Category Archives: Thai

Thai Cucumber Salad

Asian, Ethnic, Fish, Grilling, Onions, Salad, Sauce, Thai, Vegetables

It’s official, it’s spring time in the United States! For you warmer climate states, that probably doesn’t mean a whole lot to you, but to us Northerners, it means a great deal. It’s the first time we can see our yards, granted they are littered with winter debris, and the color of brown grass is not appealing, but we will take what we can get! With spring time said, it is that time where the chili dishes take a step to the side, and where other brighter dishes take a step forward, for example, this dish, the Thai cucumber salad.

I’ve made this recipe numerous times and I’m surprised I have never posted on the matter, as after all this salad is bright, diverse, easy to make, and super delicious. Need I say more?

Thai Cucumber Salad

Ingredients:

  • 1 whole cucumber, partially peeled, sliced
  • 1/2 small red onion, thinly sliced
  • 1/2 cup of sugar
  • 1/2 cup rice wine vinegar
  • 1/4 cup water
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 tbsp Thai chili sauce
  • Fresh mint leaves, optional
  • Fresh cilantro, optional
  • roasted peanuts, optional

Start by adding the sugar, salt, rice wine vinegar, and water to a sauce pan. Bring to a simmer, and cook until the sugar dissolves, about 5 minutes or so. Remove from the heat, add the chili sauce, and let cool.

How to make Thai Cucumber Salad

Once cooled, add the cucumbers and red onion to a serving bowl. Pour the sauce over the vegetables, and gently stir. Let this sit for about 30 minutes, or overnight.

When you are ready to serve, feel free to sprinkle with roasted peanuts and fresh herbs such as mint, or cilantro, however without these, this salad stands tall.

The great thing about this salad is that you can serve it with practically anything. It is really perfect as an accompaniment to pretty much everything. It’s flavors are sweet with just that subtle amount of heat from the chili sauce. You can use the cucumbers and onions on sandwiches, as a side to grilled meats for vegetables, on omelets, or what I did, and serve with a side of seared tuna.

However you decide to serve it, I’m certain you are going to love this recipe. Hope you enjoy!

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Thai Cucumber Salad
Author: 
Recipe type: Salad
Cuisine: Thai
Prep time: 
Cook time: 
Total time: 
Serves: 4
 
Ingredients
  • 1 whole cucumber, partially peeled, sliced
  • ½ small red onion, thinly sliced
  • ½ cup of sugar
  • ½ cup rice wine vinegar
  • ¼ cup water
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 1 tbsp Thai chili sauce
Instructions
  1. Start by adding the sugar, salt, rice wine vinegar, and water to a sauce pan. Bring to a simmer, and cook until the sugar dissolves, about 5 minutes or so. Remove from the heat, add the chili sauce, and let cool.
  2. Once cooled, add the cucumbers and red onion to a serving bowl. Pour the sauce over the vegetables, and gently stir. Let this sit for about 30 minutes, or overnight.
  3. When you are ready to serve, feel free to sprinkle with roasted peanuts and fresh herbs such as mint, or cilantro, however without these, this salad stands tall.
  4. The great thing about this salad is that you can serve it with practically anything. It is really perfect as an accompaniment to pretty much everything. It’s flavors are sweet with just that subtle amount of heat from the chili sauce. You can use the cucumbers and onions on sandwiches, as a side to grilled meats for vegetables, on omelets, or what I did, and serve with a side of seared tuna.

 

Thai Style Burger

Asian, Beef, Burgers, Ethnic, Game Day, Rice, Sauce, Thai

This past weekend was loaded with some new recipe creations, including that of the Thai three sauce, and an array of other items. As I was planning out dinner for the family, I decided to make some of their favorite Vietnamese style chicken, along with sticky rice. My kids love sticky rice, and so do I for that matter, and while I was soaking the rice, a thought came into my head. Go figure. I thought, why not take the rice, form them into buns, lightly fry them and well, make a cheeseburger. Crazy, I know, but interesting, and pretty darn delicious. I probably got the idea from old posts regarding a ramen style burger, and most likely because I was making stock the night before for ramen.

Thai Style Burger

Let’s get started.

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups of Thai sticky rice, soaked in water for at least 2 hours
  • 1/2 lb ground chuck, formed into a patty
  • Thai Three Sauce, see recipe
  • 2 shallots, thinly sliced
  • Lettuce, shredded, optional
  • pickles, optional
  • 1/2 cup cooking oil
  • Salt, to taste
  • cracked black pepper, to taste

Start by straining your rice, until the water runs clear.

I use a particular rice steamer, but you could probably follow these directions as well. I add water to my steamer, bring to a boil, and soak a wicker steaming basket, then insert into the steamer, being careful the bottom of the basket does not touch the top of the water.

Add the rice, cover, and cook for about 15 minutes, then remove the basket, bang the basket on the side of your stove or counter, and use your motion, much like you would flip an egg in a skillet, and flip the rice to the other side. Return to the steamer, cover, and cook another 10 minutes.

Once cooked, dump out onto a large board, and use a spatula to break up the rice, then fan it to prevent it from further cooking. Add to a bowl, and cover with a towel.

Next, heat a skillet with the oil and bring it up to temperature.

Take some of the rice, and form into bun shaped patties. You want about a half inch thick. I use ring molds form precision in both the rice patty, as well as the burger.

Once you have formed the two rice patties, add one to the oil, and cook on both sides until a light golden brown occurs. Remove and place on a paper-lined plate to drain any excess oil. Repeat with the remaining rice patty.

During this time, form your burger patty, and season both sides with salt and pepper.

Drain the oil, and return back onto the stove on medium heat.

How to make a Thai Style Burger

Toss in the shallots, and push them to the edge, continuing to cook while you add the burger patty. Sear the burger, and cook to your liking. I go medium with mine.

Next, bring it all together.

Take one of the rice patties, and slather it with the Thai sauce. If you do not have Thai three sauce (highly recommend it), then use an Asian chili sauce. Top with the shallots, and burger. Pile on the lettuce, then the remaining rice patty. Spear a few pickles on top, and dig in.

The rice patty was super interesting. Not too crispy as you would think, but it also did not break apart when eating it which I loved. The burger was cooked perfectly and when paired with that awesome sauce, along with the sweetness from the cooked shallots, well, this was a pretty excellent burger. I’ll pat myself on the back on this one for creativity. Hope you enjoy…


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Thai Style Burger
Author: 
Recipe type: Burgers
Cuisine: Thai
Prep time: 
Cook time: 
Total time: 
Serves: 1
 
Ingredients
  • 2 cups of Thai sticky rice, soaked in water for at least 2 hours
  • ½ lb ground chuck, formed into a patty
  • Thai Three Sauce, see recipe
  • 2 shallots, thinly sliced
  • Lettuce, shredded, optional
  • pickles, optional
  • ½ cup cooking oil
  • Salt, to taste
  • cracked black pepper, to taste
Instructions
  1. Start by straining your rice, until the water runs clear.
  2. I use a particular rice steamer, but you could probably follow these directions as well. I add water to my steamer, bring to a boil, and soak a wicker steaming basket, then insert into the steamer, being careful the bottom of the basket does not touch the top of the water.
  3. Add the rice, cover, and cook for about 15 minutes, then remove the basket, bang the basket on the side of your stove or counter, and use your motion, much like you would flip an egg in a skillet, and flip the rice to the other side. Return to the steamer, cover, and cook another 10 minutes.
  4. Once cooked, dump out onto a large board, and use a spatula to break up the rice, then fan it to prevent it from further cooking. Add to a bowl, and cover with a towel.
  5. Next, heat a skillet with the oil and bring it up to temperature.
  6. Take some of the rice, and form into bun shaped patties. You want about a half inch thick. I use ring molds form precision in both the rice patty, as well as the burger.
  7. Once you have formed the two rice patties, add one to the oil, and cook on both sides until a light golden brown occurs. Remove and place on a paper-lined plate to drain any excess oil. Repeat with the remaining rice patty.
  8. During this time, form your burger patty, and season both sides with salt and pepper.
  9. Drain the oil, and return back onto the stove on medium heat.
  10. Toss in the shallots, and push them to the edge, continuing to cook while you add the burger patty. Sear the burger, and cook to your liking. I go medium with mine.
  11. Next, bring it all together.
  12. Take one of the rice patties, and slather it with the Thai sauce. If you do not have Thai three sauce (highly recommend it), then use an Asian chili sauce. Top with the shallots, and burger. Pile on the lettuce, then the remaining rice patty. Spear a few pickles on top, and dig in.
  13. The rice patty was super interesting. Not too crispy as you would think, but it also did not break apart when eating it which I loved. The burger was cooked perfectly and when paired with that awesome sauce, along with the sweetness from the cooked shallots, well, this was a pretty excellent burger. I’ll pat myself on the back on this one for creativity. Hope you enjoy…

 

Thai Three Sauce

Asian, Ethnic, Grilling, Sauce, Sides, Thai

I am a huge fan of great sauces, especially when it comes to Thai sauces. Examples being the Thai shallot sauce, Nam Prik Ong, and one of my favorite Vietnamese sauces, nuoc cham. One thing I love about these sauces is they all bring together the best of sweet, spicy, and sour, and to me those are just the right combination in flavors.

There is another sauce that in my opinion can be used on pretty much everything and it just explodes with flavor. It is know as Thai three sauce, and once tried, you will be totally hooked. I find myself actually taking small spoonfuls, yes eating it alone (as it is that good), and I find myself coming back for more. It’s addicting and could very well be one of my favorite sauces.

Thai Three Flavors Sauce

Let’s get started.

Ingredients:

  • 25 Thai Bird Chilies, red and green
  • 1 head of garlic, skin removed
  • 1 cup of shallots
  • 3/4 cup fresh cilantro, packed
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1 cup palm sugar
  • 1/2 cup light brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup fish sauce
  • 1/2 cup tamarind nectar
  • 1 tbsp cooking oil

Start by adding the chilies, garlic, shallots, and cilantro, along with half of the water into a food processor, and pulse down until you have an even, smooth consistency, no chunks.

Heat a large skillet on medium heat, and add in the oil. Once heated, add in the chili mixture, and stir.

Add in your remaining ingredients, bring to a simmer, and cook for about 25 minutes until it reduces a bit.

My wife told me to crank up the fans as she is not one for the smell of fish sauce, or even when vinegar is cooking on the stove, so it’s probably best to turn on the exhaust fan as after all, you are cooking with a lot of chilies and fish sauce. I don’t much mind the smell to be quiet honest with you, but it’s your call.

Thai Three Flavor Sauce

Let cool, then store in a seal tight container for up to several weeks. Trust me, it will not last that long as this stuff rocks.

I know it sounds like a lot of chili peppers, but trust me, the addition of the salty fish sauce, and balanced by both the brown and palm sugars, it is a perfect sweet heat. I actually had a spoonful this morning before putting some on my omelette.  This sauce goes extremely well with things like fried fish, eggs, or just as a condiment for things like french fries. Give a go at it, and let me know how you like it. Hope you enjoy!

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Thai Three Sauce
Author: 
Recipe type: Condiments
Cuisine: Thai
Prep time: 
Cook time: 
Total time: 
Serves: 15
 
Ingredients
  • 25 Thai Bird Chilies, red and green
  • 1 head of garlic, skin removed
  • 1 cup of shallots
  • ¾ cup fresh cilantro, packed
  • ½ cup water
  • 1 cup palm sugar
  • ½ cup light brown sugar
  • ½ cup fish sauce
  • ½ cup tamarind nectar
  • 1 tbsp cooking oil
Instructions
  1. Start by adding the chilies, garlic, shallots, and cilantro, along with half of the water into a food processor, and pulse down until you have an even, smooth consistency, no chunks.
  2. Heat a large skillet on medium heat, and add in the oil. Once heated, add in the chili mixture, and stir.
  3. Add in your remaining ingredients, bring to a simmer, and cook for about 25 minutes until it reduces a bit.
  4. My wife told me to crank up the fans as she is not one for the smell of fish sauce, or even when vinegar is cooking on the stove, so it’s probably best to turn on the exhaust fan as after all, you are cooking with a lot of chilies and fish sauce. I don’t much mind the smell to be quiet honest with you, but it’s your call.
  5. Let cool, then store in a seal tight container for up to several weeks. Trust me, it will not last that long as this stuff rocks.
  6. I know it sounds like a lot of chili peppers, but trust me, the addition of the salty fish sauce, and balanced by both the brown and palm sugars, it is a perfect sweet heat. I actually had a spoonful this morning before putting some on my omelette. This sauce goes extremely well with things like fried fish, eggs, or just as a condiment for things like french fries. Give a go at it, and let me know how you like it. Hope you enjoy!

 

Thai Shallot Sauce

Appetizers, Asian, Ethnic, Grilling, Onions, Sauce, Thai

Many of us never think to serve grilled items with a dipping sauce. I know I never did until I experienced Thai food. It was then, and only then that I fell in love with how complex, yet so simple, the flavors became when dipping a bit of grilled beef into this Thai dipping sauce. It was also probably the first time I experienced fish sauce, otherwise known as nước mắm, nam pla, nam pa, or patis. I know at first thought you might be thinking, ‘gross, fish sauce?’. When introduced to the smell, you might back away, after all it is fermented fish, extracted to make what I think is such a great sauce. Any time I make sticky rice, or grilled beef focused around Thai flavors, I always make a sauce, either to be dipped into with the ball of great sticky rice, or a quick dip with a slice of beef. With that said, I wanted to steer a bit into a slightly different direction and make a slightly sweeter sauce, hence this Thai shallot sauce utilizing a bit of the toasted rice I recently made as well.

Thai Shallot Sauce Recipe

Let’s get started.

Ingredients:

  • 4 tbsp good quality fish sauce (I use Red Boat, or Three Crabs brand)
  • 1 tsp ground dried chili pepper
  • 1 tsp toasted rice
  • 1/2 tsp sugar
  • 1 whole lime, juiced
  • 1/2 cup of shallots, thinly sliced
  • 1 teaspoon crushed toasted rice

Combine all of the ingredients into a small mixing bowl and stir to combine. Taste and adjust any more ingredients for flavor, more pepper if you want it spicier, or a bit more sugar if you want it a bit sweeter.

Serve this sauce as a side to any grilled beef, chicken, pork, or sticky rice.  The flavors of this is awesome. You get this sweet, tart, spicy note in every bite and it just has you coming back for more. If you are looking for a great dipping sauce, full of flavor, and one that will get you to experience fish sauce, this is the one. I hope you enjoy.

Print
Thai Shallot Sauce
Author: 
Recipe type: Sauce
Cuisine: Thai
Prep time: 
Cook time: 
Total time: 
Serves: 6
 
Ingredients
  • 4 tbsp good quality fish sauce (I use Red Boat, or Three Crabs brand)
  • 1 tsp ground dried chili pepper
  • 1 tsp toasted rice
  • ½ tsp sugar
  • 1 whole lime, juiced
  • ½ cup of shallots, thinly sliced
  • 1 teaspoon crushed toasted rice
Instructions
  1. Combine all of the ingredients into a small mixing bowl and stir to combine. Taste and adjust any more ingredients for flavor, more pepper if you want it spicier, or a bit more sugar if you want it a bit sweeter.
  2. Serve this sauce as a side to any grilled beef, chicken, pork, or sticky rice. The flavors of this is awesome. You get this sweet, tart, spicy note in every bite and it just has you coming back for more. If you are looking for a great dipping sauce, full of flavor, and one that will get you to experience fish sauce, this is the one. I hope you enjoy.