Potted herrings in Guinness bake rolled herring fillets in a stout-and-vinegar bath with onion, bay, cloves, and peppercorns. Classic Irish preserved fish, served cold.
Crispy deep-fried bean curd cubes with a spicy peanut dipping sauce made with roasted peanuts, rice vinegar, cilantro, and chile oil. A quick vegetarian appetizer.
Chilled ginger shrimp marinated in a reduced teriyaki, rice vinegar, and sherry sauce. A light, make-ahead appetizer served cold with cucumber sticks and dipping sauce.
Grilled chicken romaine vinaigrette, a Caesar-style main course salad with herb-marinated grilled chicken, romaine, Parmesan, water chestnuts, and croutons.
Hickory-smoked pork ribs marinated in cider vinegar and garlic salt, grilled over charcoal, then dunked in a warm BBQ-and-steak sauce with molasses. Backyard classic.
Gazpacho relish for hot dogs: chopped tomato, cucumber, green pepper, onion, and garlic in a sweet-tangy red wine vinaigrette. Cookout topping that beats anything from a jar.
Roasted broccoli sesame salad tossed in a soy, rice vinegar, and sesame oil dressing with toasted sesame seeds. Served warm or at room temperature.
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.
North Carolina BBQ sauce with a vinegar base, ketchup, chili powder, brown sugar, and black pepper. Thin, tangy, and made for pulled pork and ribs.
Sweet and sour tofu with peppers and carrots: a vegetarian Chinese restaurant favorite. Tofu poached for tenderness, topped with crisp stir-fried vegetables, and dressed with a tangy ginger-garlic sweet-and-sour sauce.
Gow gees are crispy fried Chinese dumplings filled with pork, shrimp, dried mushrooms, and scallions. Served with classic homemade sweet and sour sauce. Makes 48 for a crowd.
Sweet dill pickles made by transforming store-bought dills with sugar, vinegar, garlic, onion, celery seed, and mustard seed. No canning needed, ready in 5 days.
Pan-seared pork scalloppine in a from-scratch cranberry sauce with red wine vinegar, chicken stock, and cranberry liqueur. Elegant weeknight dinner in 40 minutes.
Mei Kwei Tao(Pickled Peaches in Red Rose Petals) recipe
Oven-barbecued beef short ribs, marinated in soy and cider vinegar, braised fork-tender, then basted with barbecue sauce and roasted until sticky and well browned. Fall-off-the-bone ribs, no grill required.
Sweet and sour chili ribs baked low and slow with brown sugar, vinegar, ketchup, and Worcestershire sauce. Fall-off-the-bone pork ribs with a tangy, sticky glaze.