I made a Thai dish last night, and as is my policy when trying a new recipe I followed the recipe to the letter. But the taste was flat no depth of flavor at all. But the recipe only called for curry and cocoanut milk as the main taste factors. Do you have suggestions for a more deep complex taste?
2007-02-20 06:35:10 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Food & Drink ➔ Ethnic Cuisine
I am a former chef and have cooked a number of Thai dishes, for more flavour and zip, things like lemongrass, kafir lime leaves, thai bird chilis (caution those are hot), thai chili paste or a prepared curry paste (green,red or yellow), palm sugar, fish sauce and thai soya sauce.
Also marinating in spices will add flavour and dimension to your food, sesame oil as stated is nice, but even a splash of lime juice at the end adds a bit of contrast to your dishes.
2007-02-20 06:45:44 · answer #1 · answered by The Unknown Chef 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Thai food is a complex myriad of flavors (curry & coco milk are only a tiny component).
Thai food essentials: nam pla (fish sauce), lemongrass, kaffir lime leaves and galangal. These 4 things are the essence of Thai food -- it's what separates Thai curries from Indian, Malay, Indonesian, Singaporean & other curries from around the world.
Nam Pla is found in almost any large grocery store but the other ingredients are all available in local Asian/Thai markets. Also, Thai basil & thai bird chilies are pretty unique & characteristic in flavor esp in Thai food.
Did the recipe you tried contain these specific Thai ingredients? If not, it may have been an "Americanized"
recipe. What dish did you try?
I have also found that home made pastes (mortar/pestle method) are much better than ready made bottle pastes.
But I applaud your efforts & give you an A+ for trying!
Hopefully your next dish will turn out to be much better!
2007-02-20 15:22:51 · answer #2 · answered by Desi Chef 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i think you need the paste of Thai sauces that you can buy in Chinese supermarket... and you need coconut milk too... because regular curry stuff does not really bring out the taste of Thai food.. and little chill.. i Do not think you wanted to add soy sauces.. unless you making noodles... but should add little water that that paste so it get the favor into the food.. i been buying thai paste for few months now.. and once in while i would make thai food and it come out great with white rice...
2007-02-20 14:46:20 · answer #3 · answered by babyg 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hello,
My daughter and I love Thai food....We bought some peanuts from Trader Joes and they are wonderful....They have lemon grass, hot peppers, kiffer lime leaves, etc. in the package and boy does it spruce up Thai food...I made some noodles and sprinkled them on it and it was delicious....
2007-02-20 17:13:23 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
make sure you are using a thai curry paste for your recipe, it is completely different than indian or other asian curries, other wise, up the chili's fish sauce, cilantro ect
2007-02-20 22:18:17 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
you can get this all in the asain stores...but I assume you area already aware of this.
I guarantee you will get that complex taste you are looking for...
fish sauce... or salt...
chicken base (liquid or special crumbs)
cilantro... basil.. leaves always go good with thai food.. whether minced or whole...
2007-02-20 14:44:46 · answer #6 · answered by life 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
A dash of sesame oil and/or soy sauce. Maybe some chili flakes.
2007-02-20 14:38:45 · answer #7 · answered by CHICK 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋