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Category Archives: Thai Inspired

Drunken Noodles

Sauce

  • ¼ cup fish sauce
  • ¼ cup sweet soy sauce
  • 2 tablespoons oyster sauce
  • 3 tablespoons chili garlic sauce
  • 2 teaspoons corn starch

Mix all the ingredients into a small bowl with the corn starch. Keep aside.

  • 8 ounces big flat rice noodles cooked according to package direction and separated, once separated, drizzle some oil into the noodles and massage through with fingers to avoid sticking together
  • 2 tablespoons peanut oil
  • ½ pound medium shrimp, cleaned and deveined
  • 4 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 serrano chili, sliced, optional
  • 1 large yellow onion, sliced
  • 1 cup grape tomatoes, sliced in half
  • 1 cup Thai basil, leaves only, chopped
  • 2 packs of baby bok choy, trimmed and sliced in half
  • 2 eggs, room temperature

Heat a wok like pan with the peanut oil. Add the onion, garlic and chili. Saute on high heat for 2 to 3 minutes. Add the grape tomatoes and the bok choy and sauté for another 2 to 3 minutes. Add the noodles and sauce. Bring to a boil and add the shrimp. Cook for 2 minutes and add the 2 eggs. Mix really well until the eggs are incorporated and the dish becomes creamy. Add the basil, mix well and check for seasonings. Serve warm.

Crispy Tofu with Lemon Grass and Snow Peas

Crispy Tofu with Lemongrass

  • 1 (12 to 16 ounce) block firm tofu, drained and cut into 1 inch
  • 3 tablespoons corn starch
  • 1 teaspoon salt

Add the cornstarch and salt into a zip lock bag. Add the tofu and shake the bag until well coated.

  • 2 tablespoons extra light olive oil

Heat a non-stick frying pan. Saute the tofu till all sides are golden brown, about a minute or two on each side. Place the tofu on to a lined plate.

  • 4 stalks fresh lemon grass, tender part only, minced
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 large yellow onion, cut into 1 inch pieces

Sauce

  • 2 tablespoons tamari
  • 2 tablespoons fish sauce
  • 1 tablespoons chili paste
  • 2 tablespoons palm sugar (or 1 tablespoon honey)
  • Juice of one navel orange
  • 1 teaspoon corn starch

Mix the tamari, fish sauce, chili paste, palm sugar, orange juice and corn starch in a small bowl. Keep aside.

  • 2 tablespoons extra light olive oil
  • 2 cups snow peas
  • Juice of a lemon

Heat a wok like saucepan and add the oil. Add the lemon grass and garlic. Saute on high heat for a minute. Add the onion and sauté for another minute.
Add the snow peas and sauté for 2 to 3 minutes. Add the sauce and bring to a boil. Add the tofu and mix well – gently, making sure not to break the tofu.
Sprinkle the lemon juice and serve.

Hamburgers with Thai Flavors

Burgers (Makes about 16 to 18 patties)

  • 3 pounds ground chicken (dark meat)
  • 2 limes, juiced and zested
  • 5 garlic cloves, minced
  • 3 inches ginger, minced
  • 1 teaspoon sesame oil
  • 1 cup cilantro, chopped
  • 1 cup green onions, chopped
  • 3 teaspoons fish sauce
  • 1 cup salted peanuts, chopped
  • 1 tablespoon tamari
  • 2 serrano chilies, chopped
  • 2 teaspoons sriracha sauce
  • Salt

Mix all the ingredients in a big bowl and divide into 16 to 18 patties, depending on the size.

Thai Style Burgers

Garnish

  • 4 cups wild arugula
  • 3 large tomatoes, sliced
  • 2 small red onions, sliced
  • 12 to 16 brioche rolls, sliced

Mango Pineapple Chutney

  • 1 tablespoon extra light olive oil
  • 1 big shallot, sliced
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 inch ginger, minced
  • 1 cup mango, peeled and chopped
  • 1 cup canned pineapple
  • ½ cup pineapple juice
  • ½ cup mango lemonade
  • ¼ cup apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon brown sugar
  • Salt

Heat a small frying pan. Add the olive oil, shallot, garlic and ginger. Saute on medium heat for 30 seconds. Add the mango, pineapple, pineapple juice, mango lemonade, apple cider vinegar and brown sugar. Bring to a boil. Lower the heat and let simmer for 20 minutes covered. Turn the heat off and blend the mixture till smooth in a blender. Taste for seasonings and add salt if necessary. Take out in a bowl and let it cool before using it for the burgers.

To assemble the burgers, place a burger on the sliced brioche. Spread the chutney on one side with the arugula, slice tomatoes and onions.

Green Curry Noodle Soup

My daughter announced a while ago that she would like to eat less meat- so, I informed her that we can absolutely do that but we will need to incorporate more veggies and beans  in the diet. I know of a lot of teenagers her age who have decided to give up meat and live on pasta every day – not in my house!! This is a yummy, flavorful dish where one does not miss the meat….it does have some shrimp paste- but that can be eliminated.

Green curry paste (substitute store bought paste)

  • ½ bunch Thai basil leaves
  • ½ bunch cilantro leaves
  • 2 kaffir lime leaves, (or zest of one lime)
  • 1 (4- inch) piece lemongrass
  • 4 garlic cloves
  • 1 small shallot, chopped
  • 1 (2- inch) piece peeled ginger
  • 1 small Serrano pepper
  • ½ teaspoon shrimp paste (or 5 to 6 dashes fish sauce)
  • 2 teaspoons ground coriander
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin

Place all the ingredients into a food processor or blender and blend until smooth, about 3 to 4 minutes. If desired, strain the paste through a strainer to get rid of the stringy texture from the lemongrass. Take out and keep aside.

  • 2 tablespoons peanut oil
  • 1 medium yellow onion, chopped
  • 2 garlic cloves, sliced
  • 1 bunch brown beech mushrooms
  • 1 cup spicy dry tofu, sliced or extra firm tofu, sliced
  • ½ cup sliced fresh or canned bamboo shoots
  • 3 heaping tablespoons green curry paste
  • 2 kaffir lime leaves, (or zest of one lime)
  • 1 can coconut milk
  • 2 cups chicken or vegetable broth
  • 12 ounces ramen noodles

Heat a heavy saucepan with the peanut oil. Add the onion and garlic and sauté for 1 to 2 minutes. Add the mushrooms and sauté for 3 to 4 minutes. Add the green curry paste and kaffir lime leaves and sauté for another 3 to 4 minutes. Add the tofu and bamboo shoots and sauté for 1 to 2 minutes. Stir in the coconut milk and broth. Bring to a boil and adjust seasoning.

Cook the ramen noodles according to instructions and add to the soup and serve garnished with basil, cilantro leaves and sliced Serrano pepper.

Recipe modified from spoonforkbacon.com

 

Green Curry with Tofu

This is the first time I have attempted green curry at home. We always order it in Thai restaurants and really enjoy the flavor. My problem with attempting Thai recipes at home was the numerous ingredients. I finally went to an Asian grocery store and stocked up on galangal which comes frozen and can be stored in your freezer for a long time. It is nice to have fresh kaffir lime leaves and lemon grass but they are not always available. So, I bought frozen lemon grass and stored the fresh lime leaves in the freezer as well. They may not be as aromatic as the fresh ones but it is better than not having them at all. This was a good first try- will keep improving….

  • 1 cup cilantro, chopped
  • 3 garlic cloves, smashed
  • 2 medium shallots, chopped
  • 1 inch galangal or ginger
  • 2 tablespoons lemongrass or zest of 2 limes
  • 1 teaspoon ground coriander
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 2 tablespoons fish sauce
  • Juice of one lemon
  • 2 teaspoons honey

Transfer all the ingredients to a food processor and process till a paste is achieved. You may need to add some water to process. Keep aside.

  • 2 tablespoons coconut oil
  • 2 cups cremini mushrooms, sliced
  • 3 to 4 heads small bok choy, whites and greens separated and chopped
  • 1 can coconut milk
  • Salt
  • 3 or 4 kaffir lime leaves, sliced
  • ¼ cup cilantro, chopped

Heat a wok like saucepan with the coconut oil. Add the green curry paste and sauté on medium heat for 3 to 4 minutes. Add the mushrooms and sauté for another 4 to 5 minutes. Add the bok choy whites and sauté for 2 more mintues. Add the coconut milk and bring to a boil. Add salt and water if needed. Cook on a simmer for 4 to 5 minutes. Check for seasonings and garnish with kaffir lime leaves and cilantro. Serve with soba noodles.

Chicken Mango Coconut Green Curry

  • 2 + 1 tablespoons coconut oil
  • 1 inch ginger, grated
  • 3 garlic cloves, chopped
  • 2 kaffir lime leaves
  • 1 tablespoon green curry paste
  • 1 teaspoon coriander powder
  • 2 cups mango chunks
  • 1 can coconut milk (13 ½ ounces)
  • 2 teaspoons fish sauce
  • Juice of one lime
  • 1 cup Thai basil, chopped and divided in half
  • 1 medium yellow onion, sliced
  • 1 large yellow or orange pepper, sliced
  • 1 pound chicken breast, sliced thin
  • Sugar to taste
  • Salt to taste

Heat a wok like pan with 2 tablespoons coconut oil. Add the ginger, garlic, kaffir leaves, curry paste and coriander powder. Saute on medium heat for 4 to 5 minutes. Add the mango chunks, coconut milk, fish sauce, lime juice and ½ cup basil. Bring to a boil. Take off the heat and blend till smooth in a blender. Keep aside. Heat the same pan with 1 tablespoon with coconut oil on medium heat. Add the onion and pepper. Saute on medium heat for 2 to 3 minutes. Add the chicken and the blended sauce. Bring to a boil and cook the chicken till done. Add sugar and salt to taste. Garnish with the remaining basil. Serve with rice.

Mango Coconut Green Chicken Curry

  • 2 + 1 tablespoons coconut oil
  • 1 inch ginger, grated
  • 3 garlic cloves, chopped
  • 2 kaffir lime leaves
  • 1 tablespoon green curry paste
  • 1 teaspoon coriander powder
  • 2 cups mango chunks
  • 1 can coconut milk (13 ½ ounces)
  • 2 teaspoons fish sauce
  • Juice of one lime
  • 1 cup Thai basil, chopped and divided in half
  • 1 medium yellow onion, sliced
  • 1 large red pepper, sliced
  • 1 pound chicken breast, sliced thin
  • Sugar to taste
  • Salt to taste

Heat a wok like pan with 2 tablespoons coconut oil. Add the ginger, garlic, kaffir leaves, curry paste and coriander powder. Saute on medium heat for 4 to 5 minutes. Add the mango chunks, coconut milk, fish sauce, lime juice and ½ cup basil. Bring to a boil. Take off the heat and blend till smooth in a blender. Keep aside. Heat the same pan with 1 tablespoon with coconut oil on medium heat. Add the onion and pepper. Saute on medium heat for 2 to 3 minutes. Add the chicken and the blended sauce. Bring to a boil and cook the chicken till done. Add sugar and salt to taste. Garnish with the remaining basil. Serve with rice.