I feel like I say this a lot here, but this is by far one of my favorite recipes to date! I really love a variety of Asian cuisines because of their rich flavors and unique use of vegetables — especially Vietnamese and Chinese. This recipe is a Pan-Asian fusion pairing sweet and salty Chinese Hoisin sauce with a Vietnamese inspired slaw of raw carrots, cilantro, and cucumber.

Hoisin sauce originates in Cantonese cooking as a glaze for meats, an addition to stir fries, or as a dipping sauce for a variety of foods. It’s dark and thick and both sweet and salty with just a hint of spice, often referred to as Chinese barbecue sauce. In this recipe, it lends itself as a glaze for the chicken meatballs and is the central flavor of the dish.

This recipe was originally inspired by a delicious Banh mi sandwich that I had from a local restaurant, Lardo. It’s truly sensational and my favorite part is the fresh veggies they add to the sandwich to balance the richness of the meat. My slaw is my attempt at mirroring that magic — a combination of shredded carrots, sliced cucumber, fresh cilantro, rice wine vinegar, and a punch of tartness from sliced green apples.

You’ll notice that I use store-bought Hoisin in this recipe — I chose to do this for a few reasons. One

In this recipe, rich and tangy teriyaki pairs with the tart taste of pineapple, sweet onions, and the bright, juicy crunch of red bell peppers. It’s one of my favorite weeknight meals because it reheats easily for lunch the next day. This sauce can also be used for marinating kebabs or with tempeh or tofu for my vegan friends!

Teriyaki is a Japanese tradition of cooking sliced meats with a sauce made of soy sauce, mirin (rice wine), sugar, and sake (also rice wine). The word itself derives from teri, referring to the sheen the sauce gives, and yaki, which refers to the cooking method of either grilling or broiling. Traditionally…