Food Cart Haven
Home / Menu / Bowls & Sides

Bowls & Sides

Satisfying cart staples served in a cup or a tray.

Order #0725 minServes 4

Esquites (Street Corn Cups)

Charred corn tossed with lime, chili and crema, served warm in a cup.

Esquites (Street Corn Cups)
10 minPrep
15 minCook
4Servings
EasyLevel

Ingredients

  • 4 cups corn kernels (fresh or frozen)
  • 1 tbsp butter
  • 1/4 cup mayonnaise
  • 1/4 cup crumbled cotija
  • Juice of 1 lime
  • 1 tsp chili powder
  • 1 jalapeño, minced
  • 1/4 cup chopped cilantro
  • Salt, to taste

Cart tip: let the corn sit untouched for a minute at a time to get real char.

Method

  1. Char. Cook the corn in butter in a hot skillet, stirring rarely, until browned in spots, about 8 minutes.
  2. Mix the dressing. Stir mayo, lime, chili powder and salt together.
  3. Combine. Toss warm corn with the dressing, jalapeño and half the cheese.
  4. Serve. Spoon into cups and top with cotija, cilantro and more chili.
Order #0845 minServes 4

Cart-Style Chicken over Rice

Spiced chicken, turmeric rice and the famous white sauce, just like the cart on the corner.

Cart-Style Chicken over Rice
20 minPrep
25 minCook
4Servings
MediumLevel

Ingredients

  • 2 lb boneless chicken thighs
  • 1 tbsp each cumin, coriander and paprika
  • 1 tsp turmeric
  • 2 cups basmati rice
  • 1/2 cup plain yogurt
  • 1/4 cup mayonnaise
  • 1 tbsp white vinegar
  • 1 tsp sugar
  • Shredded lettuce and tomato
  • Hot sauce, to serve

Cart tip: chop the chicken small on the pan so every piece catches the char.

Method

  1. Season. Toss the chicken with spices, oil and salt; rest 15 minutes.
  2. Rice. Cook basmati with a pinch of turmeric and salt until fluffy.
  3. Griddle. Cook chicken in a very hot skillet until charred and cooked through, then chop.
  4. White sauce. Whisk yogurt, mayo, vinegar, sugar and black pepper.
  5. Build. Rice, chicken, lettuce, tomato, then sauce and hot sauce.
Order #0920 minServes 3

Garlic Butter Noodles

Glossy, savory noodles tossed in a buttery garlic-oyster sauce.

Garlic Butter Noodles
5 minPrep
15 minCook
3Servings
EasyLevel

Ingredients

  • 8 oz spaghetti or egg noodles
  • 4 tbsp butter
  • 8 garlic cloves, minced
  • 2 tbsp oyster sauce
  • 1 tbsp soy sauce
  • 1 tsp sugar
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan
  • 2 scallions, sliced
  • Black pepper

Cart tip: do not brown the garlic; pale gold keeps it sweet.

Method

  1. Boil. Cook noodles until just tender; save 1/2 cup pasta water.
  2. Sizzle garlic. Melt butter and cook garlic over low heat for 2 minutes.
  3. Sauce. Stir in oyster sauce, soy and sugar.
  4. Toss. Add noodles, pasta water and Parmesan, tossing until glossy.
  5. Finish. Top with scallions and plenty of pepper.