🎉Lighten up! It's a New Year!

Start the new year with lighter, brighter Thai dishes.

Sawaddee ka! 🙏🏼

Have you all recovered from the holiday season? I am slowly crawling my way back to work after an unusually busy year-end. I had no idea how long it would take to get the house back together after Christmas with a very active kiddo! 😜

When January lands, I’m looking for an easy reset button that magically does it all for me. Especially after all the big, elaborate, heavy meals. Do you think Staples sells those? 🔴 😂

Probably not. 😭

So, this week, let’s lighten up a little with some healthier recipe options instead. The focus here is easy, fresh, healthy, full of flavour and… Thai of course!

Hot Thai Tuna 🔥

For a recipe to get the “Hot Thai” designation, it has to be really good. Hot Thai Tuna fits the bill. Inspired by one of my favorite southern Thai dishes, kua gling, you’re going to take a humble can of tuna, dress it up with classic Thai flavours and in 30 minutes you’ll have a quick, healthy dinner that packs a flavour punch!

Fish & Herb Stir Fry (Pad Cha Pla)

Brimming with fresh herbs, this Fish and Herb Stir Fry is an easy weeknight meal and one of the best ways you can serve a fresh piece of fish. The dish uses two important but lesser known herbs in Thai cooking: grachai (fingerroot) and young green peppercorns. If you can’t find these fresh, brined versions work just as well and they’re available at most stores that carry a lot of Southeast Asian products. Worst case, skip them and it’ll still be delicious!

Chicken Tom Yum Soup (Tom Yum Gai)

Tom Yum Chicken is such a comforting soup for a cold January day but… it’s not the same as Tom Yum Goong (shrimp)! You don’t get to just… swap the shrimp out for chicken! No, my friends, there’s a few other easy changes we’ll be making to ensure the flavour pairings are perfect!

Salmon with Thai Corn & Bean Salsa

This easy and very tasty Salmon with Thai Corn & Bean Salsa is one of my most underrated recipes. Salmon is loaded with healthy Omega-3s making it a “good mood food” - perfect for dreary January days. The salsa is made with the same citrusy, tart dressing used for Thai green papaya salad. It’s a perfect match for the salmon.

Spicy Thai Glass Noodle Salad (Laab Woonsen)

Did you know that glass noodles are popular with calorie conscious Thais because they absorb a lot more water than rice noodles? So, per serving, they contain less calories! Now you know! And Laab Woonsen is really easy to make - it’s spicy and filled with fresh herbs and, while it’s not vegetarian, it’s a much lighter version than the classic, meatier laab.