Thai Veggie Curry
Thai red curry paste is full of flavour but less spicy than its green counterpart. The result is a rich, creamy dinner that spells comfort in every bite.
Thai red curry paste is full of flavour but less spicy than its green counterpart. The result is a rich, creamy dinner that spells comfort in every bite.
Look for Thai yellow curry paste in Asian grocery stores or supermarkets (many carry the Thai Kitchen brand). Red and green curry pastes work well too, but they are spicier. This is a gluten-free recipe, so make sure all the prepared ingredients you use, such as fish sauce, are labelled “gluten-free.”
Cinnamon, cardamom and cloves lend a fragrant Massaman Thai curry its complex mild flavour. A mortar and pestle are traditionally used to make curry paste, but we've eased the process by using a food processor to blend the ingredients into a smooth base for the dish.
A vegan dish is one that contains no animal products, and this curry is a full-flavoured example of the genre. Squash and red pepper provide brilliant colour and textural contrast to firm tofu in this one-pot dish. We use firm tofu in stews because it holds its shape well when stirred. If you aren't into fiery foods, you can use Thai Kitchen red curry paste (which we find milder than other brands), reduce the amount or use mild Indian curry paste. Serve over rice or noodles.
This curry is inspired by Pork Colombo, a stewed dish popular in West Indian cuisine. It takes its name from the Colombo spice blend, which can be found in major supermarkets or West Indian grocery stores. You can also prepare it yourself.
All over the Caribbean there are variations of dishes with rice and peas. Cookup Rice is the Guyanese one; the coconut and salt pork add richness and flavour.
Can't find halloumi? Substitute crumbled light feta—just don't cook it!
Katie Taylor of Thornhill, Ont., was inspired to create this recipe with chicken after making it with mussels. She serves this with jasmine or basmati rice, to which she adds grated lime rind, chopped peanuts, butter, salt and pepper. Kaffir lime leaves and lemongrass are available at Asian markets and some supermarkets.
Heat Rating: Medium The Chinese spice trio of star anise, cloves and cinnamon, along with Indian black mustard seeds and fragrant cardamom pods, spike this delicious curry. Serve it with lots of white rice to soak up the sauce. It is always nice to serve a spicy curry with sliced cucumber and refreshing, tart fruit, such as half-ripe mango (choose a firm one), starfruit or apple.
Linda Meinhardt's kitchen is modelled after a philosophy of passion in cooking, using quality fresh ingredients for bold and innovative tastes. These qualities have made Meinhardt Fine Foods a gourmet — foodstuffs and takeout — counter destination of choice in the Vancouver area. Here is an example of the innovative and well-tuned flavours that characterize Meinhardt's kitchen. Lamb or beef, whichever you prefer, is treated to a fusion of Eastern and Western ingredients. If you want to freeze the curry for up to two weeks, omit the potatoes and add boiled potatoes to the curry when reheating.