Appetizer: Grilled Beef with Lemongrass Paste

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Materials

16 wooden or metal skewers

Ingredients for 16 skewers

PASTE

1 stalk lemongrass, thinly slice

2 large shallots, coarsely shopped

5 garlic cloves, coarsely chopped

2fresh Kaffir lime leaves, deveined and shredded

1/8 teaspoon turmeric

1/4 cup water

Others

3 tablespoons vegetable oil

11/2 tablespoons sugar

1 teaspoon salt

11/4 pounds boneless sirloin steak, cut into pieces 11/2-inch long by 11/4-inch wide and 1/4-inch thick.

1/3 cup peanuts, roasted and finely ground

Preparation

To make the paste, blend all the ingredients in a blender for 2 to 3 minutes or until smooth.  Combine the paste in a bowl with the oil, sugar, and salt.

Add sirloin and stir to coat thoroughly  with the paste.  Allow to marinate for at lest an hour at room temperature or as long as overnight in the refrigerator.

Note

This grilled beef can be served with rice, a pickled side dish.  You can substitute the beef with pork.  This grilled beef is wonderful not just for appetizer, but also the entree, served with rice.

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Appetizer: Fish Cakes (Taud Man Pla)

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Ingredients (for 6 servings)

1 small cucumber

2 tablespoons sugar

1/2 cup boiling water

2 small fresh red chili peppers, remove seeds, and chopped

3 tablespoons white vinegar

1/2 teaspoon of salt

1 medium shallot, finely chopped

1 pound cod or white fish fillets, skinned

2 tablespoons of fish sauce

2 tablespoons of red curry paste

One 1/2-inch piece fresh or frozen galangal, finely chopped

1 egg

8 fresh Kaffir lime leaves, deveined and finely shredded

2 cups vegetable oil

1/4 teaspoon white pepper

Preparation

Score cucumber, remove seeds, thinly slice and place in bowl.  Dissolve sugar in water and pour over cucumber.

Add chili peppers, vinegar,salt, and shallot and refrigerate until ready to use.

Check fish fillets to make sure there is no bones.  cut fish into 1-inch pieces.  Chop the fish or use food processor to process fish for 10 seconds.  Add fish sauce, curry paste, galangal, egg, lime leaves, and pepper and mix all of them well.  Wet hand with water.  Form into 12 balls, then flatten into 1/4 inch-thick patties.

Heat a wok with oil to 375 Fahrenheit. Fry fish cakes for 5 minutes or until golden brown, 3 to 4 at a time.  Serve with cucumber-chili mixture.  Makes 6 multi servings.

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Appetizer: Mussels in a Clay Pot

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Ingredients for 4 servings

21/2 pounds mussels, scrubbed

1 cup fish stock

4 stalks lemongrass, cut into 21/2-inch pieces and smashed

8 medium shallots, thinly sliced

1/2 cup fresh Thai basil leaves

9 fresh Kaffir lime leaves, deveined

6 garlic cloves, chopped

3 small fresh red chili peppers, chopped

3 fresh green chili pepper, chopped

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon sugar

3 to 4 tablespoons lemon juice

2 tablespoons chopped coriander

Preparation

Wash and drain mussels in several changes of cold water,  Discard any that have opened. 

Pour fish stock into a 21/2-quart clay pot.  In layers in the pot, arrange one-third of the mussels, one-third of the lemongrass, one-third of the shallots, on-third of the basil leaves, and one-third of the lime leaves.  Continue to make layers with remaining mussels, lemongrass, shallots, basil, and lime leaves. 

Cover pot and bring to a boil over low heat for 2 to 3 minutes.  Increase heat to high for 5 to 6 minutes or until mussels have fully opened.  Discard any that do not open.

With a mortar and pestle, pound the garlic, chilies, salt, and sugar until mashed into a paste.  Stir in lemon juice and sprinkle with the coriander.  Serve the paste as a condiment with the mussels.  Make 4 servings.

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Thai Curry: Beef Curry (Panaeng Nuea)

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Ingredients for 4 servings

11/2 pounds beef sirloin, trimmed

1 cup coconut cream

1/3 cup curry paste

1/3 cup water

1/4 cup sugar

2 tablespoons fish sauce

4 fresh Kaffir lime leaves, deveined, finely shredded

20 fresh Thai basil leaves

1/3 cup shelled roasted unsalted peanuts, ground

2 small fresh red chili peppers, thinly sliced

Chili flowers for garnish

Preparation

Cut beef into 2-inch-wide strips, and cut each strip into 1/4-inch-thick slices.  Then set aside.

Heat a wok over medium-high heat, bring 1/3 cup coconut cream to a boil.  Add the curry past and stir constantly for 2 minutes or until fragrant.  Add remaining 2/3 cup coconut cream and stir constantly for 1 minute or until blended and creamy.  Add beef and stir for 1 minute.

Add water and bring to a boil and stir constantly until beef is no longer pink  Add sugar, 1 tablespoon fish sauce, lime leaves, and basil leaves and simmer over medium heat for 3 to 4 minutes while stirring it constantly or until the beef is tender.

Add remaining fish sauce, peanuts, and chili.  The sauce should be thick and creamy with a slight film of oil on top.  Garnish chili flowers.

Serve it with rice.  Make 4 servings.

Note

The beef can be substituted with chicken or another meat.  There are  no vegetables in this kind of curry.

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Thai Soup: Emerald Soup

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Paste for 4 servings

1 stalk lemongrass, thinly sliced

8 fresh Kaffir lime leaves, deveined

5 garlic cloves, coarsely chopped

1 large shallot, coarsely chopped

2 teaspoons peeled, coarsely chopped galangal

2/3 cup water

Other ingredients

2 1/2 chicken part(legs and breast)

1/2 pound poblano chilies, seeded and deveined

3/4 pound cubanelle pepper, seeded and deveined

1/4 vegetable oil

3 1/2 cups unsweetened coconut milk

3 tablespoons fish sauce

1 1/2 tablespoons sugar

2 1/2 teaspoons salt

1 teaspoon shrimp paste

1 cup unsalted chicken broth

1 cup fresh or frozen peas

Fresh basil leaves (for garnishing)

Thinly sliced bird’s eye chilies

Preparation

To make the paste, blend all the ingredients in a blender for 2 to 3 minutes or until smooth.  Set aside.

With a cleaver, hack the chicken into pieces about 1 1/2 inches in size.  Cut both kinds of peppers in half lengthwise then cut he halves on the diagonal into bite-sized slices.  Set aside (these two kinds of peppers are used to get the green color).

Heat the oil in a large pot over medium high heat.  Add 1/2 cup of the coconut milk and stir occasionally for 2 to 3 minutes or until the oil separates from the milk.  Add the spice paste, simmer for 5 to 6 minutes more, and stir well to blend the flavors.

Add the fish sauce, sugar, salt, shrimp paste and chicken, and cook for 10 minutes while stirring well to coat the mixture.  add the broth and the remaining 3 cups coconut milk.  Return to a simmer, add the peppers and peas and cook for another 10 to 15 minutes or until the chicken is tender while the pot is partially covered.

Garnish with basil leaves and serve with sliced bird’s eye chilies and rice.  Make it for 4 servings.

Note:

The cubanelle peppers and poblano chilies can be substituted with ground lemon grass leaves.

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Appetizer: Stir-Fried Beef with Lemongrass

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Paste for 4 to 6 servings

2 stalks lemongrass, thinly sliced

5 garlic cloves, coarsely chopped

1 large shallot, coarsely chopped

1 1/2 teaspoons peeled, coarsely chopped galangal

6 fresh Kaffir lime leaves, deveined and shredded

2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro stems

1/2 teaspoon turmeric

2 dried New Mexico chilies, soaked, seeded and deveined, or 2 red chilies, seeded and deveined (optional)

2/3 cup water

Other ingredients

3 tablespoons vegetable oil

1 1/4 pounds boneless sirloin, cut into strips, 2-inch long, 1 1/2-inch wide and 1/4 inch thick pieces

3 tablespoons fish sauce 2 tablespoons sugar

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 large onion, sliced into 1/4-inch-thick pieces

4 scallions, split lengthwise and cut into 2-inch pieces

1/2 cup peanuts, roasted and coarsely ground

Cilantro springs for garnish

 

Preparation

To make the paste, blend all the ingredients in a blender for 2 to 3 minutes or until smooth. 

Transfer the paste to a medium bowl, add the meat and mix well.

Heat the oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat.  Add the beef slices, then add the fish sauce, sugar and salt and cook about 3 minutes or until the sauce is bubbling

Add the onion and cook  3 to 4 minutes or until soft and translucent.  Add the red pepper, scallions and 6 tablespoons of the peanuts.  Cook for another couple minutes while stirring.  Remove form the heat.

Sprinkle with the remaining 2 tablespoons peanuts and garnish with cilantro sprigs.  Serve with rice and make 4 servings.

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Thai Soup: Sour Lemongrass Pork Soup

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Paste for 4 servings

2 stalks lemongrass, thinly sliced

5 garlic cloves, coarsely chopped

1 tablespoon peeled, coarsely chopped galangal

1 large shallot, coarsely chopped

1 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro

1/4 teaspoon turmeric

4 fresh Kaffir lime leaves, deveined and shredded

2/3 cup water

Other ingredients

2 1/2 pounds spareribs or baby back ribs, cut into 1 1/2-inch pieces across the bone and cut between the bones.

1 tablespoon fermented fish

5 cup water

3 tablespoons fish sauce

1 1/2 tablespoons salt

1 tablespoon sugar

1 cup tamarind juice

1 – 1 1/2 pounds Chinese watercress or regular watercress, cut into 2- inch pieces

Julienned red bell pepper, for garnish

Preparation

To make the paste, blend all the ingredients in a blender for 2 to 3 minutes or until smooth.

Transfer the paste to a large pot, stir in the ribs and fermented fish (if using) and cook over medium-high heat, for 5 to 6 minutes, stirring well.  Add the water ,  fish sauce, salt, and sugar, and bring to a boil over high heat.  When the soup has reached a boil, skim, reduce the heat and simmer for about 75 minutes or until the ribs are tender.  the pot should be partially covered.

Stir in the tamarind juice and watercress, remove from the heat and serve in bowls, garnished with slices of red pepper.

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Appetizer: Beef with Eggplant in Coconut Milk

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Paste for 4 servings

4 dried New Mexico chilies, soaked , seeded and deveined

1 stalk lemongrass, thinly sliced

5 garlic, cloves, coarsely chopped

2 large shallots, coarsely chopped

2 teaspoons peeled, coarsely chopped galangal

8 kaffir lime leaves, deveined and shredded

1/4 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro stems

1 1/2 cups water

Other ingredients

1/4 cup vegetable oil

2 1/4 cups unsweetened coconut milk

1 teaspoon shrimp paste

2 pounds flank steak or boneless sirloin, cut into strips 2-inch long, 1 1/2 –inch wide and 1/4 inch thick

1/4 cup fish sauce

1/4 cup sugar

1 teaspoon salt

2 cups water

1/4 pound pea eggplant, or Thai eggplant, cut into quarters

Fresh basil leaves for garnish

Preparation

To make the paste, blend all the ingredients in a blender for 2 to 3 minutes or until smooth; then set aside.

Heat 3 tablespoons of the oil in a large pot over medium-high heat.  Add 1 cup of the coconut milk and cook about 2 to 3 minutes or until the oil in the coconut milk separates out, and stir occasionally.  Add the spice paste, shrimp paste, and cook about 5 minutes until the flavors are released and the sauce is thickened and shiny.

Stir in the beef and cook for 5 to 6 minutes until the meat has absorbed the flavor of the paste.  Add the fish sauce, sugar, salt, the remaining 1 1/4 cups coconut milk and water and bring to a boil.  Lower the heat to medium and simmer for 30 to 40 minutes or until the beef is tender.

Heat the remaining 1 table spoon oil in a small skillet.  Add the eggplant and sauté about 5 minutes or until soft. Stir the eggplant into the stew and cook for 2 to 3 minutes or until heated thoroughly.

Serve with rice or bread and garnish with basil.  Make 4 servings.

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Thai Soup: Sour Chicken Soup with Eggplant

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Paste for 4 servings

4 dried New Mexico chilies, soaked, seeded and deveined

1 tablespoon sliced lemongrass

1 tablespoon peeled, coarsely chopped galangal

2 medium shallots, coarsely chopped

5 garlic cloves, coarsely chopped

1/2 teaspoon turmeric

4 fresh Kaffir lime leaves, deveined

1 teaspoon shrimp paste

1 cup water

Other ingredients

2 tablespoons vegetable oil

1/4 cup unsweetened coconut milk

1 pound chicken breasts, skinned, boned, and sliced into 1/2-inch-thick strips

4 cups chicken broth

2 teaspoons sugar

1 teaspoon fermented fish (optional)

1 teaspoon fish sauce

1 teaspoon salt

3 cups small round Thai eggplants, trimmed and cut in half

1/4 cup tamarind juice

Handful of fresh basil leaves for garnishing.

Preparation

To make the paste, blend all the ingredients in a blender until smooth, then set aside.

Heat the oil in a stockpot.  Add the coconut milk and cook over medium-high heat for 2 to 3 minutes or until the oil separates from the milk.  Add the spice paste and cook for another 2 minutes or until the aroma is released while stirring constantly.

Add the chicken , chicken broth, or water, sugar, fish sauce, fermented fish (if used), and salt, cook and stir occasionally for another 5 minutes.  When the soup comes to a boil, reduce the heat to low and add the eggplant, tamarind juice, and simmer gently for 10 minutes or until the eggplant is tender, but not too tender.

Pour the soup into a large soup bowl and garnish with the basil and serve with rice.  You may add some chilies if you prefer it hot.  Make it 4 servings.

Thai soup: Hot and Sour Shrimp Soup

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Ingredients: (4 servings)

4 cups of chicken stock

1 table spoon of fish sauce

2 stalks lemongrass, cut in 2 1/2-inch pieces and smashed

5 fresh kaffir lime leaves, deveined the center

One 1-inch piece fresh/frozen galangal

3/4 pound medium shrimp, shelled and deveined

1 cup canned straw mushrooms, rinsed and drained

2 tablespoons lime juice

Some Coriander sprigs for garnish

Preparation

In a medium saucepan over high heat, bring chicken stock, fish sauce, lemongrass, kaffir lime leaves, and galangal to boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer, covered for 10 minutes.  Return mixture to a boil over high heat, add shrimp and mushrooms, and cook 2 to 3 minutes or until the shrimps turn orange.  Stir in lime juice, garnish with coriander sprigs and serve immediately.  Make 4 course servings.

Tips

You may add some sliced red chili peppers if you want it hot.

Be careful not to overcook shrimp or prawns.  They become tough if left to stand too long.