Grilled Fresh Salmon with Green Curry Sauce
Grilled Halibut in a Mango Coconut Sauce
Thai Green Curry with Prawns
Clams with Roasted Chili Basil Sauce
Pan Seared Scallops on Coconut Rice
Shrimp, Lemongrass and Basil
Seafood Feast with Basil and Chilies
Fragrant Coconut Fish in Banana Leaves
Whole Crispy Seabass with Sweet Garlic-Chili Sauce
Whole Catfish in Coriander Chili Sauce
Chapter Seven
Thai Flat Noodles
Spicy Peanut Noodles with Cilantro
Pad Thai
Glass Noodles with Egg, Beef, and Bean Sprouts
Glass Noodles with Crab
Flat Noodles with Broccoli
Crab Fried Rice
Spicy Fried Rice
Sweet and Tangy Thai Noodles
Pineapple Fried Rice
Chapter Eight
Chinese Broccoli and Cashew nuts
Spinach, Mushrooms, and Bean Sprouts
Stir-fried Vegetables with Chili Tamarind Sauce
Asparagus, Shiitake Mushrooms, and Tofu
Green Beans and Tofu with Garlic Sauce
Thai Garlicky Eggplant
Winter Squash Curry
Spicy Thai Tofu with Spinach, Basil, and Peanuts
Thai Tofu with Summer Squash, Red Bell Pepper, and Lime
Chapter Nine
Coconut Cream Custard in Banana Leaf Bowls
Banana, Kiwi, and Passion Fruit Salad
Sweet, Ripe Mango with Sticky Rice
Lemongrass Custard
Coconut Cake with Mango Sauce
Coconut Thai Basil Ice Cream
Thai Basil Lemon Soda
Mango Shake
Thai Iced Tea
Lemongrass Ginger Ale
Banana Spring Rolls
A Cookbook to Treasure...
Thai food is as exciting as it gets. I won’t try to encapsulate why, because Katie Chin has done a wonderful job of presenting it, but suffice it to say that when Katie told me she was writing a Thai cookbook, a pleasurable little shock went through me. I can’t quite dissect which part was the pure pleasure of thinking about Thai food, or which was the thrill of knowing that Katie was tackling the subject.
The words Katie Chin uses to open her cookbook, to describe Thai food, are wonderfully analogous to the words I would use to describe her: Bold. Exotic. Diverse. Pungent. Sweet. Sour. Salty, Hot. Crunchy. Bright. Fragrant. Soothing. Unique. Alive.
Actually, the only words I skipped are “sometimes bitter,” as I haven’t known that to be the case with Katie. But really, would that be so bad?
I know you want to hear about the recipes. And you should; they are fantastic. But first a bit of background.
I met Katie Chin when she and her famous restaurateur mom pitched a book to me when I was a cookbook editor. Katie was in the supporting role to her mom, who was a Chinese restaurateur against all odds, immigrating from China with her husband to Minneapolis, starting a tailoring business to make ends meet, cooking a "thank you dinner" for her clients, which led to teaching cooking classes, which led to catering, which led to a collection of successful Asian restaurants. Leeann was a quiet powerhouse of a woman, and Katie was filled with admiration for her mom, and a more than willing student. We both learned together during the making of that book.
Katie then became a caterer, and a cookbook author in her own right, and her great skill is taking authentic Asian food and translating it into something deliciously accessible for our modern pantries and kitchens. That she has tackled Thai food, one of the most popular and delicious Asian cuisines, in this book will make many of us very happy.
Segue to the recipes! The condiment chapter alone knocked my socks off. I want to add Nam Prik Pao to everything I eat from this day forward. My family and neighbors adored the Thai Flat Noodles (Rad Na), and the lemongrass chicken wings were stupidly finger-licking delicious. I have now stocked up on tamarind and galangal and of course ginger, garlic, and fish sauce, and am expecting this cookbook to join the splattered, battered ranks of favorite cookbooks in my kitchen.
It’s always exciting to bring a new cuisine into your comfort zone. Being able to recreate the fresh, bright, and addicting flavors of Thai food in my own kitchen is a joy, and I am going to think of Katie with gratitude with every Gai Yaang that graces my table.
The Joys of Thai Cooking
Bold. Exotic. Diverse. Pungent. Sweet. Sour. Salty. Hot. Sometimes bitter. Crunchy. Bright. Fragrant. Soothing. Unique. Alive.
