Sawaddee Ka!
First thing first: the latest video is a no-machine soft and creamy ice cream that requires no churning, no whipping, but instead we add one special ingredient makes it soft, creamy and even a little chewy! It’s an old-style Thai treat that has become rare today, yet the method is so brilliant it deserves a comeback. It’s called itim tud or literally “cut ice cream” because each piece is cut from a sheet!
My 5 Most Underrated Recipes
Onto this week’s business. I’ve been sharing Thai recipes on YouTube, my blog and in my cookbook for over 10 years. At this point, you’d think I’d have a pretty good handle on what’s going to be popular.
The truth? I have no idea! 🤣
Sure, world famous dishes like pad thai and green curry are predictably top performers but beyond that… my guesses have been wrong again and again.
These 5 recipes are ones that were never popular with the masses and yet, I think they absolutely should be. So, if you’re up for an “exploration” of lesser known Thai dishes, hidden gems if you will, these are the ones to try.
Mee Krob - Sweet & Sour Crispy Noodle Treats
Mee Krob are a super addictive, savory treat and once you try them, you’ll easily find yourself reaching for another (and then another…). They’re made of crispy rice noodles coated in sweet and sour sauce and often cut into squares - kind of like a savoury Rice Krispie square!
Mee Krob share many of the same ingredients as Pad Thai so if you’re a Pad Thai lover, you’ll want to give these a try!
Coconut Sesame Granola
This recipe for Coconut Sesame Granola was born out of my love for the flavours of kra ya saat, a traditional Thai snack that’s kind of like a sticky granola bar. While I love the flavours, I don’t love the stickiness!
So instead, I thought I’d try to recreate it as a crispy granola and I love how it turned out. It captures the flavour essence of kra ya saat perfectly!
Grilled Eggplant Salad
Grilled Eggplant Salad is one of my favourite ways to prepare eggplant. I especially love it in summer. It’s a lovely combo of tender and sweet (the eggplant), tart (the citrusy dressing) and umami (dried shrimp flavour bombs!).
Serve with a boiled egg on the side - preferably with a jammy yolk - and some jasmine rice for a full meal!
Salmon with Thai Corn and Bean Salsa
Thai Corn and Bean Salsa is not a traditional Thai dish but it’s full of Thai flavours. It’s a delightful example of what can happen when you fuse different cuisines. The corn is the star of the salsa and it’s dressed with a classic Thai dressing (essentially green papaya salad dressing). I served it with salmon here but it will work beautifully with any fish.
Shrimp Paste Fried Rice
Shrimp Paste Fried Rice is a hard core Thai food experience. It’s not a dish you see in North American Thai restaurants. The shrimp paste flavour can take a little getting used to if you’re not familiar with it! But mixed with the veggies, sweet pork and lime in this dish, it make for an mouthwatering combination!
It might not be underrated but your Tod Mun Plaa is a family favorite! We've made it so many times!
I was introduced to Mee Krob when South Park's Eric Cartman tried to float it as a new swear word (because he thought it was so awful)...episode circa 2001...I guess that was before I could even look it up on Wikipedia! Will try to bypass that silly first impression and try it soon!