Sawaddee Ka!
In October, Thailand and many other Asian countries will celebrate our “Jay Festival,” also known as the “Nine Emperor Gods Festival.” This means that for 10 days millions of people will stop eating all animal products, plus a few other pungent ingredients such as garlic and garlic chives.
During the Jay festival, you will see restaurants with yellow flags all over the country indicating that they have jay options available. My family doesn’t “eat jay,” as we call it; though my grandmother does. But this time of year still serves as a good reminder to eat more plants, and cut down on meat.
This is the inspiration for my latest recipe: Claypot Glass Noodles. Even though it’s not technically "jay” in the strict sense because I use garlic, it is vegan. Trust me though, you wouldn’t miss the meat with all the robust flavours going on!
*This video is sponsored by our old friend and longtime sponsor: Pine Brand Glass Noodles
It’s easy, quick, and totally weeknight friendly. Watch the video here!
I also wrote a comprehensive guide to Thai curries on Serious Eats.
I’ve been contributing a few articles on Serious Eats over the past year, and it’s a great opportunity for me to nerd out on the more “advanced” topics in Thai food. So if you’re a food nerd like me and love these deep dives, you’re going to enjoy them. Here are my most recent articles on the topic of Thai curry:
A Guide to Thai Curries
What they are, how they're made, and how to start experimenting on your own at home. Read it here.
A Guide to Thai Curry Pastes
How to make, use, and store one of the pillars of Thai cooking. Read it here.