These two chicken recipes reflect the book's principles and draw flavor influences from Asian cuisines.

Here, chicken marinates in fish sauce (nam pla, nuoc nam or patis). This is a great dish for a picnic, served at room temperature or chilled. You do need to plan ahead because it needs to marinate overnight.

Asian Chicken with Scallions

• 4 large chicken breast halves on the bone (about 10 ounces each), with skin
• 1/4 cup fish sauce
• 4 scallions

The day before you plan to serve, cut each chicken breast in half across the width of the breast. Place the chicken in a bowl and pour the fish sauce over. Toss to coat thoroughly.

Remove 3 inches of the dark green part of the scallions and discard. Cut each of the scallions very thin, on the bias, about 1/8- inch thick. Add the scallions to the bowl with the chicken and toss. Cover and refrigerate for 18 to 24 hours.

Preheat the oven to 500 F.

Lift the chicken from the fish sauce, letting the scallion slices remain on the chicken. Place the chicken on a rimmed baking sheet. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, until just firm, then put under the broiler, about 8 inches from the heat, for 1 to 2 minutes, until just golden. Remove from the oven. Remove the skin and serve immediately, if serving hot. Or you can serve the chicken at room temperature or chilled.

Makes 4 servings.

• Per serving: 336 cal., 3.57 g total fat (0.94 g saturated), 4.21 g carbo., 0.65 g fiber, 67.49 g pro. (Note: This is a very low carb dish, with 3.56 g carbo, minus fiber.)

The following recipe for chicken marinated in miso can be made with ginger or garlic. Miso, Japanese-style fermented soybean paste, is a great carrier of flavors. You can make this dish with fresh ginger or prepare it with garlic cloves pushed through a press, Gold says. "I really can't decide which I like better — so sometimes I make a platter of each for parties. In that case, do chicken breasts with ginger and thighs with garlic. If using garlic, push 4 large cloves through a garlic press and add to the miso-water mixture."

Miso Chicken with Fresh Ginger

• 1/3 cup white (shiro) miso
• 6-inch piece fresh ginger
• 4 large chicken breast halves on the bone (about 10 ounces each)

The day before you plan to serve, in a large bowl, combine the miso and 1/3 cup cold water and whisk until thoroughly combined, smooth and thick.

Using a small, sharp knife, peel the ginger. Grate the ginger on the large holes of a box grater. Wrap the grated ginger in a paper towel and squeeze the ginger juice, about 2 tablespoons, through the paper towel into the bowl with the miso. Stir to incorporate.

Cut the chicken breasts in half across the width of each breast. Add the chicken to the miso-ginger mixture and turn the pieces to coat thoroughly. Sprinkle the chicken liberally with salt. For a more gingery flavor, you can finely chop the remaining ginger pulp, add it to the chicken, and mix again. Cover and refrigerate for 18 to 24 hours.

Preheat oven to 500 F.

Remove chicken from the bowl, making sure some marinade remains on the chicken, and transfer to a rimmed baking sheet, skin side up. Bake for 10 minutes, then put under the broiler, about 6 inches from the heat, for 1 to 2 minutes, or until the skin is dark golden brown and the chicken is just firm to the touch. (Be careful not to overcook.) Remove the skin and serve immediately.

Makes 4 servings.