Thai Eggplant Kumara Curry With Barley Low Gi Recipes

THAI EGGPLANT & KUMARA CURRY WITH BARLEY (LOW GI)

Steps:

• Rinse & drain the barley. Fill a large saucepan with 5 cups water and add barley. Bring to the boil then reduce heat. Simmer for 25-30 minutes, or until tender. Drain.
• While barley is cooking, heat oil in large wok (or frying pan) then add curry paste and onion. Cook, stirring, over medium heat for 3 minutes.
• Add eggplant and cook for a further 4 minutes, or until softened.
• Pour in stock and coconut milk. Bring to the boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 5 minutes. Add the lime leaves and kumara and cook for 10 minutes, or until the kumara is very tender.
• Finally, mix in the sugar, lime juice and lime zest. Combine well. Season with salt & pepper, to taste, then serve over barley.

SPICY THAI EGGPLANT & TOFU

Steps:

• Put water on to boil according to rice noodle directions.
• Food prep: Slice tofu into bite sized pieces, cut eggplant into bite sized pieces, dice onion & mince garlic.
• In a large skillet, add EVOO, garlic and onions. Allow to cook for 2 minutes to soften.
• Add tofu, eggplant, brocoli, spice & enough peanut sauce to coat (this should all simmer for about five minutes).
• When noodles are finished, add noodles to mix and toss in peanuts and/or cashews as well as more peanut sauce if needed to coat.
• Bon apetit!
• *I use the microwave bags of brocoli to keep from dirtying another dish. Also, my husband likes chicken in his, so I will sometimes cook a chicken breast in the EVOO before preparing the meal and then slice that up to add to his bowl.

STIR-FRIED ASIAN BARLEY

Steps:

• Cook the barley in a large pan of boiling water for 40 minutes or until soft, adding more water if necessary and then drain and set aside.
• Lightly spray a wok with canola oil spray and heat over medium heat,.
• Whisk together the eggs and 2 tablespoons of the water and pour into the wok and swirl to coat, cooking the omelette until set, lifting the egg to allow the uncooked egg to run underneath and then remove the omelette and drain on absorbent paper for 5 minutes and then shred into thin strips.
• Heat the oils in the wok and add the spring onions and bacon and stir fry for 3 minutes or until soft and then add the celery, capsicum, carrot and remaining water and stir fry for 5 minutes and then add the peas and broccolini and cook until tender.
• Stir in the barley and combined soy and sweet chilli sauces and cook until heated through and then fold through the omelette and serve.

SPICY THAI EGGPLANT

Steps:

• Combine the ground pork with the salt, pepper, and cornstarch. Marinate the pork for 15 minutes.
• While the pork is marinating, prepare the remaining ingredients.
• In a small bowl, combine the chicken broth, soy sauce, vinegar, and sugar.
• Cut the eggplant lengthwise into 1 inch strips or into 1-inch squares. Mince the garlic.
• Heat the wok over medium-high to high heat. Add 2 tablespoons of oil. When the oil is hot, add the eggplant. Stir-fry the eggplant until it is softened (about 5 minutes). Remove and drain on paper towels.
• Add 2 tablespoons oil to the wok. When the oil is hot, add the garlic and bean sauce. Stir-fry until aromatic. Add the ground pork. Stir-fry until it changes color, using cooking chopsticks or a wooden spoon to separate the individual pieces.
• Push the pork up to the sides of the wok. Add the sauce in the middle and bring to a boil, stirring quickly to thicken. Add the eggplant slices and the Chile paste and Thai Peppers. Cook for a few more minutes and stir in the sesame oil. Serve hot.

THAI BASIL EGGPLANT CURRY

Steps:

• This is written to chop as you go, but if that makes you nervous or you don't think you can work quickly enough, just chop everything first. I'll bet you can do it the second time you make this, though. Again, this makes a LOT of food so you'll need a big wok or cook pot, or cut the quantities in half.
• Put your rice on so it's cooking while you work. Follow the directions on the bag and set a timer if you have one because you'll be distracted. It'll be done before the food is ready but will stay plenty hot enough to serve.
• Start with the carrots and potatoes; slice them fairly thin and saute them in the oil and 1/3 tin of curry paste on medium-high heat for five minutes. Cover and go to the next step.
• Cut the eggplant into bite-sized cubes. You can peel the eggplant if you want but I think both texture and flavor is better if you leave the skin on. Add to the pan; saute, stirring occasionally, another five minutes. Cover and go on to the next step.
• Slice the onion and bell pepper into fairly thin strips and add them to the pan; saute, stirring occasionally, another five minutes. Cover and go to the next step.
• Cut the zucchini into bite-size pieces and add to the pan. Strip the basil leaves off their stems and add them too. Stir and cover. Just one more step and you're done.
• Get a blender out and blend the can of coconut milk with one can full of chicken broth and the second 1/3 of red curry paste. Take a good long whiff of it. WOW! Remember to sneeze away from the food. Call one of your family in to smell it and laugh as they experience the same thing you just did, but not in a mean way so they won't get mad when you then ask them to set the table for you while you finish up. Get excited about how awesome this is going to be.
• Add the coconut/chicken/curry liquid to the pan and let it come to a simmer. Once it's simmering you can check a potato or a carrot for doneness; they should be tender. Dinner's ready!
• Serve in a bowl over steaming white rice and a box of Kleenex on the table because you're probably going to need it. Jasmine rice really is preferable for this. If you serve this worthy food over instant rice I swear I'll drive over there and whup you myself. Instant rice is an abomination in the eyes of the Lord.

SPICY THAI-STYLE BEANS WITH COCONUT MILK (VEGETARIAN)

Steps:

• In a Dutch oven heat oil over medium-high heat; add in onions and red bell pepper and saute for 5-6 minutes, adding in the garlic the last 2 minutes of cooking.
• Add in the red curry paste and cook 1 minute.
• Add in the kidney beans, diced tomatoes, coconut milk, lime juice and sugar; bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for about 35 minutes.
• Season with salt and pepper.
• Serve over basmati rice, then sprinkle with chopped green onion.

VEGETARIAN CHILI (LOW GI)

Steps:

• Put burghul in a small-medium bowl then add 250ml hot water. Leave to soak for 10 minutes.
• While burghul is soaking heat oil in a large saucepan and cook onion over med-low heat for 10 minutes, until soft and golden. Stir often.
• Add garlic and spices and cook, stirring for 1 minute.
• Mix in the burghul, stock and tomatoes. Bring to the boil and simmer for 10 minutes. Stir in the beans, chickpeas, corn and tomato paste then simmer for 20 minutes. Stir often.
• Garnish with parsley. You can also top with a little low-fat natural yoghurt and grated low-fat cheese.