Thai from Down-Under!

The Bully received several fantastic Thai food recipes from a family friend now living in Sydney. These recipes are authentic and excellent, as my friend and her spouse formerly operated their own Thai restaurant.

Check the two out below and let the Bully know what you think!

THAI CHILI BASIL STIR FRY

1 cup of either sliced Beef, Pork, Chicken, Prawns, Fish, Calamari or mixed Seafood

1 bunch of fresh Basil, picked and washed the leaves and set aside in a colander

Garlic - at least 1 clove - chopped

Medium Onion - sliced

Small Red Chili Pepper - chopped or sliced - optional if you don't like the heat!!

Additional cayenne (to taste)

Fish Sauce - start with 1 tablespoon

Pinch of Sugar

Oil

Preparation:

Heat oil then fry garlic till brown then add whichever protein you are using.

Fry till cooked, next add onion and chili peppers.

Stir for 1 minute then add Fish Sauce, pinch of Sugar and Taste.

Add additional cayenne to taste and mix.

Taste again and just before turning off the heat add hand shredded basil leaves and stir thru well. Serve with steamed rice.

THAI GREEN (GANG KEO-WAAN and RED CURRIES (GANG DANG)

1 Tablespoon curry paste

1 Tablespoon of oil

1 cup of which ever protein you are using.

1 Can of Bamboo shoots, drained and rinsed

Green beans (cut to sliced) - optional - as little or as much you like

1.5 cups of Coconut milk - not Coconut Cream

Fish Sauce

Pinch of Sugar

Basil leaves

Sliced red chili pepper (optional)

Kaffir Limes leaves (available in Asian and Indian stores, if not use a bit of lime zest) - shredded

Preparation:

Heat the oil in a pot, add curry paste and fry for a minute or two, stirring constantly so it doesn't stick to the bottom of pot.

Add the meat and continue cooking until the meat is browned.

Add coconut milk and bring to a boil.

Add the bamboo shoots and green beans (if using) and bring to boil again and let simmer, stirring occasionally.

Add pinch of Sugar and Fish Sauce and taste.

Stir thru and let simmer for 5 minutes or so, taste and adjust seasoning.

Add the Basil leaves, Lime leaves and chili pepper (if using).

Remove from heat and let stand covered for 5 minutes. Serve with steamed rice.

The meat can substituted with a mixture of bamboo shoots, beans, broccoli, carrots, eggplants, etc and diced hard tofu and raw cashews as Vegetarian curry.

Most curries always taste better few days after cooking. Thai curries freeze well.

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In case you hadn’t guessed, the Bully absolutely loves Thai food.

In the NYC area, the best Thai food can be found in Queens near LaGuardia Airport. If you haven’t already been, you must go to Sripraphai, 64-13 39th Ave., Queens, NY 11377 near 64th St, phone # 718-899-9599. Make sure you have directions first as finding the restaurant can be tricky.

When ordering, be sure you try the Crispy Chinese Watercress Salad with shrimp, squid & chicken- it’s an unbelievable dish!