9/07/2008

Thai Green Curry

Many of my inspirations come from overpaid dinners at restaurants where I sample the fare and think "I bet I can make this at home." Such it is with the Thai Chili Pepper, a little ma and pop restaurant snuggled in Provo, Utah and the source of Thai cultural cuisine during my college years. Sure this recipe comes at their expense, but with the ease and the simplicity of bringing this recipe from the restaurant into the home, it's little wonder why this recipe is now a family favorite.

Thai Green Curry
Serve with: Steamed jasmine or sticky rice

Ingredients:
1 green pepper julienned (cut into thin strips)
1 red pepper julienned
1 can sliced bamboo shoots
1 can coconut milk
1/2 Jar green curry paste to taste
2 tbsp brown sugar
1 lb raw shrimp (peeled and de-veined) or raw chicken breast (diced)

Directions: (Preparation time 15 minutes)
1. In a saucepan combine coconut milk, green curry paste, brown sugar, shrimp or chicken breast bring to a boil over medium heat and then reduce to low and continue to simmer until shrimp turns color or chicken cooks through (5-10 minutes)
2. Add peppers to mixture and continue to simmer for (5-10 minutes). Keep an eye on the green peppers so that they don't change into a mushy mess. They shouldn't be crispy but they should retain their nice green color still
3. Serve over jasmine or sticky rice and enjoy!

Variations: You can try adding mushrooms, water chestnuts, thai chili peppers, and potatoes for different variations. Also you can try red and yellow curry pastes on this recipe as well.

Dan


9/07/2008

Lavosh Margarita Pizza

So the story goes that the first Margarita pizza was presented in the 1500's to Queen Margarite, an Italian monarch indulging on the first tomato-based pizza, a new innovation stemming from the tomato's recent maiden voyage back to the Old World from the New. Today the Margarita pizza is still on menus everywhere featuring a simple recipe of tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese, and basil. With a slight Armenian twist, I've adapted my own version of the Margarita pizza that puts old world tastes with a fusion of new. Credit goes to Chester's, a new restaurant in our little town of Rochester, MN that I mimicked this recipe from. If you're ever there try to Lavash Portabella and Chicken Pizza that reflects some of the basis of this recipe

Lavosh Margarita Pizza

Ingredients:
1 Large Lavosh Cracker (Dry)
3-5 Large Vine Ripened Tomatoes
1 Large Ball of fresh Mozzarella Cheese
Fresh Sweet Basil

Directions: (Preparation time 30 minutes)
1. Cut tomatoes to smaller pieces skin on, blend in blender until pureed
2. Transfer into a sauce pan and simmer tomato puree until thickened (about 1/2 the volume)
3. Spread the tomato puree evenly over the dry Lavosh cracker
4. Slice the mozzarella thinly and place on Lavosh
5. Chop fresh sweet basil leaves and sprinkle over the mozzarella
6. Broil in the oven until the mozzarella is slightly browned (about 10 minutes)

Variations: Try other toppings for more variety, or substitute shredded cheese or cheese blends for more American flavors.

Enjoy!

Dan