Thai Panang curry with Tofu / chicken / shrimp

Thailand has developed new strategies to attract tourists including culinary tourism.Unlike many other South Asian countries, Thailand has never been ruled by European nations. Thai cuisine is ancient just like the country's history. Rice is central to Thai cuisine and culture. Banana plantations are seen all over the country and leaves are used to serve the food as well as in the cooking.
The very first time I tried Thai, I tasted panang curry and loved it !!! The taste of Thai food is close to Indian cuisine. This curry is a spicy sauce with a coconutty flavor. While making this dish I chose to get a ready-made red curry paste from a local store. It's easily available in the market. The following Red curry paste recipe is from a book.( if someone wishes to make it fresh !!)  Fresh ingredients always gives best results.

Red curry paste -
10 red chilies ,3 shallots. 4 garlic cloves, 1 inch fresh ginger, 1/2 stalk lemongrass, 1/2 tsp galangal powder,1 tsp coriander seeds, 1/2 tsp caraway or Persian cumin seeds, 3 Tbsp tamarind water, 3 Tbsp fish sauce or soy sauce, juice of half lemon, black pepper to taste. (Source: Everybody's San Francisco cookbook - By Charles Le mos )

 Panang curry ingredients - Cubed Tofu  OR Chicken OR Shrimp ,Cubed veggies (carrots, bell peppers yellow or green, Shallots), Coconut milk (1 can), Red curry paste 2 Tbsp, Sugar 2 tsp, Soy  OR fish sauce ( 1 tsp), Lime juice (2 tsp).

Put oil in a pan and saute red curry paste on oil for 2-3 minutes. Put all veggies and the main ingredient (Tofu /shrimp/chicken). Cook it well for 5-6 minutes. Add 1 can of coconut milk and 100 ml water. Let it boil for a couple of minutes. When its almost ready, add soy sauce and sugar. Serve hot and enjoy with rice.

Baked chicken fritters / chicken kababs

Ingredients -

Ground / chopped chicken - 250 gm
Egg - whites - 2
Lime juice - few drops
Ginger paste -  1tsp
Garlic paste  -  1 tsp
Green chilies -  3-4 ( chopped )
Onion - 1 med. ( chopped )
Red chili powder -  1 tsp
Turmeric - a pinch

Cilantro , salt - 
Cornstarch - 1 Tbsp

Salt

Recipe  -
1. Mix all the above ingredients.
2. Beat the egg-whites and mix it with above mixture.
3. Make the small balls. Grease the tray with the cooking spray and place these kababs.
4. Preheat the oven at  350 degree F. and then bake it for 25 minutes.

5. Serve with dips available or mint chutney or sauce.

I  have used  egg- whites instead of the whole eggs and also, baking saves few calories here !!!  Enjoy the recipe !!!

Kerla fish curry

Ingredients -

Tilapia -  100gm
Turmeric -  1 tsp
Mustard seeds -1/4 tsp
kokum - 3-4
Tamrind pulp - 1 Tbsp
Curry leaves  - 8-10
Onion ( shallots )  - 4 no. chopped
Ginger - 2 tsp
Garlic  - 1 tsp
Methi seeds- 1 tsp
Red chili powder - 1 1/2 tsp
Salt -
Coconut oil  - 1tsp
Olive oil  - 1tsp

Recipe -
1. Heat the olive oil and coconut oil in the pan.. Add mustard seeds, curry leaves, chopped ginger, garlic ,fenugreek seeds, chopped onions ,red chili powder, turmeric and saute for 2-3 minutes.

2. Then add  fish pieces into the gravy.

3. Add tamarind  pulp and kokum. Let it boil for 5 minutes. Don't overcook .
.
Tilapia is a good source of protein, good amino acid profile and palatability. Proein and amino acid digestibility is high compare to most of the fish species. It is also a good source of Omega 3 fatty acids ( good fats) and minerals.

chicken with gnocchi and tomato sauce

Ingredients-

wheat gnocchi - 2 cups boiled and cooked
Chicken( boneless)- 11/2 cup
Tomato puree - 2cups
Basil -20 fresh leaves
Sun dried tomatoes - 4-5
Oregano - 1/2 tsp ( opt.)
Olive oil - 1 Tbsp
Paprika -1 1/2 tsp
Garlic - 2 tsp
Red pepper flakes - 2 tsp
pepper- 1/2 tsp
Grated Parmesan cheese- 1TBsp
( Reduced fat )
Chopped parsley -
* Vegetarians can add broccoli and mushrooms instead chicken.
Recipe -

1. Boil and cook wheat gnocchi and drain it.
2. Cook chicken and cut into pieces . Vegetarians can cook Broccoli and mushrooms instead chicken
3. take tomatoes, basil leaves,sun dried tomatoes, paprika,garlic, oregano,salt and chopped onion in the grinder and grind it and make a puree.
4. Heat 2tsp oil in the pan and cook this puree and make a tomato basil sauce.
5. Now grease the baking pan add gnocchi or veggies then add this sauce on the top of it then sprinkle Parmesan cheese and chopped parsley on that.
6. Bake in the preheated oven at 400 F for 10-12 Min's.

I always use to feel Italian is all loaded with cheese and extremely high calorie food. But one can modify it into healthy nutritious recipe. I have tried to make it comparatively nutritious with maintaining the taste. It was a very successful recipe.
Though we get ready made pasta sauces, The fresh tomatoes and basil add more nutrition and taste to the dish and also, we can reduce the amount of preservatives in our diet !!!

what gnocchi makes it comparatively high fibre,chicken and low fat cheese gives low fat and high protein source.Also we all know therapeutic value of basil.It has same properties as mint.It has antibacterial,anthelminitic ( antiworm)propeties. It gives aid to the digestive tract, useful in intestinal and kidney ailments.It has orientin and vicenin which has anti cancerous properties. Tomatoes contains phytoestrogen lycopene which has anticancerous and anticholesterol properties. Also parsley has a Nerve stimulant properties.

fiery cajun shrimp

Ingredients - 
Shrimp

1 Tbsp cajun seasoning
1 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
1tsp Melted butter
1 tsp Olive oil
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoons ground pepper
2 teaspoons chilli sauce
4 cloves garlic, minced
salt
2 pounds medium shrimp
1/2 medium chopped onion
1 lemons, thinly sliced
2tsp constarch

Recipe

1. Mix Worcestershire sauce,lemon juice,ground pepper,chilli sauce,salt and cajun seasoning together in a bowl and add shrimp to it.
2. Add butter and olive oil in the pan and then add chopped garlic, chopped onion to it and saute.
3. Add obove mixture into the pan and again saute.
4. After 2-3 minutes take caonstarch in a different bowl and cold water to it and mix well. Then put this mixture in the pan.
5. Cook it for 5-10 mins. Fiery Cajun shrimp is ready to serve.


This recipe turned out to be awesome than I expected. This goes excellent with wild rice. I tried cajun shrimp recipe at K.Paul's kitchen, New Orleans. and I just loved it and wanted to try it since then. This was a bit spicy and not all people like to eat very spicy food, so I have mentioned the modified recipe here. I had marinated the shrimp for 6-7 hrs and made this preparation 1 hr before the party.

Shrimp is an excellent source of protein,selinium and B12. It is a very good source of iron and phosphorous. 100 gms of boiled shrimp gives 99 kcal, 21 g protein, 195 mg of cholesterol,177 mg of EPA and 144 mg of DHA. ( EPA & DHA ) are good fatty acids. Because it contains cholesterol , many people tend to avoid it. But, it can be eaten in the moderate amounts to get other nutritional benefits.

salmon sandwiches

This is delicious and very nutritious dish. I loved this one. I used What breads which are high in fiber, also salmon is high in proteins and saturated fatty acids,selenium,niacin, B12, phosphorous, magnesium and B6.Coleslaw has cabbage fiber, Vitamin C,moisture,minerals and phytoestrogens which are anti-cancerous.I used 1 tsp low-fat mayonnaise and mixed it with yogurt which makes it comparatively less fat.

Ingredients -

Wheat bread slice - 4 no.

Mashed potatoes - 4 tbsp
Parsley leaves - 1 tsp
Cayenne pepper - 1 tsp
salt

Coleslaw -
Cabbage - 1 1/2 cup
Low-fat Mayonnaise- 1tsp
Yogurt - 3Tbsp
Parsley leaves- 1/2tsp
salt
Sugar - pinch

Salmon -1
Cajun seasoning - 1tsp
Red chili powder- 1tsp
Olive oil - 1tsp
salt
Garlic paste

Method -
1. Marinate salmon by adding garlic paste,salt,cajun seasoning,red chili powder
and salt
2. Finely chop cabbage and onions. Mix all the ingredients from above coleslaw recipe.
3. make mash- potatoes by adding above spices. You can also add some butter. ( opt.)
4. Bake fish at 350 F for 20 minutes.
5 Toast bread slices.
6. Put ketch-up to the toasted slices.then put layers of mashed potatoes,coleslaw,
and baked fish. One can also fry fish.
7. Sandwich is ready to serve !!!