Pad Thai Recipe

Prep time: 20 min | Cook time: 10 min | Total time: 30 min
Yield: 2-3 servings

INGREDIENTS:

Sauce:

• 4 tablespoons lime or lemon juice
• 3 tablespoons fish sauce
• 3 tablespoons sugar
• 1-2 pinches crushed chilies or pepper flakes

Pad Thai:

• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil or canola oil
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 shallot, thinly sliced
• 1/2 lb. medium sized fresh prawns, cleaned and deveined (or 8 oz. chicken or diced tofu)
• 2 eggs, lightly beaten
• 8 oz. pad thai rice noodles (cooked, drained and rinsed as directed for stir fry)
• 1 cup fresh bean sprouts

Garnish:

• 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro, chopped
• 3 tablespoons roasted peanuts, chopped
• 3 tablespoons scallions, thinly sliced
• 1 lime, cut into wedges

DIRECTIONS:

1. Mix together the sauce ingredients in a small bowl.
2. Heat wok or pan over high heat. Add oil, garlic, shallots and prawns. Cook until prawns are opaque; transfer to a bowl and set aside.
3. Add eggs to the pan (if there’s not much oil left in the pan, you can add a little splash – I didn’t need it), then scramble. Reduce the heat to low; add sauce and noodles. Toss until well mixed. Add prawns and bean sprouts. Toss well.
4. Garnish with cilantro, peanuts, scallions and lime wedges.

Thai Lemon Shrimp....

Ingredients:

1 pound shrimp (shelled and deveined)
1/3 cup sweet chili sauce
1 lemon (juice and zest)
3 kaffir lime leaves (sliced, substitute lime zest)
1 teaspoon chili sauce
1 tablespoon fish sauce
3 cloves garlic (chopped)
1 teaspoon palm sugar (or brown sugar)
1/4 cup coconut milk
1/4 cup cilantro (chopped)

Directions:
1. Marinate the shrimp in the sweet chili sauce, lemon juice, lemon zest, kaffir lime leaves, chili sauce, fish sauce, garlic and sugar for 10 or more minutes.
2. Heat a pan.
3. Add the shrimp, the marinade and the coconut milk and simmer (not boil) until the shrimp are cooked, about 2-3 minutes.
4. Remove from heat and mix in the cilantro.

Thai Green Curry Chicken

Ingredients

1. 4 chicken thigh or breast without fat thinly sliced

2. 200 gms Chopped green beans into thin vertical strips

3. 1 can of coconut milk unsweetened

Green Curry Paste:

1. 3 small fresh green chillies, chopped

2. 2 cloves garlic, chopped

3. 3 spring onions, chopped

4. 1/4 cup chopped fresh lemon grass

5. 1/4 cup chopped fresh coriander leaves

6. 2 tbsp oil

7. 1 tsp of fresh lime juice

8. 2 tbsp water

9. 1 tsp Asian fish sauce

10. 1/2 tsp ground cumin

11. 1/4 tsp ground turmeric

12. 3 scallions, white and green parts thinly sliced separately for garnishing

Directions

1. Prepare the green curry paste. Blend all ingredients into blender for smooth green curry paste.

2. Heat oil in a wok or non stick pan.

3. Add the green curry paste in pan or wok, keep on stirring for about 2-3 minutes until it is you can smell the spices and herbs.

4. Add the chicken and let it cook into the paste for 3 minutes.

5. Now add beans to the pan and cook, keep on stirring in between and cook it with a lid close.

6. Add the coconut milk now, stir in and simmer until broth or paste slightly thickens.

7. Enjoy hot with steamed rice.

Pineapple Fried Rice

• 1/2 yellow onion, diced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 medium sized carrot, diced
• 1 medium sized red pepper diced
• 1 medium sized green pepper diced
• 1 cup of peas
• 1 egg, scrambled 1 handful of chopped spring onions
• 1 cup cooked jasmine rice
• 1/4 cup pineapple juice
• 1/2 cup pineapple diced
• 1 tablespoon tamari ( or a dash of dark soya sauce)
• 1 tbsp. yellow curry powder

Start with cutting all the veg and setting them aside. Cook the rice till 95 % done, drain and spread out on a tray so they dry out.
Cook scrambled eggs, set aside. Now in a really hot wok cook onion, carrot, pea, garlic,the peppers & pineapple chunks, set aside.
Fry the rice for 1 minute and add the veggies back in. Now add pineapple juice, tamari, and curry powder. Garnish with the greens of spring onion, and for a beautiful presentation, scoop out the inside of a pineapple and stuff the rice inside. Serve immediately.

Thai Pineapple Fried Rice

(makes 4 servings)

Ingredients:
1 tablespoon oil
2 shallots (sliced)
3 cloves garlic (chopped)
1 red chili (chopped)
1 red pepper (diced)
1 egg (lightly beaten)
3 tablespoons chicken stock (or vegetable broth)
3 tablespoons fish sauce (or soy sauce)
1 tablespoon curry powder
1 teaspoon sugar
1/2 cup cashews (roasted)
3 cups cooked rice (preferably a day old)
1 cup pineapple (cut into bite sized pieces)
1 cup shrimp (cooked, optional)
1/4 cup peas (fresh or frozen)
1/4 cup currants (or raisins)
2 green onions (sliced)
1/4 cup cilantro (chopped)

Directions:
1. Heat the oil in a pan.
2. Add the shallots, garlic, chillies and red pepper and stir-fry until fragrant, about a minute.
3. Add the egg and stir-fry for a minute.
4. Add the chicken stock, fish sauce, curry powder and sugar and stir-fry.
5. Add the cashews and stir-fry for 30 seconds.
6. Add the rice, break up any clumps and stir-fry for a few minutes.
7. Add the pineapple, shrimp, peas and raisins and stir-fry to mix them in.
8. Remove from heat and serve garnished with chopped green onions and cilantro.

Thai-Style Chicken with Basil and Pineapple

• 2 3/4 cups chicken stock
• 2 tbsp. butter
• 1 1/2 cups jasmine or other white rice
• Peanut or vegetable oil, for stir-frying
• 1 1/2 lbs. skinless, boneless chicken breast or thigh meat chopped into bite-size pieces
• Finely ground white or black pepper
• 1/4 pineapple, trimmed and sliced into thin, bite-size pieces (1 cup)
• 1 bell pepper—seeded, quartered lengthwise and thinly sliced
• 1 red fresno (milder) or thai (hotter) chile pepper, seeded and thinly sliced or finely chopped
• 1 piece (1 1/2 inches) fresh ginger, grated or minced
• 3–4 large cloves garlic, chopped
• About 2 tbsp. kecap manis (an Indonesian condiment), or substitute 2 tbsp. tamari plus 1 tsp. sugar
• 1 1/2 tbsp. fish sauce
• 1 cup basil leaves (about 20 to 24), torn
• 1 lime, 1/2 juiced and 1/2 cut into wedges, plus 1 tsp. zest

1. In a medium saucepan, bring the chicken stock and butter to a boil, then stir in the rice and return to a boil. Lower the heat, cover and simmer until tender, 16 to 18 minutes. Fluff with a fork.
   
2. When the rice is about ready, heat a thin layer of oil, about 1 1/2 tbsp., in a large nonstick skillet over high heat. Pat the chicken dry and season with pepper. Add the meat to the pan in a single layer and do not touch for 2 minutes; stir-fry until golden, about 3 minutes more. Transfer to a plate.
   
3. Add a little more oil to the skillet and heat up, then add the pineapple, bell pepper, chile pepper, ginger and garlic and stir-fry until crisp tender and the pineapple pieces are light golden at the edges, about 3 minutes. Stir in the kecap manis (or tamari and sugar) and fish sauce. Add the chicken and toss to coat.
   
4. Turn off the heat and add half the basil leaves to wilt. Stir in the lime juice and zest and toss again to combine. Serve with the rice and garnish with the lime wedges and remaining basil.

Thai Vegetable Curry

Ingredients

For the Curry Paste

Grind together:

1 small onion
4 cloves garlic
3 tbsp ginger
3 chillies
1 tsp cumin seeds
½ tsp cinnamon powder
½ tsp coriander seeds
¼ cup water or coconut milk
For the Curry

1 sweet potato, cubed and cooked (I microwaved mine)
100g green beans (French beans), trimmed and cut in half
100g spinach, washed
1 small potato, cubed and cooked (again, I microwaved)
50g mushrooms, wiped and quartered
1 cup firm tofu, deep fried
1 onion, sliced lengthways
1 tbsp sunflower oil
2 star anise (or 2 tsp star anise powder)
100g chickpeas (garbanzo beans)
4 tbsp peanut butter ( use ground peanuts if you like)
2 tsp cumin, ground
1 tsp cardamom powder
2 tbsp sesame oil
2 tbsp dark soy sauce
500ml coconut milk
1 to 2 tbsp sugar
Salt to taste
2 tbsp tamarind juice
1 tbsp maggi liquid seasoning
Salt to taste



Method

1. Grind up all the ingredients for the curry paste.

2. Heat the oil in a wok, add the curry paste and cook this on a medium heat until aromatic and when the oil separates from the paste. Add the peanut butter. Keep stirring and don’t let it burn.

3. Add the coconut milk, star anise, ground cumin, cardamom powder, sesame oil, dark soy sauce, sugar, maggi seasoning, salt, tamarind juice. Allow to simmer until it becomes a little thicker.

4. Add the tofu, green beans, potatoes, sweet potatoes, mushrooms, onions and chickpeas. Simmer for five minutes. If your mixture becomes too thick just thin it out using a little water.

5. Add the spinach and turn the heat off. It will cook perfectly in the heat of the curry.

6. Remove the whole star anise before serving. Enjoy with beautiful Thai jasmine rice. 

Thai Vegetable Curry

Ingredients

For the Curry Paste

Grind together:

1 small onion
4 cloves garlic
3 tbsp ginger
3 chillies
1 tsp cumin seeds
½ tsp cinnamon powder
½ tsp coriander seeds
¼ cup water or coconut milk
For the Curry

1 sweet potato, cubed and cooked (I microwaved mine)
100g green beans (French beans), trimmed and cut in half
100g spinach, washed
1 small potato, cubed and cooked (again, I microwaved)
50g mushrooms, wiped and quartered
1 cup firm tofu, deep fried
1 onion, sliced lengthways
1 tbsp sunflower oil
2 star anise (or 2 tsp star anise powder)
100g chickpeas (garbanzo beans)
4 tbsp peanut butter ( use ground peanuts if you like)
2 tsp cumin, ground
1 tsp cardamom powder
2 tbsp sesame oil
2 tbsp dark soy sauce
500ml coconut milk
1 to 2 tbsp sugar
Salt to taste
2 tbsp tamarind juice
1 tbsp maggi liquid seasoning
Salt to taste



Method

1. Grind up all the ingredients for the curry paste.

2. Heat the oil in a wok, add the curry paste and cook this on a medium heat until aromatic and when the oil separates from the paste. Add the peanut butter. Keep stirring and don’t let it burn.

3. Add the coconut milk, star anise, ground cumin, cardamom powder, sesame oil, dark soy sauce, sugar, maggi seasoning, salt, tamarind juice. Allow to simmer until it becomes a little thicker.

4. Add the tofu, green beans, potatoes, sweet potatoes, mushrooms, onions and chickpeas. Simmer for five minutes. If your mixture becomes too thick just thin it out using a little water.

5. Add the spinach and turn the heat off. It will cook perfectly in the heat of the curry.

6. Remove the whole star anise before serving. Enjoy with beautiful Thai jasmine rice. 

Thai Spicy Peanut Chicken Enchiladas

Ingredients:
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 red bell pepper (thinly sliced)
2 green onions (sliced)
1 large carrot (julienned)
2 cups bean sprouts
1 cup cooked shredded chicken
1 handful cilantro (chopped)
1 cup spicy Thai peanut sauce
4 (8 inch) tortillas
1 cup jack and cheddar cheese (grated)
2 tablespoons roasted peanuts (chopped)
2 birds eye chilies (sliced)
1 handful cilantro (chopped)

Directions:
1. Heat the oil in a pan.
2. Add the red pepper and saute until tender, about 5-7 minutes
3. Add the green onion, carrot and bean sprouts and saute until tender, about a minute.
4. Remove from heat.
5. Mix in the chicken, cilantro and 1/2 cup of the peanut sauce.
6. Spread some of the peanut sauce over the bottom of a baking dish.
7. Place some of the filling in a tortilla, wrap it up and place it in a baking dish. Repeat for the remaining tortillas.
8. Pour the remaining peanut sauce over the enchiladas and sprinkle on the cheese.
9. Bake in a preheated 350F oven until the sides are bubbling and the cheese is melted about 20-30 minutes.
10. Serve garnished with chopped peanuts, sliced chilies and cilantro.

Thai Spicy Peanut Sauce

Ingredients:
1 tablespoon peanut oil
1 tablespoon panang curry paste or red curry paste
1/4 cup coconut milk
1/4 cup chicken stock
3 tablespoons fish sauce
2 tablespoons lime juice
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 tablespoon chili sauce (or 1 birds eye chili, sliced)
2 tablespoons peanut butter
1 teaspoon sesame oil
2 tablespoons peanuts (roasted and crushed)

Directions:
1. Heat the oil in a pan.
2. Add the panang curry and saute until fragrant.
2. Add everything else and simmer to thicken it a bit, about 2-3 minutes.

Salmon Panang Curry

Salmon Panang Curry

Salmon 2 tbsp panang curry paste 1 ¼ cups coconut milk 1 tbsp sugar 2 tbsp soy sauce Red bell pepper, kaffir lime leaves shredded (garnish) Place a pan over medium high heat, and add ¼ cup of the coconut milk, add the curry paste, and stir it until the oil begins to separate out. Add the remaining coconut milk and the salmon. Let it cook for a while then add sugar, soy sauce. Remove from the heat and garnish with red bell pepper, lime leaves. Serve with rice. (1 serving)

Panang Curry Paste

Panang Curry Paste


Ingredients:
5 dried red chilies (toasted)
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 large shallot
4 large cloves garlic
1 tablespoon galangal (or ginger)
2 stalks lemongrass (peeled, lower 2 inches)
1 tablespoon kaffir lime zest (or lime)
1 tablespoon cilantro root
1 teaspoon white peppercorns (toasted and ground)
2 teaspoons coriander seeds (toasted and ground)
1 teaspoon cumin seeds (toasted and ground)
2 tablespoons roasted peanuts (toasted and ground)
1 tablespoon shrimp paste

Directions:
1. Mash everything with a mortar and pestle or puree everything in a food processor.

Apricot Chicken Recipe and Red Curry Paste

Ingredients:
4 apricots (stoned and peeled)
1 tablespoon apricot preserves
2 tablespoons fish sauce
1/2 lime (juice and zest)
1 tablespoon oil
1 tablespoon red curry paste
1 pound chicken breast (cut into bit sized pieces)
6 apricots (stoned and peeled and cut into bite sized pieces)
1/4 cup cilantro (chopped)
1 red chili (sliced)

Directions:
1. Puree the apricots, apricot preserves, fish sauce, lime juice and zest in a food processor.
2. Heat the oil in a pan.
3. Add the red curry paste and saute for a minute.
4. Add the chicken and the apricot sauce and simmer until the chicken is cooked, about 6-10 minutes.
5. Add the apricots and simmer for a minute.
6. Remove from the heat and stir in the cilantro.
7. Serve on coconut jasmine rice and garnish with sliced red chilies.

Red Curry Paste

adapted from The Big Book of Thai Curries by Vatcharin Bhumichitr

Ingredients:
10 dried red chilies (toasted)
1 kaffir lime (or lime, juice and zest)
4 tablespoons shallots (chopped)
3 tablespoons garlic (chopped)
2 tablespoons galangal (or ginger, chopped)
2 tablespoons lemongrass (peeled, lower 2 inches)
1 tablespoon cilantro root
1 teaspoon white peppercorns (toasted and ground)
2 teaspoons coriander seeds (toasted and ground)
1 teaspoon cumin seeds (toasted and ground)
1 tablespoon shrimp paste

Directions:
1. Soak the dried red chilies in the lime juice for 30 minutes.
2. Mash everything with a mortar and pestle or puree everything in a food processor.