Tag Archives: Thai

October 13, 2022 · 5:03 pm

Satay Chicken

While this is usually served as an appetizer in Thai restaurants, we like to give it center stage and serve it as a main course. It is easily one of Julia’s top 2 favorite meals.

Thin strips of chicken are marinated in a pungent blend of spices, and then glazed with a peanut sauce during the final minutes of cooking.

Traditionally, the chicken is threaded onto bamboo skewers before cooking. However, in the interest of time and ease, I usually skip the skewers.

These are great grilled outside, but can also be cooked quickly under a broiler.

Serve with cooked rice and additional peanut sauce for dipping.

RECIPE:

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2 Comments

Filed under Appetizers, Main Dishes

Tagged as appetizer, chicken, grilled chicken, main dish, peanut, peanut sauce, recipe, satay, skewers, Thai

September 22, 2022 · 8:09 am

We have an abundance of Thai basil growing in planters in our back yard. Due to a plethora of rabbits, we have been unsuccessful at growing vegetables, so I have switched to herbs and flowers. Unfortunately, I may need to switch to all herbs next year…

But at least my Thai Basil is going strong, and is not a preferred bunny snack.

I love seared tuna steaks, because they are quick and easy to cook, and if not overcooked, are tender and delicious, without tasting “fishy”. A screaming hot cast iron skillet is the best way to cook them, searing for no more that 1 minute on each side. After searing, I add a small amount of the sauce into the skillet and cook for 15 seconds on each side to give a nice glaze to the fish.

Serve immediately, sliced across the grain, with additional sauce for dipping.

RECIPE: Continue reading →

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Filed under Main Dishes

Tagged as 30 minute dinner, Asian, cast iron skillet, entree, fish, keto, main dish, quick and easy, recipe, Thai, Thai basil, tuna steaks

May 4, 2021 · 4:26 pm

Instant Pot Thai Pork Wraps

This shredded pork wrap filling can be made in an Instant Pot or slow cooker. The pork is seasoned with a soy peanut marinade and makes a flavorful meal everyone will love. Top with chopped peanuts and julienned cucumbers for a great crunch.

Serve in tortillas for wraps. For a low-carb meal, use Bibb or Butter lettuce leaves for lettuce wraps, or serve on a bed of chopped lettuce.

RECIPES:

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Mango Sticky Rice

Mango Sticky Rice may be the primary reason my kids love eating at Thai restaurants. They also love the curries, stir-fries and satays, but this simple dessert definitely tops the list.

Making this at home may not be as much fun as a night out for dinner, but it sure saves the pocketbook! And with this recipe, there is always lots to go around, so there is no fighting for the last bite.

The two main types of mangoes you find here in the US are Haden and Ataulfo. The orange/red/green Haden mangoes are the most common, but the smaller yellow Ataulfo mangoes are my favorite. They are very sweet and have fewer strings than the larger Hadens.

For a complete Thai dinner experience, try one of these curries as an entrée before your Mango Sticky Rice:

Thai Green Curry

Thai Pumpkin Curry

Thai Red Curry

RECIPE:

Mango Sticky Rice

Servings: 6
Print

1 cup short grain white rice
1 ½ cups unsweetened refrigerated coconut milk (or use water)
1 can coconut milk (do not use lite; do not shake can)
6 Tbs sugar, divided
1 tsp salt, divided
3 ripe mangoes, chilled

Combine rice and 1 ½ cups refrigerated coconut milk or water in a medium saucepan. Bring to a low boil, then reduce heat to low and cover. Cook for 20 minutes, or until rice is cooked. Alternately, cook rice with coconut milk in a rice cooker.

Carefully open the can of coconut milk and scoop out the thick coconut cream from the top of the can. Set cream aside in a small bowl. Pour the thinner coconut milk from the bottom of the can into a small saucepan. Stir in 4 Tbs sugar and ¾ tsp salt. Heat over medium-low heat until sugar dissolves, but do not boil. Remove from heat and slowly stir the hot sweetened coconut sauce into the rice in the pan. Cover and let sit for an additional 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Place the thick coconut cream in a small saucepan. Stir in 2 Tbs sugar and ¼ tsp salt. Cook over low heat until cream melts and sugar dissolves. Do not boil.

Slice chilled mangoes.

Place ½ cup of the warm cooked, sweetened rice onto each serving plate. Top with about ½ of a chilled, sliced mango. Drizzle with sweetened coconut cream. Serve immediately.

NoEmptyChairs.me

1 Comment

Filed under Desserts

Tagged as coconut, coconut cream, coconut rice, dessert, mango, recipe, sticky rice, Thai

March 3, 2017 · 11:01 am

Thai Green Curry

After spending the month of February with temperatures in the 70s, we are having a brief cold snap. Perfect weather for a bowl of hot Thai Green Curry. Although around here, any temperature is good weather for a delicious curry.

Curry pastes vary widely in their spiciness. My favorite green curry paste is this variety from Maesri. It is, however, extremely spicy. As you are adding your curry paste to the broth, add in small amounts, tasting before adding additional paste, until you reach your desired spice tolerance.

RECIPE:

Thai Green Curry

Servings: 6-8
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about 3 Tbs coconut oil, divided
3-4 Thai eggplant, cubed (or 1 medium zucchini, cubed)
½ cup sliced mushrooms
1 cup diagonally sliced asparagus
3-4 Tbs green curry paste (divided)
1 lb chicken breast, thinly sliced
2 cans coconut milk
1 cup water (or Swanson Thai ginger broth)
1 tsp fish sauce
2 Tbs brown sugar
1 tsp salt
2 red chilies, thinly sliced
1 package firm tofu, cubed
¼ cup Thai basil leaves, sliced
Lime wedges
Hot cooked rice

Heat 1 Tbs coconut oil in a large pot. Add eggplant to hot oil and cook for 3 minutes (eggplant will not be completely cooked). Remove eggplant from pan and set aside. If necessary, add an additional tablespoon of oil to the pot and cook mushrooms and asparagus for 3-4 minutes, or until crisp-tender. Set aside in a separate bowl from the eggplant. Add 1 Tbs coconut oil and 1 Tbs curry paste to the pot. Cook until fragrant. Add chicken to pot and cook until outside is no longer pink, but chicken is not completely cooked.

Add coconut milk and water to the pot with the chicken and bring to a low boil. Reduce heat to low and stir in partially cooked eggplant, fish sauce, brown sugar, salt, red chilies and tofu. Simmer over low heat for about 10 minutes, or until chicken and eggplant are cooked through. (If using zucchini, instead of eggplant, do not return to the curry until just before serving).

Add additional curry paste until desired level of spiciness is reached (add in small amounts and taste after each addition). Return asparagus and mushrooms to the curry. Add additional water if curry is too thick.

Stir in sliced basil leaves just before serving. Serve with lime wedges over hot rice, if desired.

NoEmptyChairs.me

2 Comments

Filed under Main Dishes, Soups/Stews/Curries

Tagged as coconut milk, curry, entree, main dish, soup, spicy, Thai, Thai basil, Thai eggplant

September 5, 2016 · 9:19 am

Grilled Pork Tenderloin with Peanut Sauce

It might not be traditional American Labor Day BBQ food, but it is a favorite around here. If there is soy sauce involved, my kids will always eat it. Add some peanut butter, and Little J is in heaven!

I like to serve this with either grilled zucchini or asparagus. Set aside a little bit of the marinade before you add it to the pork and use it to marinate your vegetables for about half an hour before grilling.

Pork tenderloins almost always come two in a package at the store. Our family at home keeps shrinking, so now I usually divide the marinade in half and freeze one tenderloin in the marinade to cook another day. This also makes a good freezer meal to prepare ahead of time and have on hand for busy days.

RECIPE:

Grilled Pork Tenderloin with Peanut Sauce

Servings: 6-8
Print

2 (1-2 lb each) unseasoned pork tenderloins (usually sold 2 per package)
Optional: vegetables to grill: zucchini, yellow squash, asparagus
Hot cooked rice

Marinade:
½ cup soy sauce
½ cup rice wine vinegar
2 Tbs olive oil or peanut oil
2 Tbs honey (or low carb sweetener)
1 tsp grated fresh ginger
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 tsp chili paste
1 tsp lemon pepper

Peanut Dipping Sauce:
½ cup soy sauce
¼ cup water
2 Tbs rice wine vinegar
1 Tbs toasted sesame oil
2 Tbs honey (or low carb sweetener)
1 tsp grated fresh ginger
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp chili paste
½ tsp lemon pepper
½ cup natural creamy peanut butter

Place pork tenderloins in a Ziploc bag. (**See note below if planning to freeze one or both)

Combine Marinade ingredients. If you will be grilling vegetables as well, set aside ¼ cup of the marinade. Add remaining marinade to the bag with the pork tenderloins. Place the meat in the refrigerator and marinate for 4-6 hours (up to several days). Remove from refrigerator 30 minutes before grilling.

Slice squash lengthwise (or trim asparagus ends) and place in a Ziploc bag with reserved marinade for about 30 minutes.

In a Pyrex measuring cup, combine all of the Peanut Dipping Sauce ingredients except for the peanut butter. Heat in the microwave for 45 seconds. Stir in peanut butter. Add additional water if the sauce is too thick or too strong. Heat for an additional 30 seconds, just before serving.

Prepare and oil grill. If you are using a gas grill, leave one burner of the grill unlit so that you can cook the tenderloin with indirect heat (so it doesn’t burn). Remove the tenderloin from the marinade and place on the unlit side of the grill. Close grill cover. Grill the tenderloin for about 5 minutes per side (4 sides) until the internal temperature registers 145-150°F in the center. Remove from grill and let rest for 5-10 minutes before slicing.

While meat rests, grill the marinated vegetables over direct heat for about 3 minutes per side.

Slice pork diagonally into ½ – 1” slices. Serve the pork and grilled vegetables with peanut sauce and hot steamed rice.

**FREEZER NOTE: If you do not plan to eat both tenderloins (or just want to prepare a freezer meal ahead of time), place tenderloins in separate freezer bags and add half of the marinade to each bag and place in the freezer until ready to cook. The peanut sauce can also be prepared ahead and frozen. Thaw completely in the refrigerator before cooking. Do not freeze raw vegetables.

NoEmptyChairs.me

1 Comment

Filed under Main Dishes

Tagged as asparagus, entree, freezer meal, grill, main dish, marinade, marinated pork, peanut butter, pork, pork tenderloin, recipe, Thai, zucchini