Saturday, September 27, 2008

Chicken Curry or Kang Kai - Learn How to Cook


Chicken curry is so common that you will find it at any to-go curry vendors in Thailand. Chicken curry is eaten with rice or 'kanom jeen' noodles.

You can see chicken curry's popularity when you go to a temple in Thailand; Thai people frequently bring the classic dishes like chicken curry to feed the monks and other temple patrons.
Chicken Curry
Chicken curry is so common that you will find it at any to-go curry vendors in Thailand. Chicken curry is eaten with rice or 'kanom jeen' noodles.

You can see chicken curry's popularity when you go to a temple in Thailand; Thai people frequently bring the classic dishes like chicken curry to feed the monks and other temple patrons.

2-4 Servings

3cupswater
3-5sprigsThai basil
2tablespoonsfish sauce
1/2lbeggplant
1tablespoonred curry paste
1cupcoconut milk
1
chicken breast
I use Thai eggplants, the golf ball size ones. But, they can be difficult to find. Regular eggplants that you find in supermarkets are a good substitute. If you have the Thai eggplants, cut them up into quarters. If you have the regular eggplants, cut them into bite size pieces. Wash and pick the basil leaves.

Cut up the chicken into bite size pieces. If you have this dish in Thailand, you will see that the chicken comes with bones. All parts such as legs and thighs can be used. The bones make the curry more flavorful.

Pour half of the coconut milk into a large pot, over low to medium low heat. Add the red curry paste. Break up the paste and mix it with coconut milk. Stir constantly. Lower the heat if it splatters too much. Add chicken when you see red oil bubbling on top. Stir and coat chicken with curry sauce. Add the eggplant when chicken starts to turn white. Add the rest of the coconut milk and water and the fish sauce. Let it boil until all the eggplant pieces turn dark and tender. The longer you boil the curry, the thicker the curry becomes because the eggplant disintegrates and thickens the sauce. Add the basil leaves just before you serve and make sure the leaves are submerged quickly in the curry to preserve the color.

Serve hot with rice or rice noodles.
credit:thaitable

Sunday, September 21, 2008

Fried Noodle or Phat Thai

INGREDIENTS :

  • Vegetable oil 1/3 cup
  • Garlic, chopped 1 tbsp.
  • Pressed beancurd, sliced into small pieces 1/4 cup
  • Prawns, fresh and peeled 6 oz
  • Chanburi rice linguini, soaked in water and drained 2 cups (packed)
  • Fish sauce 1 - 2 tbsp.
  • Coconut sugar 1 - 2 tsp.
  • Unsalted, toasted peanuts, chopped 2 tbsp.
  • Thai chili flakes (prik pon) 1 tsp.
  • White vinegar or tamarind pulp juice 1 - 2 tbsp.
  • Bean sprouts, roots picked 1 cup Phat Thai (PHAT THAI)

    GARNISHES :

  • Omelet julienne 1
  • Fresh red spur chili peppers, julienne 1 tbsp.
  • Spring onion, julienne 1 tbsp.
  • Fresh lime wedges 2
    (2 servings)

    1. For best results, this dish should be cooked in a wok, Prepare all your ingredients in advance and have them ready beside you. Heat up the oil in a wok until almost smoking.

    2. Add the chopped garlic and pressed beancurd to the wok. Stirfry until cooked but not browned; add the prawns and stir quickly.

    3. Prawns cook very fast so do not over cook them. Once the prawns are slightly white add the flat thin rice noodle from Chanburi province. This noodle has to be soaked in water to make it pliable but not soggy, and drained before use.

    4. While stirfrying the noodles, season this dish with fish sauce, coconut sugar, chili flakes and vinegar. The liquid from the prawns and seasoning sauces will make the noodle soft yet " al dente" . Add peanuts and toss to mix well.

    5. Finally add the bean sprouts and quickly toss in the hot wok to warm them up but do not over cook them. Garnish the dish on top with a julienne thin omelet, red spur chili peppers and julienne spring onions with a few fresh bean sprouts and a lime wedge on the side.

    Tips

    This dish is very famous in Thailand and the world over. It's a great lunch item and our national pasta dish. Chanburi noodles are easily found in most Asian grocery stores, they come dry packed in a bundle wrapped in plastic. Ask your Thai or Asian grocer for phat thai noodles. Eating and seasoning tips: Westerners usually season their pasta dishes with salt, pepper and parmesan cheese but each phat thai dish is seasoned by the diner with fish sauce for saltiness, sugar for sweetness, lime juice for sourness, chili flakes for spiciness and peanuts for crunchiness.Credit:thaicuisinerecipe