

Thai Vegetarian Cooking

Heavenly beancurd (Tau hou sawan)
His dish is a vegetarian adaptation of the original pork version. This is an interesting dish because of how the sauce is cooked. It is layers of salt from the soy sauce, acid from the vinegar, and sweetness from the sugar. The balance is critical, with the three flavors in harmony. In addition, we normally think of Thai dishes as spicy; this dish is on the other side of the spectrum. Mild and elegant, highlighting the diversity of cuisines from the region. This is a thin cookbook filled with...
Thai spicy quick-fried beans (Pat prik king)
I am beginning to enjoy the heat of the wok, wok hei. Working in these extreme temperatures is an art form, and one so few do well. This is a lovely stir-fry, the beans blistered and yet retaining the essential crunch. The standard coconut milk does not dilute the fiery red curry paste, but it is bold and stunning. The lemongrass, chilli, galangal, and palm sugar undergo Maillard reactions. Finally, the kaffir lime leaves add a citrusy tone, lightening the dish. This is a lovely, easy-to-make...
Thai fried beancurd in sweet nut sauce (Tau hou tod)
People travel, and along with them, they carry ingredients and cooking techniques. This dish highlights this aspect of a movement and migration of communities. The Chinese migrated to Thailand, and with them came deep frying and tofu. But arriving in Thailand, this dish is cooked with its own characteristics and flavours, adapting to the local palate. The tofu is still deep-fried, but the sauce is all regional: peanuts, sugar, and souring vinegar. I loved this dish; it is as much about the...




















