steaks

　　Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

　　1 tablespoon white wine or sherry

　　3 tablespoons ketchup, preferably organic

　　1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger, or 1/4 teaspoon ground

　　1 tablespoon sugar

　　1 teaspoon cornstarch

　　cups fresh or frozen cut green beans

　　10 to 15 asparagus stalks, trimmed and cut into thirds

　　3/4 cup shredded red cabbage

　　

Step 1

Preheat the oven to 450°F.

　　

Step 2

Use a paper towel to wipe the inside and lid of a cast-iron Dutch oven with the sesame oil.

　　

Step 3

Spread the onion and garlic in the pot.

　　

Step 4

Add the rice to the pot with 1 cup plus 1 tablespoon water and 1/2 teaspoon of the chili paste. Stir to make an even layer of the rice. Place the fish on top, skin side down. Lightly season with salt and pepper and add the wine.

　　

Step 5

In a small bowl, mix the ketchup, ginger, about 1/2 teaspoon salt, the sugar, cornstarch, 1/2 to 1 teaspoon chili paste, and 3 tablespoons warm water. Whisk well to dissolve all of the ingredients, especially the cornstarch.

　　

Step 6

Layer the green beans and asparagus over the fish. Drizzle half of the ketchup mixture evenly over the top. Cover with the cabbage and pour the rest of the ketchup mixture over all.

　　

Step 7

Cover and bake for 45 minutes, or until 3 minutes after the aroma of a fully cooked meal escapes the oven. Serve immediately unless the rice is still crunchy. If this is the case, remove the pot from the oven and let it sit with the lid tightly closed for an additional 5 minutes to allow the steam to penetrate the grains. Fluff the rice with a fork before serving.

　　

nutrition information

Step 8

Calories: 530

　　

Step 9

Protein: 22g

　　

Step 10

Carbohydrates: 93g

　　

Step 11

Fat: 9g

　　

Step 12

Cholesterol: 19mg

　　

Step 13

Sodium: 211mg

　　

Step 14

Fiber: 6g

　　Glorious One-Pot Meals