Recipes with soy sauce, light

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

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.