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Influenced by the Chinese wok and Indian curry, Thai food is a buffet style of cooking, ingredients that encourages experimentation, which will be useful if you have problems obscure, some of his best.
Familiarity with these foreign taste, let alone understand how they relate to each other, a common obstacle beginner, but do not be discouraged! We promise to be quick and relatively painless, and the reward for exposure to a newWorld of flavors, it's worth.
So the next time you plan a meal, resist the desire for a quick take-out to solve the problem for you, check out our beginner's guide to Thai food down, however, and how little culinary background information and an adventurous palate can cook something that really are watching us, and healthy! We have a variety of traditional Thai ingredients together with a list of everything you must know, from the kitchenTechniques to benefit the health advice where to find them. So psyched for ...
Thai Cooking 101
Unlike in the West, which is usually eaten in a variety of courses, a Thai meal is only one and even put them all. Steamed rice is a constant in the meals, and is characterized by a series of (usually in a wok fried) dishes, such as covering one for each guest. Eating together is a collective activity, and all the food to share at the tableCustom.
It is usually a balance between taste sour, salty, sweet and spicy in a dish or a meal, and it is believed that the creation of harmony between Yin and Yang of the body again. Yin represents the cold energy, or relaxing, as coconut milk, and yang represents the hot energy, increased heart rate, for example Chili Peppers.
This theory has been passed down from generation to generation, and while many swear by it, we ask you to discoverthemselves.
Jasmine rice
The aromatic jasmine rice is highly appreciated almost exclusively native of Thailand and is one of the less accessible Basics of Thai cuisine: (Do not panic just yet, fans of jasmine rice: grocery stores and more stores are stocking jasmine rice grain packed in their own section and Asian food / market places are to be paid more. Another popular Thai rice is sticky short-grain rice, which is easierfound in similar markets and may be Sushi rice, to be replaced if not available.
Tip: Keep the jasmine rice in a cool dry place, away from moisture and fresh air, the cooked rice can be stored for up to seven days in the refrigerator or freezer for six months.
Lemon Grass
An essential ingredient in Thai cuisine is a lemon, herbs (mint some say), with a taste of lemon grass. It grows in long, fibrous stalks, which are used only the juicy yellow-white light bulbs, andIt is common practice to help them with a knife before you cut and bruise the area, bringing the aroma and taste in a bowl.
Citronella can be ground and curry paste, but more often, like cinnamon or bay leaves which are usually removed before serving.
Lemon Grass has been used since antiquity to relieve fever, abdominal pain and symptoms of colds. It's getting a common position in natural foods stores and you can almost always findAsian food. If you are not lucky enough to have one in your area, a mixture of lemon zest (peel) with a small amount of ginger is a common substitute for lemon grass and lemon leaves is sometimes used. If fresh lemongrass is unavailable, dried and powdered varieties. Two tablespoons of spices is about a fresh stems, and use a 2-3 extra pieces during cooking (if salty taste in mind that lemon grass is dry already) with dried lemongrass.
If You want the freshest possible lemon grass, you can grow yourself, but keep it at home during the cooler months if you live in a colder climate. The seeds can be purchased online or in semi-specialized stores, or you can just a sprouting bulb from another stem in a pot of water to the roots and then this for his own pot.
Tip: Basil is another garden-friendly component of Thai cuisine, which grows in many climate.
Coconut milk
A staple in ubiquitous> Thai Food, Coconut milk base rich in many curries, sauces, drinks and sweet foods and is often used to compensate for hot or spicy elements. You can in most supermarkets to find or make at home!
To prepare coconut milk, mix the grated flesh of mature coconut with hot water and squeeze the juice, but if you find fresh coconut, you're best off with canned food.
A layer of fat in the upper part is normal (as in the real milk), and this fatlowers bad cholesterol (LDL) while promoting good cholesterol. Coconut milk also boosts immunity and provides valuable fatty acids by binding to the top of the list of healthy ingredients Thai.
Palm sugar
Palm sugar comes from the sap of the palm and can be found at Asian food stores or Indian food. As well as shops, online ordering is also quite acceptable. In addition to cakes and desserts, sugar palm can be used in savory dishes, such asFish, playing against their salt content. Sugar is a golden brown and pasta can be light or dark and sticky. If you do not get their hands on any, can be replaced with sugar cane.
Fish sauce
Perhaps the most common flavors in Thai cuisine is fish sauce, soy sauce, sometimes called the Southeast Asia. The best fish sauces are often thin and almost transparent with a salty taste derived from fermented fish (anchovies are the most common).
It is a very strong odor and must be an acquired taste, but is practical as a salt substitute used in many parts of the world. Sugar is sometimes added his evidence saltiness.
fish sauce can be found almost always in an Asian market / grocery store in your area regularly and is always kept in the corridors of many specialties.
Peppers
In general, the smaller the pepper is the hottest, Priko kee noo, and the smallest and most popular> Chili Thai is no exception. Recent studies show that eating hot peppers like these can help fight the fat in this! Chili peppers are served in a myriad of forms (which are warmer than fresh) from pieces of dried meat in a sauce.
Kee noo The PRI is the hottest pepper according to the Scoville scale, an index of peppers evaluated, and the seeds are the hottest. Many cookbooks recommend that you prepare with gloves to avoid skin irritation and do not touch eyesbefore washing hands.
If you can not find Thai peppers, dried chili whole Mexican trying to soften with a soak in hot water.
Tip: Do you drink to relieve any water to heat beverages kilos of rice, beer or milk do a better job.
Congratulations! You have certainly existed and learned the basics of Thai cuisine. We hope that these guidelines should feel more comfortable experimenting with oriental cuisine and armed with all the facts you need to preparedelicious nutritious meals. For most healthy results, the use of small quantities of oil and instead opt for steaming meat, if possible. Now go have fun and not afraid to experiment with different ingredients and combinations. Variety is indeed the spice of life, and is also one of the best ways to impress your family to eat healthy.
