THAI FOOD RECIPES

60g(1/4cup) dried yellow mung beans, soaked overnight in water , then drained 500 ml (2 cups) water 3 tablespoons oil 4 tablespoons sliced shallots 3 eggs 1 1/2 cups thick coconut milk 2/3 cup shaved palm sugar or dark brown sugar a teaspoon pandanus or vanilla essence 1 baking tray Method In a saucepan, boil the mung beans in the water until soft, 10 to 15 minutes. Remove and drain. Set aside to cool. Heat the oil in a work or skillet, stir-fry the shallots over medium heat until fragrant and golden brown, about 2 to 3 minutes. Remove and drain on paper towels. Reserve the oil for glazing. Grind the cooked mung beans to a smooth paste in a blender. Add the eggs, coconut mile, sugar and pandanus or vanilla essence, and blend until well combined. Preheat the oven to 180 C Grease a baking tray with the reserved shallot oil. Pour the mung bean mixture into the tray and bake in the oven for 15 to 20 minutes until the pudding is firm. Rem

By Napatr Lindsley The Thai mango is known as "Ma Muang" in Thai, although this varies by region. For example, in the Northern region a mango is also known as "Pae," and in the South as "Pao." The mango is rich in symbolic meaning. As part of the feng shui tradition, for generations many Thais have believed that growing a mango tree on the south side of the house will bring prosperity to the family. More broadly, mangoes are so widely enjoyed in Thailand and surrounding countries that they truly do represent a precious part of the culture. There are perhaps more than one hundred types of Thai mangoes, many of them hybrids developed in Thailand. The mango tree only bears fruit once per year, and its season is between late March and early June. This is the time one will find delicately delicious mangoes - a fairly small window of time for top quality. Nevertheless, this small window of time represents much of the enjoyment of mangoes by so many in Thailand,

By Witit Sujjapong Of course not. But, for better or worse, Thai cuisine cannot losen its association with that hot and spicy taste of chilies. People tend to overlook the many other herbs and spices that combine to give Thai food its range of delicacy. It is the very delicate interplay of herbs and spices that makes Thai food so well-loved among all peoples of the world. The single most outstanding charater of Thai culinary may be the harmonious blend of the three S's of flavor - spicy, salty and sour. This is achieved fundamentally by the three key ingredients. Chili - Spicy Despite the paramount importance of chili or "prik" in Thai cooking, it is believed that Thai people only acquired the love for the spicy taste of chili in the 16th century. It is not clear whether the Portuguese or the Spanish merchants were responsible for introducing this chili pepper to the old Siam. In any case, Thai people have since mastered the use of this spice in their cooking blending it