Gra-bong ( Crispy Pumpkin)

This is one great appetizer!

Ingredients:
For 2 servings
250 g. (8 oz.) mature pumpkin, peeled and cut into short matchstick-size pieces
1 tbs. lime juice
1/2 cup coconut milk
150 g. (5 1/2 oz.) multi-purpose flour
2 cups vegetable oil
1/2 tbs. garlic, finely chopped
1/2 tbs. coriander root, finely chopped
1/2 tbs. whole white peppercorns
1 tsp. white soya sauce
1 tsp. sugar

Preparation:

1. In a large bowl, mix the lime juice with 2 cups of cold water. Put the pumpkin into a bowl to wash, and then drain.

2. Using a mortar, grind the garlic, coriander roots and peppercorns. Set aside.

3. In a mixing bowl, mix together multi-purpose flour, white soya sauce, and sugar. Gradually, add coconut milk to the mixture. Knead until blended well.

4. Add the garlic and peppercorns mixture into the batter. Blend until the batter is thick enough to coat the pumpkin. If the batter becomes too thick, add more coconut milk.

5. Coat the pumpkin in the mixed batter.

6. Put oil in a deep-frying pan over moderate heat. Then, deep-fry 5-6 pieces at a time until golden and crispy.

7. Place the crispy pumpkin on absorbent paper.8. Serve with Ar- jad (Cucumber Sauce) or Chinese Plum Sauce .

Note : Pumpkin can be substituted by green papaya, banana buds, mushroom and gourd.

Intro to Thai Cooking

Thai cuisine has evolved over the years and has been influenced by the outside world but typical methods of cooking Thai food still remain the same as they were in the past.

The first is grilling. This method derived from the fact that Thailand is abundant in the supply of natural wood that can be applied to set the fire and cook food. Thai people normally grill meats and fresh seafood and eat them with dips (locally called as 'Nam Phrik') which has sweet-and-sour flavors so that they become tastier.

Another popular Thai cooking method is 'Yam' basically a kind of salad. But Thai-style salad is different from the western because the Thai dressing contains no fat in its ingredients, unlike mayonnaise and different types of Ranch that are high in calorie and fat. In cooking a dish of Thai salad, simply add a portion of salty seasoning such as fish sauce of salt, lemon juice, chili, and sometimes, garlic and shallot, and mix them together. Then, you can make several dishes of Thai salad be they shrimp salad, pork salad, papaya salad, beef salad and so on depending on a person's creative ideas. Therefore, some can find a dish of 'yam' very delightful while its herb and spice ingredients are good for health as well.

Boiling is another typical way of Thai food preparation. Before the age of modern cookery, Thai people used clay pots to boil food. They also used clay pots to cook rice and make variety of soups. The famous 'Tom Yam Goong' also originated from boiling technique. Curries were also developed in the olden days as well but the present-day curries are much different from they were previously because ancient Thais did not use coconut milk in those spicy soups. However coconut milk is an important part of modern Thai cuisine

Hello!

Hi everyone,

I love good food and I am always on the look out for great recipes to try out for myself. This is going to be my collection of world cuisines. As I am fond of Thai cuisine, let me start with it.

I am going to develop this blog as I come across great recipes so guys be with me. I am sure you will also find some recipes to warm your hearts.