A.C.E. / RECIPE
March 20, 2017
THE ASIAN REPORTER n Page 13
Naan Pizza is a fun way
to eat the flavors of India
By Elizabeth Karmel
The Associated Press
his naan pizza is a
fun way to eat the
flavors of India in
America’s favorite food.
The popular chicken tikka
masala is widely believed
to have been created in
England for the British
palate and is actually the
national dish. But it is so
tasty
that
restaurant
diners have demanded that
the dish is made world-
wide.
These days, naan —
Indian flatbread — is
available in nearly every
grocery store. It can be
plain or flavored, and even
stuffed.
Naan used to be an
occasional treat when I’d go
out to eat at an Indian
restaurant. It was hard not
to fill up on naan before the
meal arrived. But now that
naan is as available as pita
bread, you can enjoy it at
home.
The small size and light
and airy texture of store-
bought naan makes it a
shoe-in for a quick pre-
made pizza crust. And
because I wanted to keep
the pizza in the spirit of
India, I am topping the
pizza with chicken tikka
masala which is tailor-
made for pizza as it is the
sauce and toppings in one.
The ever-popular dish is
chock-full of chunks of
chicken simmered in an
aromatic, creamy, and
slightly spicy tomato sauce
full of onions, garlic, gin-
ger, cumin, and turmeric.
This sauce is the perfect
thing to brighten up a
boneless, skinless chicken
breast and will “dress” to
impress grilled shrimp,
pork, and countless vege-
tables. I used to think I
could only have this exotic
sauce
in
an
Indian
restaurant, but truth be
MORE COMPETITION. Jackie Chan, left, and Chris Tucker, right,
arrive at the Vanity Fair Oscar Party on February 26, 2017, in Beverly
Hills, California. Chan says allowing more Hollywood movies into the
Chinese market would pressure Chinese filmmakers to make better
films. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)
Jackie Chan says
Hollywood competition
means better China films
By Louise Watt
The Associated Press
EIJING — Jackie Chan says allowing more Holly-
wood movies into the Chinese market would pres-
sure Chinese filmmakers to make better films.
China sets a quota on the number of foreign movies
allowed to be shown in the country, trying to fend off a
cinematic wave that could swamp local filmmakers and
loosen the ruling Communist Party’s grip on culture.
However, competition can be good, Chan said.
“It is this pressure that makes our filmmakers work
harder and shoot better films,” Chan told reporters at a
news conference in Beijing. “If we had shot our own films
behind closed doors without any competition, we wouldn’t
have had the growth in [the] box office we have today.”
The Hong Kong action star is a member of the official
advisory body to the national legislature, which met in the
Chinese capital.
Negotiators from China and the U.S. are expected to
reach a new agreement this year on how many foreign
films to allow into China, now the world’s second-biggest
movie market after North America. An expanded quota
would mean more competition for domestic films, which
last year accounted for 58 percent of the total box office, or
26.7 billion yuan ($3.8 billion).
In 2012, then-vice president Xi Jinping and then-U.S.
vice president Joe Biden negotiated a five-year deal to
allow 34 foreign films to be shown in Chinese cinemas
each year on a revenue-sharing basis. State media reports
have suggested that a new deal could see the quota
increased by 10 films or more.
In addition to the quota, a handful of extra Hollywood
movies were let in last year to try to boost a disappointing
slowdown in box-office receipts.
Apart from expanding the quota, Hollywood executives
hope to increase their share of ticket sales in China from
the current 25 percent. They receive 40 percent of ticket
revenues in other markets.
It’s unclear how much effort President Donald Trump’s
administration will put into promoting Hollywood’s
interests in China. Trump has been criticized by various
Hollywood stars and has fired off his own insults at others.
B
Philippines protests “Madam Secretary” portrayal of leader
MANILA, The Philippines (AP) —
The Philippine government has
protested the depiction of a fictional
leader of its country who makes a pass
at the female U.S. Secretary of State
in the CBS drama “Madam Secre-
tary.”
A video teaser of the episode showed
the middle-aged Filipino character
with a bloodied nose after being
punched by the titular character, U.S.
Secretary of State Elizabeth McCord,
played by Tea Leoni.
The
Philippine
Embassy
in
Washington said it wrote to CBS to
“strongly protest the highly negative
depiction of a character purported to
be the Philippine President” and
called on the network to take
necessary corrective actions.
It’s the latest potential irritant
between the United States and
Philippine
President
Rodrigo
Duterte, who sharply criticized
then-U.S. President Barack Obama
for raising concerns over his deadly
anti-drug crackdown and has called
his own country’s foreign policy too
dependent on the U.S.
The episode synopsis describes
the “Philippines’ unconventional new
president”
as
exhibiting
inappropriate
behavior
toward
McCord.
“This highly negative portrayal of
our Head of State not only casts doubt
on the respectability of the Office of
the Philippine President, but also
denigrates the way our nation
navigates foreign affairs,” the
Philippine Embassy said. “It also
tarnishes the Philippines’ longstand-
ing advocacy for women’s rights and
gender equality.”
While the Philippines has had two
female presidents in its history,
Duterte has been criticized for
making crude and sexist remarks.
Duterte’s spokesman, Ernesto
Abella, said while it is clear the series
is a work of fiction, “I think they are
projecting something that they really
would like to say about their own
situation.”
AP Photo/Richard Drew
T
told, it is one of the easiest
pan sauces to make.
Editor’s note: Elizabeth Karmel
is a barbecue and Southern
foods expert. She is the chef and
pit master at online retailer
CarolinaCueToGo.com and
the author of three books,
including Taming the Flame.
Naan Pizza with Chicken Tikka Masala
Servings: 6
Start to finish: 55 minutes
2 tablespoons clarified butter (ghee)
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 cups white onions, finely chopped (1 large onion)
3 cloves garlic, grated
1 inch piece of ginger root, grated
3 tablespoons tomato paste
2 teaspoons smoked sweet paprika
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 teaspoon sea salt
1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 cups crushed tomatoes
1/2 cup heavy whipping cream or sour cream
2 boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch cubes
2 cups grated mozzarella cheese
4 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
4 prepared naan bread
Heat clarified butter or ghee and olive oil in a heavy-bottom saucepan. Sauté onions
until translucent. Add garlic and ginger. Stir to combine and continue sautéing until
the garlic and ginger begin to turn golden.
Add tomato paste, paprika, cumin, cayenne, salt, turmeric, and cinnamon. Sauté
for a couple more minutes to “toast” the spices.
Add the crushed tomatoes and chunks of chicken. Bring to a boil then reduce the
heat and simmer about 20 minutes with the lid on. Stir occasionally. Stir in cream.
Continue to simmer on low heat with the lid off, stirring occasionally until the sauce is
reduced and the consistency of thick gravy. The sauce can be made in advance and
kept for two days in the refrigerator.
To use: Preheat oven to 400° Fahrenheit. Lay the naan out on a rack set into a sheet
pan and sprinkle a small amount of the grated cheese on the bread. Top the cheese
with the tikka masala, leaving a 1/2-inch border around the edge. Sprinkle the top
with more grated cheese. Place in the oven for about 15 minutes. The pizza is done
when the cheese is melted and the edges are crisp.
Remove from the oven and brush the edges with a little olive oil while it is still hot.
Serve and enjoy.
Nutrition information per serving: 490 calories (227 calories from fat); 25 g fat (13 g
saturated, 0 g trans fats); 92 mg cholesterol; 975 mg sodium; 41 g carbohydrate; 4 g
fiber; 7 g sugar; 28 g protein.
Beauty and the Beast shelved in Malaysia despite approval
By Eileen Ng
The Associated Press
UALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — Walt
Disney has shelved the release of its
new movie Beauty and the Beast in
mainly Muslim Malaysia, even though film
censors said it had been approved with a minor
cut involving a “gay moment.”
The studio said the film has not and will not
be edited for release in Malaysia.
Screenings of the live-action re-telling of the
animated classic were scheduled to begin in
mid-March.
Film Censorship board chairman Abdul
Halim Abdul Hamid said he did not know why
the film was postponed, as it was approved by
the board after a minor gay scene was axed. He
said scenes promoting homosexuality were
forbidden and that the film was given a P13
rating, which requires parental guidance for
children under 13 years of age.
“We have approved it, but there is a minor cut
K
involving a gay moment. It is only one short
scene, but it is inappropriate because many
children will be watching this movie,” Abdul
Halim told The Associated Press.
The film’s characters include manservant
LeFou, who plays the sidekick to the story’s
villain Gaston, and, according to director Bill
Condon, “is confused about his sexuality.”
Condon has described a brief scene as a “gay
moment.”
Russia approved the movie but banned
children under 16 from watching it without the
accompaniment of someone over 16.
Malaysia’s censors in 2010 loosened decades
of restrictions on sexual and religious content
in movies, but still kept a tight leash on tiny
bikinis, kisses, and passionate hugs. The new
rules allowed depiction of gay characters, but
only if they show repentance or are portrayed in
a negative light. Sodomy, even if consensual, is
punishable by up to 20 years in prison and
whipping in Malaysia.
The staff at The Asian Reporter wish you and
your family a safe and happy spring break!