Thai Ribbons Recipes

GRILLED RIBBONS OF THAI-STYLE STEAK

Steps:

• Using a sharp knife, slice the steak, against the grain and on angle, into thin strips about an inch wide.
• In a large bowl, whisk together the paste, coconut milk, sugar, fish sauce, and turmeric, if using. Add the beef, mix well, and set aside at room temperature to marinate for at least 1 hour.
• Preheat an outdoor grill.
• Thread the beef onto skewers, then lightly spray them with oil. Working in batches grill the beef, over high heat until just cooked through, about 2 to 4 minutes. Transfer the beef skewers to a serving platter and serve with the peanut sauce.
• Toast the dried chiles in a small dry skillet over medium-high heat until smoky and fragrant. Transfer to a medium bowl, cover with hot water, and set aside until softened, about 10 minutes. Drain and roughly chop the chiles.
• Toast the coriander, cumin seeds, and peppercorns in the skillet over medium-high heat until toasted and fragrant. Transfer to a bowl and let cool slightly. Grind the spices in a spice mill (clean coffee grinder).
• In a food processor, combine the chiles, ground spices, and all of the ingredients, except for the oil, and puree into a paste. Gradually add the oil with the machine running, and puree until smooth. Store the paste in a tightly sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
• Stir-fry the coconut cream in a small saucepan over medium heat, until the oil separates and sizzles, about 2 minutes. Add the curry paste and stir-fry until fragrant, about 2 minutes.
• Whisk in the broth, coconut milk, peanut butter, and fish sauce. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, reduce the heat to maintain a gentle simmer and cook, stirring, until thickened, about 10 minutes. Transfer the sauce to a serving bowl and cool to room temperature. Whisk in the lime juice just before serving.

THAI RIBBONS

Steps:

• Prepare basting mixture by mixing teriyaki sauce, vegetable oil, ginger, garlic and crushed red chili peppers.
• Cover and refrigerate.
• Cut beef diagonally, against the grain, into 1/4 inch slices.
• Thread each slice onto a skewer.
• (Make sure if you use bamboo they are well soaked or they will burn.) Cover and marinate overnight.
• For each serving: Brush 2 beef ribbons generously with basting mixture.
• Broil or grill to desired doneness, basting once or twice.

PAD SEE EW - THAI STIR FRIED NOODLES

Steps:

• Chinese Broccoli - trim ends, cut into 7.5cm/3" pieces. Separate leaves from stems. Cut thick stems in half vertically so they're no wider than 0.8cm / 0.3" thick.
• Noodles - Prepare according to packet directions and drain. Time it so they're cooked just before using - do not leave cooked rice noodles lying around, they break in the wok.
• Sauce - Mix ingredients until sugar dissolves.
• Heat oil: Heat 1 tbsp oil in a very large heavy based skillet or wok over high heat.
• Cook garlic and chicken: Add garlic, cook 15 seconds. Add chicken, cook until it mostly changes from pink to white.
• Chinese broccoli STEMS: Add Chinese broccoli stems, cook until chicken is almost cooked through.
• Chinese broccoli LEAVES: Add Chinese broccoli leaves, cook until just wilted.
• Scramble egg: Push everything to one side, crack egg in and scramble.
• REMOVE chicken from wok: Remove everything in the wok onto a plate (scrape wok clean).
• Caramelise noodles: Return wok to stove, heat 2 tbsp oil over high heat until it starts smoking (HOT is key!). Add noodles and Sauce. Toss as few times as possible to disperse Sauce and make edges of noodles caramelise - about 1 to 1 1/2 minutes.
• Add chicken back in: Quickly add chicken and veg back in, and toss to disperse. Serve immediately!

SPICY THAI BASIL CHICKEN (PAD KRAPOW GAI)

Steps:

• Whisk chicken broth, oyster sauce, soy sauce, fish sauce, white sugar, and brown sugar together in a bowl until well blended.
• Heat large skillet over high heat. Drizzle in oil. Add chicken and stir fry until it loses its raw color, 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in shallots, garlic, and sliced chilies. Continue cooking on high heat until some of the juices start to caramelize in the bottom of the pan, about 2 or 3 more minutes. Add about a tablespoon of the sauce mixture to the skillet; cook and stir until sauce begins to caramelize, about 1 minute.
• Pour in the rest of the sauce. Cook and stir until sauce has deglazed the bottom of the pan. Continue to cook until sauce glazes onto the meat, 1 or 2 more minutes. Remove from heat.
• Stir in basil. Cook and stir until basil is wilted, about 20 seconds. Serve with rice.

THAI PORK RIBS (SII KHRONG MUU TAI NAAM)

Steps:

• Paste: Prepare ingredients to make the paste. Peel and thinly slice galangal and turmeric; thinly slice cilantro roots. Trim lemongrass stems, then discard tough outer layers; slice into thin coins. Slice chiles into ½-inch pieces. Peel garlic cloves, then roughly chop.
• Place the mortar and pestle on a towel to keep it sturdy. Chef Ricker advises adding ingredients from hardest to softest texture when making a paste. Place dried chiles into the mortar along with a pinch of salt; pound until chiles are flaky. Add peppercorns and continue pounding, followed by galangal, turmeric, and cilantro root. As the ingredients are added, a rough paste will begin to form. Continue by adding lemongrass, garlic, and green chiles. When all of the ingredients have broken down to a rough pulp, the paste is ready. Makes about ⅓ cup.
• Ribs: Place rack meat-side down on a cutting board. Cut into individual ribs and place in a bowl. Stack lime leaves, roll like a cigar, slice very thinly (this is called a chiffonade), and set aside. Season ribs with a pinch of salt, fish sauce, sugar, and MSG (optional); toss to coat with your hands. Add the paste and 1 teaspoon sliced lime leaf, reserving the rest for garnish, and massage the ingredients into the ribs until they're evenly coated. Let rest uncovered at room temperature, 1 hour.
• Add oil to a pot over medium-high heat; when it's smoking, add ribs meat-side down in an even layer. Turn heat to medium-low (to prevent paste from burning) and brown the ribs, 6-8 minutes.
• While ribs are browning, add 5 pounds ice cubes to the bowl, along with enough water to cover the ice. When ribs are browned, turn them over and reduce heat to low. Place the bowl with ice slurry on the pot so it completely seals off the top. The steam will rise and condense on the cold surface of the bowl, then drip back onto the ribs, creating a self-basting cooking environment.
• Garnish: While ribs are cooking, trim and thinly slice the scallion. Roughly chop cilantro. Fold sawtooth leaves in half and julienne into ⅛-inch slices. Mix together scallion, cilantro, and sawtooth and set aside, along with remaining lime leaf.
• After 15 minutes, remove bowl from pot and turn the ribs over. Pour out melted ice slurry and replenish with another 5 lbs ice cubes and water. Add a pinch of salt to the ice water to keep it cold a little longer. Place bowl over pot and continue cooking, 15 more minutes.
• After 30 minutes of total cooking, remove the bowl. Continue cooking ribs uncovered to reduce the cooking liquid in the pot, 5 minutes. Taste and adjust seasoning by adding salt, sugar, and fish sauce; remove from heat. Place ribs on a serving platter, and spoon paste from the pot over them. Garnish with chopped herbs (scallions, cilantro, sawtooth) and lime leaves. Serve.

THAI A YELLOW RIBBON

Steps:

• Combine all sauce ingredients in a blender and whirl until smooth. Set aside.
• Cook fettucine according to package directions. Drain well and keep warm.
• While pasta is cooking, spray a large work or skillet with non-stick spray and place over medium-high heat.
• Add chicken and cook until no longer pink.
• Add red pepper, snow peas and carrots.
• Cook and stir for three more minutes, until vegetables are tender-crisp.
• Add sauce.
• Cook until bubbly and thickened.
• Remove from heat, stir in cooked fettucine, and serve immediately.