Recipes with soy sauce, light

Grilled prawns with fresh coriander: quickly marinated in soy, rice wine, and sesame oil, then broiled or barbecued and served with a bright cilantro-ginger-rice vinegar dipping sauce. Clean, punchy Chinese-style shrimp in 30 minutes.

Chinese chicken salad with shredded roast chicken, bean sprouts, cucumber, and carrots in a sesame-tahini dressing with soy sauce, garlic, and rice wine. Crisp, nutty, and satisfying.

Cornish game hens roasted with a Cape Cod-style cranberry glaze made from jellied cranberry sauce, soy sauce, and cinnamon. Sticky, glossy, and holiday-ready.

Barbecue salmon steaks glazed with soy sauce and sugar, served with a vibrant green sauce of parsley, chives, capers, and hard-boiled egg. A quick, elegant grilled fish dinner.

Three-fish teriyaki marinates salmon, tuna, and swordfish in a pineapple-soy glaze with garlic, ginger, and rice vinegar, then grills the fillets and reduces the marinade into a glossy sauce.

The pesto sauce is good on any steamed, baked, broiled, or grilled firm-fleshed fish fillet.

Deep-fried sesame almond chicken wings marinated in soy sauce, rice wine, and ginger, coated in a rice flour, cornstarch, and ground almond crust. Crispy Asian-style wings.

Lamb steamed in rice powder, a Sichuan-style fen zheng rou with toasted rice and star anise coating marinated lamb. Banana leaves line the bamboo steamer for aromatic, silky-tender meat.

Char-grilled prawns and noodles drizzled in a Lemon Aspen dressing.

Chinese-style vegetarian broth made with dried shiitake mushrooms, Sichuan preserved vegetables, scallions, and both light and dark soy sauce. A rich, savory base for soups and stir-fries.

Classic Cantonese siu mai with ground pork, dried mushrooms, bamboo shoots, and green onions, wrapped in open-top dumpling skins and steamed until juicy. Dim sum at home.

Kansas City steak and spinach salad with soy-garlic marinated beef, fresh mushrooms, and orange sections tossed in a red wine vinegar-oregano dressing. Hearty and fresh.

Sea scallops stir-fry with broccoli, napa cabbage, snow peas, and shiitakes in a star anise-spiced soy-vinegar sauce. Light Chinese seafood dinner over steamed rice.

Vegan sloppy joe pizza tops a homemade whole-wheat crust with meatless tomato sauce, sauteed vegetables, and a savory tofu-oat crumble seasoned sloppy-joe style. A hearty, plant-based pizza night.

Stir-fried crabs with ginger and green onions in a classic Cantonese wok preparation. Fresh crab cooked fast over high heat with garlic, rice wine, and soy sauce.

Dry-fried shrimp with fresh ginger, garlic, scallions, and Chinese rice wine in a hot wok. A fast, saucy stir-fry that goes from raw to plate in under 5 minutes.

Steamed open dumplings (siu mai) with ground pork, ham, ginger, and sesame oil in wonton wrappers. A classic dim sum favorite you can make at home with a simple steamer setup.

Mongolian barbecued lamb or beef marinated 6 hours in soy sauce, fermented bean curd, sherry, leeks, and cilantro, then grilled fast over high heat. Authentic Northern Chinese flavors.

Thai-style hot and sour vermicelli salad (yam wun sen) with mushrooms, garlic oil, lemon juice, and soy sauce. Vegetarian, light, and packed with texture.

General Tso's chicken made with dark-meat thighs: crispy-fried pieces tossed in a ginger-scallion soy sauce with chili paste, rice vinegar, and sesame oil finish.

Fried shrimp wonton soup with crispy golden wontons, a cornstarch-thickened chicken broth, silky egg white ribbons, and smoky Smithfield ham garnish. A banquet-style Chinese soup.

Kid-friendly san choy bau: crumbly pork mince with garlic, ginger, carrot, and water chestnuts tucked into crisp iceberg lettuce cups. A build-your-own Chinese-style wrap dinner for picky eaters.

Steamed salmon fillets wrapped in blanched cabbage leaves with a soy-ginger-sherry marinade, scallions, and cilantro. An Asian-inspired low-calorie main finished with a squeeze of fresh lemon.

Szechwan cucumber salad with wood ear mushrooms, hot chili peppers, and a tangy soy-vinegar-sesame dressing. A crunchy, spicy Chinese cold salad that comes together in 30 minutes.

Wok-fried ginger crabs with garlic, scallions, rice wine, and a light-dark soy sauce blend. A fast Chinese-style crab stir-fry that goes from wok to table in minutes.

Chinese pork and cucumber soup with marinated pork slices, fresh ginger, and translucent cucumber in chicken broth. A light, clean 30-minute home-style soup.

Spicy beef lettuce cups loaded with sirloin stir-fried in soy sauce, ginger, garlic, and Chinese five spice. A crispy, low-carb appetizer that comes together in just 20 minutes.

Chinese-style steamed whole chicken with a ginger-scallion dipping sauce made with smoking-hot peanut and sesame oil. Tender, juicy, and deeply flavorful.

Asian peanut sauce with peanut butter, soy sauce, chili oil, garlic, and brewed tea for a smooth base. A spicy, savory dipping sauce for noodles, spring rolls, and satay.

Chinese pepper onion beef with flash-fried flank steak, scallions, and loads of black pepper. Marinated in soy, sherry, and ginger then wok-tossed.

Mahogany chicken wings lacquered with hoisin, plum sauce, and soy until glossy dark brown, paired with bright Thai-style green papaya salad. Bold sweet-salty-tangy contrast for a party platter.

Vegetarian Thai drunkard's noodles stir-fried with green chilies, garlic, kaffir lime leaves, and fresh basil. Spicy, aromatic, and on the table in under 40 minutes. A fiery wok-tossed noodle dish for heat lovers.

Korean cold cucumber soup combines paper-thin cucumbers, soy sauce, vinegar, and toasted sesame in chilled chicken broth. The hour-long marinade pulls flavor into every slice for a clean, bracing summer starter.

Singapore-style rice stick noodles loaded with chicken, barbecued pork, and shrimp, tossed with curry powder, Chinese mushrooms, snow peas, and bell pepper. A one-wok feast worth the effort.

This a delightful dish is an innovative and economical way to serve a do-it-yourself-style appetizer or main-dish. It is usually presented in a special lacquered wood or china tray with the required number of compartments. It is just as effective served on a tray in small bowls or dishes

Pon pon shredded chicken, the classic Sichuan cold dish: poached chicken shredded by mallet or hand, served over bean paste strips with a peanut butter, sesame, and chili oil dressing.

Beef and asparagus stir-fry with flank steak in a soy-rice wine marinade, seared in a hot wok and tossed with crisp-tender asparagus. Quick weeknight Chinese dinner ready in 15 minutes.

Filipino-inspired beef short ribs braised in vinegar, soy sauce, and garlic until fork-tender, then seared for a crispy crust. Served over blanched spinach for a hearty, tangy one-plate meal.

I used Cornish Game Hens, but you could also use a cut up chicken. If you can't get winter melon, watermelon will work. Winter melon is white, very mild tasting and a tad denser than watermelon. I think you could get away using something like Honeydew too.

Grilled filet mignon sliced thin and marinated in chili paste, fish sauce, and vinegar, then served over crisp lettuce with cucumber-papaya rolls and a zesty lime dressing.

Thai basil fried rice with fresh red chilies, button mushrooms, long beans, and light soy sauce. A vegetarian wok-fried rice that's spicy, aromatic, and ready in minutes.

Chinese-style fried fish with whole garlic cloves in a savory black bean and soy sauce. Cornstarch-coated snapper or halibut fillets pan-fried until crispy, then glazed with a bold garlic sauce.

Fun gwau: Cantonese steamed dumplings stuffed with pork, shrimp, shiitake mushrooms, bamboo shoots, and water chestnuts, all wrapped in translucent wheat-starch wrappers. A dim sum classic.

Gingered snow peas stir-fried with mushrooms, scallions, sherry and soy sauce. Quick Asian-style vegetable side dish ready in 15 minutes.

Quick chicken and walnut stir-fry with mushrooms, red bell pepper, and a glossy oyster-soy sauce. Light, fast, and full of crunch.

Stir-fried flank steak with ginger and scallions tossed with noodles, bean sprouts, shredded carrots, and celery in a light soy sauce. Better than takeout beef lo mein in 40 minutes.

Creamy peanut butter sauce with soy, sesame oil, garlic, and a hit of hot sauce tossed with spaghetti and topped with fresh cilantro. Nutty, savory peanut noodles in 30 minutes flat.

Charcoal-grilled pork loin marinated in oyster sauce, soy, and whiskey, sliced thin and piled over steamed sticky rice with fresh cilantro and chilies. A Thai street food feast worth the wait.