Showing posts with label Thai Treats. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Thai Treats. Show all posts

Tuesday, February 11, 2014

Hubby's Thai Green Curry with a twist

Recently a good friend of ours, spouse in tow, dropped in unexpectedly and stayed on for dinner. We caught up over a lot of things and the time just slipped by. It was when the clock turned a little over 7 PM did I realize that we had not yet decided about dinner. While we dilly-dallied as to where we could head over, my gallant hubby volunteered to dish out something funky. Of-course I had to be his sous-chef; the 'chef' had to have his mise-en-place and I scurried around getting things up and running. My kitchen slowly started singing to the lilting Thai tunes with a twist. 



The guests hummed a satiated melody and went back home singing paeans about my hubby's skills. I preened and trilled as if my very own limited (ahem) culinary prowess had been accorded heavy appreciation :D



The veggies and fruits in the fridge found a place in the dish and added the zing!



The pics I have clicked does no justice to how it tasted. I served the gravy/curry with Garlicky Brown Rice, which btw was my humble effort. And no, there were no great praises heaved on the rice but then it was collectively agreed that the combo was a smashing hit :). I will put up the recipe for the rice some time soon!

{Serves: 4, Prep Time: 20 mins, Cooking Time: 15 mins}

What's in it :- 
  • Olive Oil - 2 to 3 tbsp
  • Dried Fenugreek Leaves - 1 tsp
  • Black Cumin Seeds (shahi jeera) - 1 tsp
  • Cumin Seeds - 1 tsp
  • Fennel Seeds - 1 tsp
  • Roasted peanuts - 1 medium cup (roughly crushed)
  • Milk - 1 1/2  cups
  • Water - 1 cup
  • Tomato - 1 large (cubed)
  • Green Peas - a fistful
  • Brinjal - 1 large (cubed)
  • Cauliflower - small (small florets)
  • Onion - 1 large (cubed)
  • Green Curry Paste - 2 to 3 tbsp {I used store bought}
  • Apple - 1 medium (cubed)
  • Orange - 1 medium (peeled and cubed)
  • Sweet Lime - medium (peeled and cubed)
  • Salt - to taste
  • Sugar - a pinch




Here's How:-

In a kadai, add oil and as it warms up, add the dried fenugreek leaves, cumin, shahi jeera and fennel seeds. Once they crackle, add the milk and water and bring it to a boil. Dunk the cubed onions, cauliflower, green peas, brinjal and tomatoes. Let the vegetables cook. Then add the green curry paste and let the whole mix simmer for a while. Add sugar and salt to taste and finally dunk the fruits. Let it simmer till it thickens and then take it off flame. Now add the crushed peanuts and mix well. Serve hot with Garlicky brown rice.



E.N.J.O.Y

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Thai Masamman Vegetarian Curry

Recently I was watching an episode of Masterchef Australia where the contestants had to rev up an insipid Masamman dish and I realised it’s been a while my hearth saw some Thai action. The Masamman curry in all its veggie avatar perked up our sunday afternoon with mighty flavours and peppy taste. A Southern Thai dish, the massaman curry has Muslim Origins. Actually the word  Massaman roughly means muslim as it is said Thailand got its share of spice from the Muslim Traders who bought them to its shores. Masamman Curry is commonly made with beef or chicken, though other meats like pork,duck can be used. Of course it goes without saying the curry also tastes good in the vegetarian version with a medley of vegetables and/or tofu. The aromatic and flavourful fuse of spices adds magic to the dish and it tastes awesome with rice or rotis (Indian flat bread). I served the Thai curry with Peas and Cumin Pulao.



The blend of spices and herbs gives Masamman its punch. The delectable medley of veggies and tofu in a coconut milk gravy is sure to tingle your palate.The recipe has already been featured in Honest Cooking

Ingredients
  • Onion – 1 medium sized – (sliced)
  • Eggplant – 1 medium sized (cubed in to bite sized pieces)
  • Potato -1 medium sized (cubed in to bite sized pieces)
  • Green Pepper – 1 (cubed in to bite sized pieces)
  • Beans – a fistful (sliced)
  • Tofu – 200 grams – cubed
  • Coconut Milk – 400ml (to be added in 2 stages @ 200ml each)
  • Curry Paste – 2 tbsp – to taste
  • Date and Tamarind chutney – 1 to 2 tbsp – to taste
  • Oil – 2 tbsp (I used a mix of coconut oil & sunflower oil)
  • Star Anise – 2
  • Dark Soy Sauce – 1 to 2 tbsp – to taste
  • For the Dates and tamarind Chutney – 1 1/2 tbsp – to taste
  • Dates – 50 – 100 gms
  • Date Syrup – 2 -3 table spoons
  • Tamarind Paste – about 75 gms
  • Jaggery – 50 – 75 gms
  • Black Salt – 1 1/2 tea spoon
  • Red Chilly Powder – 1 1/2 tea spoon
  • Amchoor (Dry Mango) Powder – 1 1/2 tea spoon
  • Chat Masala – 1 1/2 tea spoon
  • For the Curry Paste (mix of spices and herbs)
  • Dried Red Chillis – 7 to 8- to taste
  • Coriander Seeds – 1 1/2 tbsp
  • Cumin Seeds – 1 tbsp
  • Cinnamon – a small piece
  • Cloves – 3
  • Cardamom – seeds of 3 pods
  • Black Pepper Corns – 1 tbsp
  • Shallots – a fistful
  • Garlic- 6 to 7 pods
  • Ginger – a small piece
  • Coriander roots – roots of a few sprigs
  • Nutmeg Powder – 1/2 tsp
  • Dry Ginger Powder – 1/2 tsp
  • For Garnish
  • Roasted Peanuts – a fistful (roughly crushed)
  • Cashewnuts – 1 tbsp (roughly crushed)
  • Dried Basil leaves – a few sprinkles -as required
How:-

Wash the cubed vegetables & tofu well. Set it aside.Dry roast all the spices for the curry paste and pulse it to a fine mix along with the shallots,ginger,garlic and coriander roots adding little water if necessary. I hand pounded the spices as well as herbs to a fine powder/paste with a mortar and pestle.Mix the paste with dry ginger powder and nutmeg powder for the Thai Masammn Curry Paste.


Prepare the Dates and Tamarind chutney by soaking the dates in little hot water for some time and grinding it to a paste. In a kadai pour some water, add the tamarind paste and bring it to a boil.Then add the jaggery and allow it to cook for some time.Now add the black salt, red chilly powder, amchoor powder and the chat masala.Once this is cooked add the date paste and the date syrup and bring to a boil and thicken the dip.




In a wok/pan, add the oil and as it warms add star anise and let it sizzle for a few seconds. Now add the sliced onion and as it turns pink, tip in the pounded curry paste as required. Let the spices & herb mix blend well and release its flavours.Now add the cubed vegetables and saute it for a few minutes.Add one half of the coconut milk (apprx 200 ml) in to the vegetable mix and bring it to a boil. Let it simmer for some time till the vegetables turn soft and tender.




Add salt to taste and the dark soy sauce.Further tip in the dates and Tamarind Chutney to suit your palate and let the mix cook for some time.Finally add the cubed tofu and the remaining coconut milk. Simmer to get the required gravy like consistency.Take off flame and garnish with crushed roasted peanuts, cashewnuts and dried basil leaves.Serve hot with rice/rotis/breads




Useful Pointers
1. 
For the sweet and sour mix in the dish I used the Dates and Tamarind Chutney that was already in the fridge. This gave the dish a nice and different pep. You can simply use some tamarind paste and palm sugar/sugar/jaggery to give the same effect.
2. 
Use any vegetables for the curry- like squash,avacado,melons etc. I used whatever was in the fridge and pantry
3. I hand pounded the spices and herbs with mortar and pestle, you can grind the herbs and spice mix in to a fine paste in a mixer/food processor. Pounding them in mortar/pestle brings out the wholesome flavour of the ingredients.
4.
You can also add lemon grass and galangal (instead of ginger) for the authentic taste of Thai curry to the curry paste.
5. 
The dish also tasted good when refrigerated overnight and eaten the next day. But make sure to eat it hot.


Enjoy !
It's off to Kalyani's 100 day Global Food fest

Thursday, May 26, 2011

Pad Thai Noodles with Grilled Veggies in Green curry Paste

A packet of Thai Rice Noodles beckoned, not caring much for the Green Curry seasoning in it, I decided to make the curry paste from scratch. On account of non-availability of certain items as well as our ever-changing taste buds,the curry paste saw a few twists. It was a real winner, the taste & blend of flavours in the paste gave a lot of sizzle to the noodles. As a magic touch I added the Texas Style Barbeque Sauce to the veggies while on grill which was the highlight  along with the curry paste.



 Needless to say the noodles simply vanished !




What in:-
  • 1 pack of Pad Thai Noodles soaked in hot water for 25-30 minutes
  • Onion - 1 - finely sliced
  • Crushed Peanuts - a fistful
For the Grilled Veggies:- (add choice veggies)
  • Bell Pepper -1 - thinly  sliced
  • Green Peas - a  fistful 
  • Carrot- 1- thinly sliced
  • Olive Oil - as required
  • Salt & Pepper - to taste
  • Texas style Barbeque Sauce - a few drizzles
For the Sauce/Paste:-
  • Coconut slices - 1/2 cup
  • Shallots - 2 or 3
  • Basil Leaves - a few
  • Coriander Leaves - few sprigs
  • Dry Ginger Powder - 1 tsp
  • Cumin - 1 tsp
  • Coriander Seeds - 1 tsp
  • Garlic - 2 to 3 pods
  • Green Chilli - 2 - to taste (use serrano peppers/jalapeno if you have)
  • Salt - to taste
  • Sugar - 1/2 tsp
  • Black peppercorns - a few
  • Lemon zest - a little
  • Soy Sauce - 1 to 2 tbsp
  • Tabasco Green Pepper Sauce - a few splashes
Garnish:- either or all (optional)
  • Finely Chopped Coriander leaves
  • Grated cheese
  • Crushed Peanuts



How:-

Drain the noodles after cooking it per instructions. Toss slightly with oil and set aside.


Blend all the ingredients for the curry paste along with little water. The soy sauce gave the paste a slightly darker shade of green. The paste left after using for the noodles can be refrigerated & used. 



Preheat the oven to grill mode @ 200 C  and place the olive oil brushed veggies for 15-20 minutes. Halfway add the barbeque sauce along with salt & pepper and allow it to char some more till the desired smoky effect. 



The charred veggies & onions ready to get under fire !



In a wok add olive oil and saute the sliced onion to a fine pink. Now tip in the  required paste and allow it to cook for some time. If the mix gets too dry add some water. Now add the grill charred veggies along with crushed peanuts and mix well. Check for seasoning  and finally dunk the noodles. Gently fluff the mix with fork till every strand of the noodles get coated with the veggie-paste mix.



If the dish gets too dry add a splash of olive oil as it not only helps the mix in blending well but brings out all the contrasting flavours !
Garnish with choice ingredients. 



Serve hot & Enjoy !



This goes to Priya's Fast Food Not Fat Food event guest hosted by me !