Thai cuisine is known for its balance of five fundamental flavors in each dish or the overall meal - hot ( spicy ), sour, sweet, salty and bitter. Although popularly considered as a single cuisine, Thai food is really better described as four regional cuisines corresponding to the four main regions of the country: Northern, Northeastern ( or Isan ), Central and Southern. Southern curries, for example, tend to contain coconut milk and fresh turmeric, while northeastern dishes often include lime juice.

Friday, January 12, 2007

Recipe: Coconut Ginger Chicken Soup


3 fl. oz. chicken stock
4 teaspoons galangal, sliced
4 teaspoons lemongrass, sliced
8 pieces kaffir lime leaves
1 cup chicken, sliced
7 fl. oz. coconut milk
1 cup sliced mushroom
4 tablespoons carrot
2 tablespoons fish sauce
1 teaspoon fresh chili
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
2 teaspoons sugar
1 teaspoon fried chili
2 sprigs fresh cilantro

In a pot, bring stock to a boil.
Add galangal, lemongrass, kaffir lime and simmer for 1 minute.
Added chicken; stir until cooked.
Add coconut milk; bring to boil.
Add mushrooms, carrots, fish sauce, chili, lime, sugar.
Bring to a boil.
Garnish with fried chili and cilantro.

Thursday, January 11, 2007

Recipe: Thai Soy Sauce Noodles







250 gr. of meat (beef, chicken, pork, or seafood)
250 gr. noodles of your choice (normally fresh rice noodles are used)
1 tablespoon fish sauce
1 tablespoon palm sugar (or substitute regular sugar)
1 tablespoon oyster sauce
3 tablespoons sweet dark soy sauce
1 cup broccoli cut

Ingredients for marinade the meat
1 egg
2-3 cloves of garlic, crushed
1 tablespoon oyster sauce
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1 tablespoon rice wine
1 tablespoon palm sugar
1 tablespoon sesame oil
1 teaspoon black pepper

Slice the meat into bite sized pieces then marinade it in recipe described above for 1 hour.
Prepare your noodles. If they are fresh, you do not need to do anything, but if you are using dry noodles, you will need to soak them in water for 15 or so minutes until they are soft.
You will need a medium to large sized skillet. Grease the skillet with the oil of your choice, and then cook the meat until it is almost done. Then add in the rest of the ingredients, and stir-fry for about 2 minutes.

Wednesday, January 10, 2007

Recipe: Spicy Thai Beef Salad



500 gr. beef sirloin, sliced
2 tablespoons soy sauce
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 teaspoon pepper
1/4 cup onion sliced
1/4 cup tomato sliced
1/2 cup cucumber sliced
3 tablespoons red onions sliced 1-inch pieces
2 leaves torn lettuce

Dressing:
2 teaspoons green thai chili
4 teaspoons garlic minced
4 tablespoons fresh lime juice
4 teaspoons sugar
4 tablespoons fish sauce

In a bowl, mix together all dressing ingredients. Set aside.
Marinate beef with soy sauce, vegetable oil and pepper.
Grilled beef until cooked; slice into thin long strips.
In a large bowl, toss together beef strips with onion, tomatoes, cucumber, red onions and dressing.
Serve beef salad on top of lettuce leaves.