Wrapping up food to make it deliciously portable (or easily eaten out of hand) is a long-held tradition—globally. The saltiness of nori melds well with the mild flavor of poached and shredded chicken. The warm rice or cooked grains softens the crisp sheets so you can roll them up.
In southern France a “tian” refers to both an earthenware casserole and the actual vegetable-centric dish. A tian is a wonderful way to make the most of summer produce and leftover chicken; use this version as a base for jumping off to create your own favorite combinations.
Soba noodles are made from both wheat and buckwheat, a uniquely flavored grain. They’re a favorite in Japan, where they are often served as salads or in noodle bowls. Miniature heads of baby bok choy are lovely lightly blanched, their stalks and greens more tender and flavorful than when allowed to grow to full size.
If you don’t have a rotisserie or leftover chicken, poach boneless skinless chicken breasts or thighs. Shred and use to fill these fresh spring rolls, which are perfect to add to a holiday appetizer buffet or to serve with a Chinese stir-fry.
Head over to your favorite local wood-fired pizzeria to purchase baked crusts. They often will sell untopped baked dough as focaccia, brushed with olive oil and seasoned with coarse salt and maybe crumbled dried rosemary. These bubbly, charred crusts are perfect for simply dressed pizzas, like this classic Margherita—sweet Italian tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, and fresh basil—and shredded cooked chicken.
Gochujang is a spicy, slightly sweet, dark red, fermented chili paste that has been a staple ingredient in Korean households for hundreds of years. Look for it at Asian markets or well-stocked grocery stores.
If cooking indoors, place the wings in a rack set inside a rimmed baking sheet and pop under the broiler for about 15 minutes, brushing them with the mop sauce before serving.
For a purely hot and spicy wing, bring the remaining marinade to a boil and cook it down until reduced by half. Otherwise, make Coconut Green Curry Sauce (see below).
