Southwest Metro Winter Comfort Food Guide
Seven local dishes bring the heat.
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January 2012
The chileatole from Aurelia's in Eden Prairie will have you breaking a sweat on even the coldest of days.
When temperatures take a turn for the bitter, it’s easy to fall into the habit of hunkering down at home every night. These spicy restaurant meals dish out the heat in a way that’ll get you off the couch and out on the town tasting some complex, hearty flavors, even if it just for carryout.
Alu Chana Dhamaka Balti
Head straight to the Balti section of the India Palace menu when you are craving hearty, spicy flavors. The Balti style of cooking actually originated in Birmingham, England, and incorporates wine into the sauce, creating a richer flavor, says manager Jay Mand. The Alu Chana Dhamaka Balti ($11.95) is a vegetarian dish made with potatoes and chickpeas, in a sauce that is spiced with jalapenos. Like all of the Balti dishes, it is meant to be eaten with pieces of naan, the oven-baked Indian flatbread.
Other house specialties at this local Indian mainstay include chicken tikka masala ($12.95) made with boneless chicken in a hearty sauce of tomato, onion, ginger and bell peppers, or the tandoori delicacies, like the shrimp tandoori ($18.50), rubbed with spices and cooked in a clay oven. All dishes are served with rice and can be requested mild, medium or hot. 936 Prairie Center Dr., Eden Prairie; 952.946.1923
Chileatole
Aurelia’s Authentic Mexican Food
Do you believe in sweating it out during the frigid month of January? Then the vegetarian chileatole from Aurelia’s is just for you, made with vegetable broth, corn, zucchini, jalapenos, habanero peppers, peas and white cabbage.
Brothy soups made with a bit of a kick, like the pozole ($4.99), are almost sure to give you a reprieve from winter ailments. This hominy pork stew is made fresh daily, with chicken broth, oregano, garlic, white cabbage, radishes and a spicy green salsa (order it with the milder red salsa if you’re not one for the spice), served with a tostada topped with refried beans, lettuce, queso fresco and pico de gallo.
The Aztec soup ($4.99), with roasted guajillo pepper, tomatoes, cumin, black pepper, chicken and rice, is another favorite, topped with corn tortilla strips, cilantro and queso fresco. 16388 Wagner Way, Eden Prairie; 952.426.1597
Szechuan Spicy Pork in Garlic Sauce
Hotheads will always find a home at a Szechuan restaurant, where the chefs usually aren’t shy about dishing out the spice. Tian Jin is no exception, and the Szechuan shredded pork in garlic sauce ($11.95) has quite a loyal following, with bell peppers, bamboo shoots, and black and wood-ear mushrooms, in the chef’s special spicy garlic sauce.
The chung qing spicy chicken ($11.95) is another flavor-filled favorite, with chunks of chicken lightly dusted in cornstarch, fried with dry red peppers and tossed with bell peppers and bamboo shoots. It’s one of the best-selling dishes on the menu. 463 W. 79th St., Chanhassen; 952.934.4111
Mango Habanero Wings
Buffalo Wild Wings Grill and Bar
Putting a mango and habanero sauce on the wings at Buffalo Wild Wings brings a blend of sweet and spicy flavors that many find addictive. The Asian zing wings are made with ginger and soy for a sweet and sour flair. Other spicy wing sauces include the blazin’ classic buffalo sauce and Caribbean jerk. Six wings of any flavor are $5.19, but the same traditional bone-in wings are just 45 cents each on Tuesdays. This high energy bar and grill is also known for its happy hour, which runs Monday through Friday from 2–7 p.m. and 10 p.m.–midnight, with specials on draft beers, select appetizers and liquor. 550 W. 79th St., Chanhassen; 952.934.9453
Camarones a la Diabla
Chaska My Love
The camarones a la diabla, a spicy shrimp dish marinated in a red hot sauce made with chipotle peppers, will undoubtedly activate your taste buds at Chaska My Love, served with rice, refried beans and salad ($12).
When cold weather has you down, try the sopa de mariscos, a seafood soup made with shrimp, crab and pieces of fish, in a red and spicy tomato broth, served with bread or tortillas ($14). The casual, counter-service spot is open for lunch and dinner. 127 W. 4th St., Chaska; 952.368.0350
Hot Links
The hot links at Baker’s Ribs are a combination of pork and beef sausage spiked with red pepper flakes and smoked. They can be ordered as a sandwich ($5.99), served with two links, or a plate ($10.99 with choice of two sides and Texas toast).
The dirty rice, made with rice, onions, bell peppers, ham and sausage, is another spicy favorite, which starts at $1.45 as a single serving, but can be ordered as a side with an entrée plate or purchased by the half pint, pint or quart. Combine it with the pulled pork for a hearty winter’s meal. 8019 Glen Ln., Eden Prairie; 952.942.5337
Mongolian Chicken
The stir-fried Mongolian chicken at House of Kai is made with hoisin sauce, a thick, slightly sweet sauce that is used to flavor Asian barbecue dishes. It comes with vegetables like cabbage, pea pods, onion and water chestnuts.
Other popular spicy dishes include kung pao chicken and Szechuan spicy chicken made with chunks of chicken and vegetables in a sweet and spicy sauce. All of the dishes can be ordered mild or hot, which makes this family-owned restaurant a win-win for dinner with the kids. 7406 Mitchell Rd., Eden Prairie; 952.934.5736
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