Work Lunches

Moroccan Meatballs

1/3 cup pimento-stuffed green olives, roughly chopped
2 tablespoons grated lemon zest
1 28-ounce can whole tomatoes
4 tablespoons (½ stick) salted butter
1 large yellow onion, finely chopped
Kosher salt and ground black pepper
10 medium garlic cloves, minced
2 tablespoons ground cumin
1 tablespoon ground coriander
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 cup low-sodium beef broth
1/2 cup panko
1 pound 90 percent lean ground beef
1 cup finely chopped fresh cilantro, divided
2 large eggs, cracked into a small bowl

In a small bowl, stir together the olives and lemon zest; set aside.

In a blender, puree the tomatoes with their juice until smooth, about 30 seconds. Set aside.

In a 12-inch skillet over medium, melt the butter. Add the onion and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Cook, stirring, until softened, about 5 minutes.

Stir in the garlic, cumin, coriander, cinnamon and pepper flakes, then cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Remove from the heat. Transfer 1/2 cup of the onion mixture to a large bowl and set aside.

Return the skillet to medium and add the broth and tomatoes. Bring to a simmer, scraping up any browned bits. Cover and cook until the flavors meld, about 15 minutes, stirring once about halfway through. Remove from the heat.

While the sauce simmers, stir the panko and 1/2 cup water into the reserved onion mixture. Let stand until the panko softens, about 5 minutes, then use your hands to mash to a smooth paste.

Add the beef, 1/2 cup of cilantro, and 1 teaspoon each salt and pepper. Mix thoroughly with your hands. Divide into 16 (2-tablespoon) portions, rolling them into smooth balls. Place on a plate, cover and refrigerate for 15 minutes.

Return the sauce to medium and bring to a simmer. Add the meatballs in a single layer, then spoon sauce over each. Cover, reduce to low and cook for 15 minutes. Flip each meatball, then continue to cook uncovered, stirring occasionally, until the sauce is slightly thickened and meatballs are cooked through, about 15 minutes.

Push the meatballs to the sides of the skillet. Taste and season the sauce with salt and pepper.

Gently pour the eggs into the center, cover and cook over medium-low until the egg whites are barely set and yolks are still runny, 4 to 5 minutes.

Off heat, sprinkle the olive mixture and remaining ½ cup cilantro over the tagine.

Tip: Don’t use ground beef less than 90 percent lean or the sauce will be greasy. Also, don’t overcook the eggs; the yolks should remain runny so they mix with the sauce.

Sichuan Stir-Fry Sauce (For Chicken or Beef)

Sauce:
1 1/2 tablespoons aged Pixian chili bean paste (doubanjiang)
3 tablespoons canola (or other neutral) oil
2 teaspoons Sichuan chili flakes (toasted and ground chilies)
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground red Sichuan pepper
1 teaspoon dark brown sugar
1 teaspoon Chinese light soy sauce
1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil

For Chicken
1 pound dark-meat chicken, cut in small, ½-inch cubes
1 tablespoon Shaoxing wine
1/4 pound mildly hot green chili peppers (Chinese or Korean long hot peppers or Anaheim), cut on the diagonal in 1-inch pieces
2 fat cloves of garlic, sliced

For Beef
3/4 pound steak (top sirloin, flank steak, etc.), cut in thin, slices
1 tablespoon Shaoxing wine
1 small white onion, cut in ½-inch slices
1 red or green bell pepper, cut in thin strips
2 fat cloves of garlic, sliced
cilantro

In a small bowl, mix the sauce: doubanjiang, oil, chili flakes, ground Sichuan pepper, dark brown sugar, soy sauce and sesame oil.

In a separate bowl, marinate the chicken or beef in Shaoxing wine.

Heat wok until very very hot, add a couple tablespoons of oil and swirl around the wok. Once heated, pour that oil out and add 2 tablespoons fresh oil. This procedure helps keep the chicken from sticking to the wok, which it really wants to do.

Add chicken or beef and let sear, undisturbed, on one side. When lightly browned, continue stir-frying until just cooked through. Remove and reserve.

Clean wok, return to heat, and add 2 tablespoons oil. Add vegetables and stir-fry over high heat until they start to brown but are still crispish.

Add garlic slices and cook briefly, then lower heat, push the veg to the sides of the wok and add the stir-fry sauce into the center. Cook it briefly, then add back the chicken, or the beef and cilantro, and mix all ingredients well.

Ginger Chicken (Gai Paht Khing)

1/2 cup peeled and julienned fresh ginger
2 small mild red chili peppers (fresno or serrano) or sweet red peppers, cut diagonally into 1/2 inch pieces
1 small white onion, peeled and cut into small sections
1 Tbsp minced garlic
2 spring onions, cut into 1 inch pieces (discard tops)
1/2 lb (200 grams) chicken breast, cut into 1 inch pieces
2 Tbsp cooking oil (e.g. palm, soybean, or corn)
1 Tbsp Thai Yellow Soybean Paste
1 Tbsp Golden Mountain Seasoning Sauce
1 Tbsp Thai Fish Sauce (Golden Boy brand is recommended)
2 Tbsp sugar

Wash and peel about 3-4 inches of ginger root. Julienne into thin 1 1/2 inch long pieces. Set aside.

Cut red peppers diagonally into attractive approximate half-inch pieces.

Peel and cut white onion in half and then into smaller sections lengthwise. Set aside.

Peel and mince the garlic (or simply smash the cloves with a side of a cleaver if you prefer and add whole to your stir-fry).

Cut spring onion into approx. 1 inch pieces, discarding the tops.

Wash chicken and pat dry. Cut into bite-size pieces, approx 1 1/2 inch length, 1/2 inch wide by 1/4 inch thick.

Heat wok over high heat. Add cooking oil, heat quickly (10 seconds), add garlic, stirring. Add chicken and cook until opaque and no longer pink.

Add ginger and white onion, stir-frying briefly.

Add soybean paste, Golden Mountain Seasoning Sauce, fish sauce and sugar, stir-frying to combine and cook for another 1-2 minutes until thoroughly combined. The vegetables should still be somewhat firm, not soft.

Add spring onion, red chili peppers, quickly stir to combine and transfer to a serving plate.

Serve hot for best taste.

Lemongrass Chicken (Gai Tod Takrai)

2 stalks fresh lemongrass
1 lb chicken thighs, boneless and skinless is preferred; wash thoroughly and cut thighs in half)
3 cloves garlic (minced)
1/4 tsp freshly-ground black pepper
1/2 tsp ground Thai chili (prik haeng)
2 tbsp palm sugar
1 tsp sea salt
2 tbsp Thai fish sauce
4 tbsp peanut oil

Cut off the woody tops and bottoms of the lemon grass. Remove the outer 2-3 layers of the stalk and cut the tender middle section into 1 inch lengths. Bruise the lemongrass by hitting it with the back of a Chinese cleaver or pound it in a mortar and pestle.

Combine bruised lemon grass, chicken thighs, garlic, black pepper, ground Thai chili, palm sugar, salt, and fish sauce in a bowl. Mix thoroughly and refrigerate for 1-2 hours.
Heat a wok over medium-high heat and add the peanut oil, swirling to coat the entire surface. Heat the oil for 1 minute and add the marinated chicken mixture. Stir-fry for 15 minutes (the chicken and sauce will thicken and become caramelized). Remove from heat and serve with cold cucumber slices, lettuce, and jasmine rice or sticky rice.

Thai Yellow Curry with Cucumber Salad (Gaeng Karee Gai)

Ingredients

300g (11/2 cups, 10oz) chicken breast – thinly sliced
250mls (1 cup, 8 fl. oz.) thick coconut milk (coconut cream)
250mls (1 cup, 8 fl. oz.) thin coconut milk
1 teaspoon yellow curry powder
100g (4 tablespoons) yellow curry paste
2 medium potatoes – peeled and cut into small cubes and boiled in water for 5 minutes (or other vegetables such as sweet potato, taro root or pumpkin)
40g (2 tablespoons) palm sugar
45mls (3 tablespoons) soy sauce
Cucumber Salad Ingredients

90mls (6 tablespoons) sugar syrup
30mls (2 tablespoons) white vinegar
4 tablespoons cucumber, thinly sliced
20g (11/2 tablespoons) ground, roasted peanuts
1 shallot – thinly sliced
1 tablespoon fresh coriander leaves – chopped
A few slices of big, red chilli
Preparation

Put the thick coconut milk into a wok and fry for 3-5 minutes stirring continuously, until the coconut oil begins to separate out. Then add the yellow curry paste and the yellow curry powder and fry for 1-2 minutes.

Once the paste is cooked, add the chicken and potato and cook until the outside of the chicken turns white. Then add the thin coconut milk and bring to the boil. Add the palm sugar along the side of the wok until it melts and then add the soy sauce. Simmer for about 5 minutes until the chicken and potato are cooked.

Mix the ingredients for the sauce together and serve with the yellow curry.

Yellow Curry Chicken (Kaeng Kari Gai)

3 tbsp yellow curry paste
1 lb chicken, cut into 2 inch pieces (cut through the bones with a sharp cleaver if using chicken with bones)
2-3 small red potatoes, scrubbed and cut into 2 inch pieces
1/2 tsp sea salt
1/2 can (16oz) coconut milk, shake before opening to mix separated milk
2 tbsp fried shallots (available ready-made in a plastic jar), optional
1 tsp fish sauce, to taste (Golden Boy brand is recommended)

In a small bowl mix the curry paste with 1 Tbsp. of water to dilute. Add to the coconut milk in a medium sized sauce pan. Stir to mix. Add the chicken and potatoes, and 1/2 tsp of sea salt. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Cook until the meat and potatoes are cooked through, not simmering on low heat, but let the curry roll on a low boil.

At the end of cooking, taste and add fish sauce to adjust the saltiness. Cook a minute longer. Remove from heat. Garnish with fried shallots, if desired. Serve

Thai Chicken and Ginger Soup

1 Tablespoon Vegetable Oil
1 1/2 Cups Chicken, Cut into bite size
1 Half Head of Garlic, peeled and crushed
1/2 Cup Sliced Ginger
2 Tablespoons Yellow Bean Sauce (soybean paste)
2 Cups Water or Soup Stock
1/2 Tablespoon Thin Soy Sauce
1/2 Teaspoon Thai Pepper Powder
1/4 Cup Spring Onion cut into one inch long
2 Tablespoons Chopped Cilantro
Garnish Fresh Thai Chile Peppers

Heat oil in a wok on medium heat until hot. Add chicken stir fry until start to cook, add garlic and ginger cook until aromatic. Stir in yellow bean sauce and water, bring to a boil for about 5 minutes. Season with thin soy sauce and white pepper powder. Add spring onion and cilantro remove from heat.

Transfer to serving bowl top with red chili pepper. Serve with steamed jasmine rice. Enjoy!

Thai Rama Chicken (Praram Long Song)

INGREDIENTS FOR CHICKEN

Cups Chicken Sliced
1 Tablespoon Oyster Sauce
1 Tablespoon Soy Sauce
1 Tablespoon Vegetable Oil
1 Teaspoon Sugar

INGREDIENTS FOR SAUCE

1 Can (13 Ounces) Coconut Milk
1 Tablespoon Red Curry Paste
1 1/2 Tablespoons Palm Sugar
1 Tablespoon Tamarind Concentrate
1 Tablespoon Fish Sauce
1/4 Cup Roasted, Unsalted Peanuts
2 Cups Broccoli Florets

METHOD FOR CHICKEN

Place chicken in medium bowl. Add all ingredients and let marinade for 15 minutes. Cook chicken in boiling water for just a minute or two, drain and set aside.

METHOD FOR SAUCE

In a mortar and pestle, pound peanut until very fine, and smooth. Set aside. In a wok, heat coconut milk. Keep stirring until coconut oil comes up to the surface, then add red curry paste. Cook until fragrant. Add more coconut milk if you prefer. Season with sugar, tamarind and fish sauce. Add peanut, stir until combined, and let it all cook for a few minutes longer. Remove from heat.

FINAL PREPARATION AND SERVING

Cook broccoli in boiling water for 1.5 minutes. Immediately transfer to ice cold water (we like to use theThai stainless skimmer to transfer from boiling pot to ice water). This stops the cooking process. Drain and place cooked broccoli on serving plate. Next, put the cooked chicken over the broccoli. Pour peanut sauce over the chicken. Serve on a Thai ceramic rectangle platter for nice results. Enjoy with fresh steamed jasmine rice.

Crispy Pork and Garlic (Moo Tod Gratiem)

1 Pound Lean Pork Meat, Sliced Into 1/4
1 Teaspoon Corriander Powder
1/2 Head of Garlic, Pounded in A mortar & pestle
1/2 Head of Garlic, Roughly Chopped
1 Teaspoon Thai Pepper Powder
2 Teaspoons Corn Starch
2 Teaspoons Fish Sauce
1 Tablespoon Thin Soy Sauce
1 Teaspoon Sugar
1 Teaspoon Sesame Oil

Pound your pork slices with a meat mallet to soften it, then transfer to a mixing bowl.

In a mortar & pestle, pound 1/2 head of garlic. Add corriander powder, Thai pepper powder, and pound into a paste. Add this paste to the pork in a mixing bowl.

Add corn starch, fish sauce, thin soy sauce, sugar and sesame oil. Mix well and let this marinade in the fridge for 1/2 hour or longer.

Heat wok, and add just enough oil to fry your pork. Over medium/low heat (not too high), cook your pork in the oil and be careful not to over cook it. Fry both sides until golden brown. Remove from wok.

Remove any bits of blackened garlic from the oil. Next, add 1/2 head of sliced garlic. Quickly remove it from the oil as soon as it gets brown. Set the garlic on a paper towel to dry for a few minutes.

Put fried garlic on top of the pork, serve with cilantro as a garnish (optional), and your favorite rice. Enjoy!

Note: In Thailand, this is a recipe that’s usually made at home, not typically found in a restaurant. Mothers will make this for kids to eat on a long trip or picnic. The pork smells delicious, with the garlic. Kept in a food carrier, this is a special treat. Usually served with sticky rice, or jasmine rice.

Ginger Chicken (Gai Pad Khing)

INGREDIENTS

3 Tablespoons Vegetable Oil
2 Tablespoons Chopped Garlic
1/2 Cup Chicken, Cut into Bite-Sized pieces (more chicken if you prefer)
1/2 Medium Yellow Onion, Sliced
1/2 Cup Fresh Mushroom, Sliced
3/4 Cup Baby Ginger, Strips
Splash of rice whiskey (optional)
2 Teaspoons Dark Soy Sauce
2 Tablespoons Oyster Sauce
1 Tablespoon Golden Mountain Sauce
1/2 Cup Chicken Stock
A Pinch of Sugar
1/2 cup sliced green onions
3 Thai Chile Peppers, Sliced or 1/4 cup jalapeno peppers)

Heat the oil in a large pan or wok, and add the chicken, onion, mushrooms, and ginger. Stir-fry this for just a minute or two, then add garlic, chile, followed by whiskey and seasoning sauces.

Add soup stock and increase heat. Stir-fry until it’s cooked. Taste and adjust flavors as you like, you may want more soup stock or dark soy. It cooks quite fast, be careful not to overcook.

Add green onions and chioe peppers and stir for just a few moments, remove from heat and serve over Thai jasmine rice, or in a serving bowl with other Thai dishes. Eat it steaming hot. Your entire home will have the wonderful aroma of ginger.

Issan Pork Salad (Yum Mu Issan)

1 Pound Pork Steak or Similar Cut of meat
1 Cup Fresh Thai chile peppers
1/4 Cup Tamarind Sauce (50% concentrate 50% water)
1/4 Cup Fish Sauce
1 Cup Onions, Thinly Sliced
2 Tablespoons Freshly Grated Ginger
1/2 Cup Chopped Coriander Leaves

Barbeque or grill the meat to the desired degree of done-ness.

Roast the chilis in a moderate oven (or grill them), until the skin begins to change color. Grind the chilis to a pulp and add equal parts of tamarind sauce and fish sauce until the whole forms a slightly fluid paste.

Cut the pork diagonally across the grain into eigth inch thick slices, and cut the slices into 1″ long pieces and then toss with the sauce and allow to marinade for about 24 hours. Add the onions and ginger and coriander leaves.

Toss (as a salad is tossed) and serve on a bed of lettuce with a bowl of sticky rice or Thai jasmine rice.

Lemongrass Chicken (Gai Sai Takrai)

1 Cup Chicken, Cut into Bite Sized pieces.
2 Tablespoons Lime Juice
2 Tablespoons Fish Sauce
2 Tablespoons Chicken Stock
1 Teaspoon Extra-Fine Thai Chile Powder
1 Tablespoon Thinly Sliced Thai chile peppers
1 Teaspoon Sugar
5 Kaffir Lime Leaves, Shredded
1 Tablespoon Sliced Shallot
1 Tablespoon Thinly Sliced Garlic
2 Tablespoons Sliced Fresh Lemongrass
2 Tablespoons Diced Yellow Onion
1 Tablespoon Spring Onion, thinly sliced

Mix the lime juice and fish sauce, and marinade the chicken for about an hour.

Pound the lemongrass with the back of a cleaver or meat tenderizer, then slice it very thinly.

Heat a little oil in a wok or skillet to medium high heat, add the shallots, onions, garlic, extra-fine chile powder, and fresh lemongrass, and stir-fry until aromatic.

Add the chicken and marinade, and fry until it starts to change color. Add the remaining ingredients and stir fry until heated through and the chicken is fully cooked.

Serve with steamed Thai jasmine rice.

This dish can also be made with shrimp.

Thai Pepper Steak (Neua Pad Prik)

1 Pound Steak
1 Tablespoon Thai Pepper Powder
1 Tablespoon Sesame Oil
8 Cloves of Garlic, Chopped
1/4 Cup Shallots, Sliced
1/4 Cup Green Bell Peppers, Diced
1/4 Cup Red Bell Peppers, Diced
3 Tablespoons Fish Sauce
1 Tablespoon Maggi Seasoning

2 Tablespoons Fish Sauce
1 Teaspoon Tapioca Flour

Cut the steak diagonally across the grain into thin strips. Mix the marinade ingredients and combine with the steak, and leave for about an hour.

In a wok or skillet over low/medium heat, combine the sesame oil with two tablespoons of vegetable oil and then stir fry the garlic and pepper powder until the whole is aromatic and the garlic turns slightly crisp.

Add the shallots, bell peppers and beef, and stir fry for 2-3 minutes (until the beef begins to show signs of being cooked). Add the remaining ingredients, and increase the heat to medium/high and stir fry until the beef is cooked to your taste.

Serve over steamed white Thai jasmine rice, and if desired garnish with a fried egg.

Pork and Galangal

2 Pounds Pork
5 Tablepoons Chopped Garlic
5 Tablepoons Fresh Galangal, Julienned
5 Tablepoons Coriander/Cilantro (leaves and stems), chopped
Sweet soy sauce (see method)
2 Tablepoons Palm Sugar
Light soy sauce to taste
3 Pieces Star Anise

Cut the pork into chunks the size of a small fist. Grill or barbeque or braise them to seal the meat and crisp the outsides.

Finely chop the garlic, and other ingredients (except the star anise and soy sauces) in amortar and pestle, so they are easily integrated into the gravy.

Put the other ingredients in a large pot, add the pork, then add enough pork stock to cover the meat, and then add enough dark soy to produce a rich coloration.

Bring to a boil, and boil for 15 minutes, then reduce the heat to a light simmer, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes.

Taste and add sugar or light soy to adjust the flavor. Continue to simmer until the meat is tender enough to fall apart when probed with a chop stick (about 45 minutes). Add additional stock if the pot begins to dry out, but allow the sauce to reduce to a thickish gravy. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking.

Transfer to a large serving dish and serve with Thai jasmine rice (warn the unwary not to eat the star anise!)

Note: the pot should be large enough that when the ingredients and stock are assembled at the start of boiling the pot is about half full to prevent it boiling over.

This is probably the Thai equivalent of nyonya pork.

Pork and Peppers (Moo Pad Prik Yuak)

2 Tablespoons Oil
2 Cloves Garlic, chopped
1 Cup Sliced Sweet Peppers
1 Cup Sliced Pork
2 Teaspoons Oyster Sauce
1 Teaspoon Golden Mountain Sauce
1 Teaspoon Sugar

In a wok, heat 2 tablespoons oil, then add two cloves chopped garlic, fry until fragrant.

Next, add pork and fry until it starts to cook. Add your sliced peppers, then season with two teaspoons oyster sauce, one teaspoon Golden Mountain Seasoning, and one teaspoon sugar.

Stir fry, remove from wok and serve with steamed jasmine rice.

Spicy Basil Chicken (Gai Pad Horapa)

1 Pound Boneless Chicken Breast, cut into small slices
8 Fresh Red or Green Chiles, Sliced diagonally
2 Tablespoons Roughly-Chopped Garlic
2 Tablespoons Vegetable Oil
1 Tablespoon Oyster Sauce
1 1/2 Tablespoons Fish Sauce
1 1/2 Tablespoons Sugar
2 Tablespoons Water
1 Cup Fresh Thai or Holy Basil

In a wok heat vegetable oil over medium high heat. Add garlic and stir-fry for just a minute or less (starts to get fragrant and golden color).

Add chicken. Let cook until the chicken is no longer pink (about 10 minutes).

Add fresh red chiles, oyster sauce, fish sauce, water and sugar. Fry it for a minute or two, and taste, add more chiles if you want it spicier.

Raise heat to high, then add basil. Mix well, turn off heat, and serve with jasmine rice. Enjoy!

Mussaman Beef with Tomatoes

About 1 pound tri tip beef steaks, cut into the usual
4 Cups Coconut Milk
3 Tablespoons Massaman curry paste
1/2 Cup Roasted Peanuts (unsalted)
1/4 One Medium Yellow or white onion
1/2 Cup Cherry Tomato
5 Small Potatoes, Peeled
3 Tablespoons Palm Sugar
1 Tablespoon Tamarind Concentrate mixed with 1 tablespoons water
2 Tablespoons Fish Sauce

Peel potatoes, and cut in half.

Put 1/2 of coconut milk into a pan, over heat medium/high heat, and bring it to a boil Add curry paste slowly, blending while the milk is boiling.

After the curry paste is fully incorporated, reduce heat and add beef. Add fish sauce, palm sugar, tamarind, potato, peanut, onion, about half of the tomato, then add the balance of the coconut milk. Cover, let it simmer for an hour. Add the few remaining tomatoes, and serve with jasmine rice. Enjoy

Gang Khiao Wan Gai (Green Curry with Chicken and Eggplant)

1 Boneless Skinless Chicken breast, cut into bite-sized pieces
8 Thai Eggplant, Quartered, w/ stems removed (or, use other seasonal veg such as bell pepper)
2 Tablespoons Green Curry Paste
2 Tablespoons Cooking Oil
14 Ounces Coconut Milk
1 Cup Chicken Stock
5 Fresh Kaffir Lime Leaves, each leaf torn in two, with vein removed
2 Tablespoon Fish Sauce
2 Tablespoon Palm Sugar
5 Fresh Thai Chile Peppers, green
1 Tablespoon Fresh Kaffir Lime Peel, chopped
Garnish Fresh Thai Basil

Keep your quartered eggplants and lime leaves in a bowl of water. This keeps it fresh.

In a mortar and pestle, pound the fresh Thai chiles and kaffir lime peel until consistent. Add green curry paste and pound together.

In a skillet or wok, heat the oil and fry the curry paste mixture. Stir-fry at medium heat for a minute or two. Slowly add coconut milk and bring to a boil. Stir it until you see a bit of oil.

Add chicken and let it cook.

Add soup stock, eggplant and kaffir lime leaves. Bring to a boil.

Season with fish sauce and palm sugar. Let it boil for 6 minutes. Remove from heat, then garnish with fresh basil and a sliced red Thai chile pepper (or red bell pepper if you prefer). Serve with freshly-steamed Thai jasmine rice. Enjoy!

Gang Khiao Wan Gai (Green Curry with Chicken)

1 Pound Chicken, Boneless, Cut into Thin Strips
2 Small Boxes (17 oz total) all natural coconut milk
5 Fresh Thai Chile Peppers
1 Clove Garlic
1/2 Cup Fresh Green Beans (or seasonal green of your choice such as broccoli)
6 Kaffir Lime Leaves, Shredded
2 Tablespoons Fish Sauce
2 Tablespoons Palm Sugar
2 Tablespoons Vegetable Oil for Cooking
1 Cup Thai Basil Leaves
2 Tablespoons Green Curry Paste

In a mortar and pestle, pound fresh Thai chile peppers and garlic. In a wok, over medium/high heat, add vegetable oil then fry the fresh chile/garlic for 30 seconds or so. Then add curry paste and blend together. Stir constantly until it gets fragrant.

Add coconut milk slowly, bring to a high boil then reduce heat while constantly stirring. Be patient and keep it on a high simmer / low boil for about 5 minutes. Keep stirring it while cooking. Add chicken, and continue to stir while cooking until a thin film of oil apppears on the surface. Continue cooking over low heat until the chicken is cooked through

Adjust the flavors to suit yourself, by adding fish sauce and palm sugar. Our suggested quantities of 2 tablespoons each, should work well. Add fresh green beans. Transfer to a serving dish, top with a few leaves of fresh basil, and serve with jasmine rice. Serve in our elegant, hand-painted Thai ceramic bowl with lid. Makes two large ser

Mussaman Beef

1 Cup Beef, such as Tri-Tip, diced
1 1/2 Cups Coconut Milk
1 Tablespoon Massaman Curry Paste
1 Tablespoon Roasted Peanut (more if desired)
1 Cup Potato
1/2 Cup Yellow Onion
1 Shallot
1 Tablespoon Tamarind Concentrate
1 Tablespoon Palm Sugar
1 1/2 Tablespoon Fish Sauce

Heat 1 cup of coconut milk into a soup pot, over medium heat, add beef, reduce heat and cook gently for 15-20 minutes.

Separately, in a wok, heat 1/4 cup cocnout milk then add massaman curry paste. Stir it constantly, and slowly add the remaining 1/4 cup of coconut mik. Fry until you start to see oil coming up to the surface (about 10 minutes).

Using a wok turner, transfer the wok contents to the soup pot. Add potato, onions, shallot, peanut.

Season with fish sauce, palm sugar, and tamarind concentrate. Stir well, simmer over low heat until the potatoes are cooked.

Serve with jasmine rice. Enjoy!