Saturday, November 26, 2011


Pad Thai – Thai-Style Stir-Fried Noodles

A Recipe of Kasma Loha-unchit
Recipe Copyright © 2000 Kasma Loha-unchit.
See Also: Our blog entries, Pad Thai, and Pad Thai at Aw Taw Kaw Market

Ingredients

Pad Thai cooking in a wok
Pad Thai in Wok
  • 1/2 lb. dried thin gkuay dtiow or rice noodles (also known as ban pho to the Vietnamese)
  • 3 Tbs. fish sauce (nahm bplah), to taste
  • 3 or more Tbs. tamarind juice the thickness of fruit concentrate, to taste
  • 2 Tbs. palm or coconut sugar, to taste
  • 4 Tbs. peanut oil
  • 1/3 lb. fresh shrimp, shelled, deveined and butterflied
  • 3/4 cup firm pressed tofu, cut into thin strips about an inch long, half an inch wide and a quarter inch thick
  • 4-5 cloves garlic, finely chopped
  • 3 shallots, thinly sliced (or substitute with half a medium onion)
  • 1/4 cup small dried shrimp
  • 1/4 cup chopped sweetened salted radish
  • 2-3 tsp. ground dried red chillies, to desired hotness
  • 3 eggs
  • 3 cups fresh bean sprouts
  • 1 cup garlic chives, cut into 1 1/2-inch-long segments (optional)

Garnish

  • 2/3 cup chopped unsalted roasted peanuts
  • 1 lime, cut into small wedges
  • A few short cilantro sprigs
  • 4 green onions - trim off root tip and half of green leaves and place in a glass with white end in cold water to crisp (optional)
Soak the dried rice noodles in cool or lukewarm tap water for 40 minutes to one hour, or until the noodles are limp but still firm to the touch. While the noodles are soaking, mix the fish sauce with the tamarind juice and palm sugar; stir well to melt the sugar. Taste and adjust flavors to the desired combination of salty, sour and sweet. Prepare the remaining ingredients as instructed.
When the noodles have softened, drain and set aside. Heat a wok over high heat until it is smoking hot. (Note: If your wok is small, do the stir-frying in two batches. The recipe may also be halved to serve two.) Add 2 teaspoons of oil and quickly stir-fry the shrimp until they turn pink and are almost cooked through. Salt lightly with a sprinkling of fish sauce and remove them from the wok.
Pad Thai on Plate
Pad Thai on Plate
Swirl in the remaining oil, save for 1 teaspoon, to coat the wok surface and wait 20 to 30 seconds for it to heat. Add the tofu, frying 1 to 2 minutes, or until the pieces turn golden. Add garlic and stir-fry with the tofu for 15 to 20 seconds. Follow with the sliced shallots and cook another 15 seconds. Then add the dried shrimp, sweetened salted radish and ground dried chillies. Stir and heat through a few seconds.
Add the noodles and toss well with the ingredients in the wok. Stir-fry 1 to 2 minutes and when most of the noodles has changed texture and softened, push the mass up along one side of the wok. Add the teaspoon of oil to the cleared area, crack the eggs onto it and scramble lightly. When the eggs have set, cut into small chunks with the spatula and toss them in with the noodles.
Add the sweet-and-sour seasoning mixture. Stir well to evenly coat noodles. If the noodles are still too firm to your liking, sprinkle 1 to 2 tablespoons of water over them to help cook. Taste and adjust flavors as needed to your liking by adding more fish sauce or tamarind juice; if the noodles are not sweet enough, sprinkle in a small amount of granulated sugar.
When the noodles are cooked to your liking, toss in 2 of the 3 cups of bean sprouts and the garlic chives (if using). Sprinkle with half the chopped peanuts and return the shrimp to the wok. Stir and when the vegetables are partially wilted, transfer to a serving platter, or dish onto individual serving-size plates, and garnish with the remaining bean sprouts and chopped peanuts, the lime wedges, cilantro and green onions.
Serves 4 as a one-dish lunch. Squeeze lime juice over each portion before eating.
Pad Thai in Egg
Pad Thai in Egg

Notes and Pointers

I don't really know how Pad Thai became the most famous of Thai foods in America. To me, it is but one of many quick fast foods, with the best served by noodle carts, inexpensive sidewalk eateries, and small, nondescript mom-and-pop noodle shops, rather than fine restaurants, in the cities and towns of Thailand. I always find it amusing when restaurant reviewers judge the quality of a Thai restaurant by the quality of its Pad Thai, as noodles can hardly take claim as lying at the heart of my country's cuisine.
In fact, its name literally means "Thai-style stir-fried noodles," and for a dish to be so named in its own country clearly suggests an origin that isn't Thai. Indeed, noodle cookery in most Southeast Asian countries was introduced by the wave of immigrants from southern China settling in the region the past century. They brought with them rice noodles and their ways of cooking them. During the recession following World War II, the post-war government of Field Marshall Pibul, desperate in its efforts to revive the Thai economy, looked for ways to stem the massive tide of unemployment. Among the occupations the government aggressively promoted to give the populace a way to earn a living was the production of rice noodles and the operation of noodle shops. Detailed instructions on how to make the noodles and recipes were printed and distributed all around the country. From these efforts, rice noodles became firmly rooted in the country and have since become a widespread staple food.
The ethnic Chinese had good business sense, survival skills and entrepreneurial spirit. Seeing how the Thai people were very fond of the combination of hot, sour, sweet and salty flavors, they added these to their stir-fried noodle dishes and gave it a fusion name, much like Western chefs today are naming their dishes Thai this or Thai that on their East-West menus.
Back home, there are as many ways to make Pad Thai as there are cooks, geographical regions, moods, and creative entrepreneurial spirit. The following is a basic traditional Pad Thai recipe (if "traditional" is a word that can be applied to a fusion dish invented in relatively modern times), combining the hot, sour, sweet and salty flavors so characteristic of Thai cuisine. Variations can be made by changing the sources of these four flavors and adding personal touches to make each combination unique.
Kasma Makes Pad Thai
Kasma Making Pad Thai
For instance, instead of tamarind and palm sugar, vinegar and granulated sugar may be used; and instead of fish sauce, light or thin soy sauce may take its place. Some noodle stalls in Thailand use a sweetened black soy sauce in combination with sugar, and ground dried chillies made with darkly roasted whole dried chillies, producing Pad Thai with a very different color and flavor balance than what Americans have become accustomed to. More refined eateries focus on presentation, wrapping the cooked noodles inside egg like an omelette.
Many American Thai restaurants use tomato ketchup, yielding reddish noodles coated with a thick gooey sauce, which has a flavor and color appealing to the American palate. Other restaurants use Sriracha bottled chilli sauce instead of ground dried chillies, resulting also in reddish noodles. This recipe yields noodles that are firm and chewy with the strands dry and separate (the way I like it), but if you prefer the soft and mushy texture of some restaurant noodles, precook the noodles in boiling water before stir-frying.

Tom Yum Goong



Tom Yum Goong

tomyum_1
Hot and sour soup with prawns – Tom Yum Goong (ต้มยำกุ้ง) is one of those dishes that I love and can’t think of any reasons to say ‘no’ to it. Tom yum is such a distinct soup – hot and sour flavours that will wake up all your senses. The most popular tom yum is tom yum goong, which is cooked with prawns. Tom yum gai is the chicken version, which is as nice. I always opt to have tom yum goong as I just can’t resist to the sweetness and succulent texture of prawns. This Thai dish is not only popular in SE Asia but almost anywhere in the world!
As you know, Thai food is characterised by sweetness, sourness, and spiciness. This applies to tom yum, well, probably not so much on the sweetness this time. I think, what I really like about tom yum apart from its spiciness, sourness, and a bit of saltiness; is the fragrance of the herbs. Lemongrass, kaffir lime leaves, galangal, and chilies are used to infuse the soup make this soup full of characters! What can be better than this?
After having a bowl of tom yum, it instantly warms up your body and give a great sense of satisfaction to the taste buds! I also learn that the use of herbs in this soup helps to boost our immune system as it has natural remedy for cold and flu. So, does that mean that it’s better off to have tom yum soup more frequently than having Vitamin C in order to build up our immune system? haha…  I definitely have no problem to have it as frequent as possible.
Tom yum soup really helps me beating the cold. Last week was probably the coldest week. The temperature has risen a bit since then. But, that doesn’t mean warm just yet! It just means there is no more snow but rain. Honestly, I prefer snow than rain! Not sure about others, but that’s my preference if I get to choose.
Tom yum goong is a real quick soup that can be prepared within minutes. Need a quick fix of tom yum? Here’s the recipe.
tomyum_2
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tomyum_1

tom yum goong

ingredients:

1l chicken stock
18 raw king prawns, trimmed, shells on and deveined
1 lemongrass, slightly crushed
2-3 kaffir lime leaves
2cm galangal, sliced
2-3 bird's eyes chillies
1 tbsp nam prik pao
2-3 tbsp fish sauce
2-3 tsp sugar
2-3 tbsp lime juice
a small handful of coriander leaves, to serve

directions:

1. In a pot on a medium heat, put in the chicken stock and bring to a boil.
2. Put in slight smashed lemongrass, kaffir lime leaves, galangal, chilies into the stock and infuse for a few minutes.
3. Then, add in nam prik pao, fish sauce and lime juice. Add in the prawns and cook for 3 minutes or until the prawns turn pink.
4. Taste and adjust the saltiness, sourness, and spiciness if necessary.
5. Serve hot with some fresh coriander leaves.


Tom Yum Goong Soup

Muay Thai : Thai boxing


Muay Thai : Thai boxing


Muai Thai is a combat sport from Thailand that uses stand-up striking along with various clinching techniques. It is similar to other Indochinese kickboxing systems, namely pradal serey from Cambodia, tomoi from Malaysia, lethwei from Myanmar and muay Lao from Laos. Descended from muay boran, muay Thai is Thailand's national sport.
The word muay derives from the Sanskrit mavya which means "to bind together". Muay Thai is referred to as the "Art of Eight Limbs" or the "Science of Eight Limbs" because it makes use of punches, kicks, elbows and knee strikes, thus using eight "points of contact", as opposed to "two points" (fists) in boxing and "four points" (hands and feet) used in other more regulated combat sports, such as kickboxing, boxing, and savate. A practitioner of muay Thai is known as a nak muay. Western practitioners are sometimes called nak muay farang, meaning "foreign boxer."

Techniques
Formal muay Thai techniques are divided into two groups: mae mai or major techniques and luk mai or minor techniques. Muay Thai is often a fighting art of attrition, where opponents exchange blows with one another. This is certainly the case with traditional stylists in Thailand, but is a less popular form of fighting in the contemporary world fighting circuit where the Thai style of exchanging blow for blow is no longer favorable. Almost all techniques in muay Thai use the entire body movement, rotating the hip with each kick, punch, elbow and block.

Muay Thai Techniques - Punches

Muay Thai Techniques PunchesMuay Thai Punch Techniques tells you the way to effectively use fists, how to clench the fists, twisting the wrists techniques, and five categories of Muay Thai Kickboxing techniques in punches:
  • Jab
  • Straight Punch
  • Swing
  • Uppercut
  • Hook


Muay Thai Techniques - Elbows

Muay Thai Techniques ElbowsMuay Thai Elbow Techniques - It is about how can you properly use elbows to beat the opponent, Muay Thai elbow techniques mechanism, and eight types of elbow strikes in Muay Thai Boxing techniques:
            • Sok Ti (Striking Elbow)
            • Sok Tad (Perpendicular Elbow)
            • Sok Hud (Levering Elbow)
            • Sok Chieng (Diagonal Elbow)
            • Sok Sab (Chopping Elbow)
            • Sok Tong (Smash Downward Elbow)
            • Sok Ku (Double Elbows)
            • Sok Klab (Reverse Elbow)


Muay Thai Techniques - Knees

Muay Thai Techniques Knee Muay Thai Knee Techniques - The way to efficiently use knees. Muay Thai knee techniques are divided into 7 categories:
  • Kao Tone (Straight knee)
  • Kao Dode (Jumping knee)
  • Kao Nui (Small knee)
  • Kao Kratai (Rabbit knee)
  • Kao La (Farewell knee)
  • Kao Lod (Lower knee)
  • Kao Loi (Flying knee) 




Muay Thai Techniques - Kicks

Muay Thai Techniques KicksMuay Thai Kick Techniques - There are 5 popular types of kick in Muay Thai Boxing techniques:
          • Tae Tad (Side Kick or Round Kick)
          • Tae Chiang (Diagonal Kick)
          • Tae Kod (Hook kick or Down round kick)
          • Tae Pub Nok (Kick to the outside of the knee joint)
          • Tae Pub Nai (Kick to the inside of the knee joint)
Other than kicks in Muay Thai, we also use feet techniques to fight the opponent. We called foot-thrust, push kick, or Theep (in Thai). To describe the foot-thrust weapon, it is the method of bend at the knee, then quickly extending your leg to use foot or heel to attack the target.

Muay Thai Techniques - Mae Mai Muay Thai

Mae Mai Muay Thai (Master Tricks) - The main movement that you can use to defeat your opponent. These master tricks are consisted of 15 movements as follows:Muay Thai Techniques Mae Mai 1
          • Salab Fan Pla (Cross-switch)
          • Paksa Waeg Rang (Bird peeping through the nest)
          • Chawa Sad Hok (Chawa throws spear)
          • Inao Thang Grit (I Nao stabs his Grit)
          • Yo Khao Prasumaru (Lifting the Sumer Mountain)
  • Ta Then Kham Fak (Old man holding the melon)
  • Mon Yan Lak (Mon supports the pillar)Muay Thai Techniques Mae Mai 2
  • Pak Look Thoy (Impaling the stake)
  • Dab Chawala (Extinguish the lamps)
  • Jarakhe Fad Hang (Crocodile sweeps its tail)
  • Hak Nguang Aiyara (Break the elephant’s tusks)
  • Naka Bid Hang (Serpent twists its tail)
  • Viroon Hok Glab (Bird somersaults)
  • Khuanyak Jab Ling (The giant catches the monkey)
  • Hak Kor Erawan (Break the elephant’s neck)

Muay Thai Techniques - Look Mai Muay Thai

Look Mai Muay Thai (Complimentary Tricks) - The supplement moves to use in the match. The old qualifications teachers had divided Look Mai Muay Thai to 15 Mai.Muay Thai Techniques Look Mai 1
          • Erawan Suey Nga (Elephant thrusting its tusks)
          • Batha Loob Pak (Foot touches face)
          • Khun Yak Pa Nang (Giant steals the girl)
          • Prarama Nao Sorn (Rama pulls the arrow string)
          • Graisorn Kham Huai (Tiger descends into the stream)
  • Kwang Liew Lang (Deer looks back)
  • Hiran Muan Pan Din (Mountain overturns earth)
  • Nak Mood Badan (Serpent sneaks to the ocean kingdom)
  • Hanuman Thawai Waen (Hanuman the monkey king presents the ring)Muay Thai Techniques Look Mai  2
  • Yuan Thod Hae (Vietnamese casts a fishing net)
  • Thayae Kham Sao
  • Hong Peek Hak (Swan with broken wings)
  • Sak Phuang Malai (Threading the flower garland)
  • Then Kwad Lan (Monk follower sweeps the floor)
  • Fan Look Buab (Slicing the cucumber)


"Kon Muay" means the movements or the styles of using Muay Thai as the art of Fighting both of the attack and the defense, which are named by the characteristic of the usage. If using for example the attack called Knon Muay JuJom. If using for the defense or counter called Kon Muay-Kae. If using for the defense and counter by the fists called Kon Muay-Kae Mad, to defend and counter by the feet called Kon Muay-Kae Tao, to defend and counter by the knees called Kon Muay-Kae Kao, to defend and counter by the elbows called Kon Muay-Kae Sok. Mr.Yod Ruerngsa said about Kon Muay in the text book of Muay Thai -tamrab Parchao Suer the following:

In Popular Culture
Interest in Muay Thai has risen in the past ten years, due to the popularity of martial arts in film and television. The most notable practitioner of Muay Thai is martial arts sensation Tony Jaa. Yet one of the first popular films that included Muay Thai was Jean-Claude Van Damme's 1989 movie Kickboxer.
Muay Thai has been represented in quite a few fighting games as well. Sagat and Adon from Street Fighter, Joe Higashi and King and Hwa Jai from King of Fighters, Zack the DJ from Dead or Alive, Bruce Irvin fromTekken, Brad Burns from Virtua Fighter, and Jax Briggs from Mortal Kombat are all known to be practitioners of the martial arts. Muay Thai has also become popular in the movie industry with the release of The Ong Bak Trilogy, starring rising muay Thai star Tony Jaa. Chocolate, starring Yanin Vismistananda, is another martial arts movie demonstrating muay Thai's increasingly broad appeal.
Another reference to muay Thai is its use in the anime/manga, "Kenichi: The Mightiest Disciple". Apachai Hopachai, one of the Masters of Ryozanpaku is called, in episode 48, "The Death God of the Muay Thai Underworld"; he is also shown to have difficulty controlling his power as well. This stems from his life-long exposure to ruthless opponents in death-match fights.
Muay Thai fighting contests not only include fighting bouts between 2 people. They also include Muay Thai competitions that are about a series of people competing and whoever displays (and posses) the best Muay Thai skills wins the competition and gets 1st place.

Premier Phuket present the National Sport of Thailand - Muay Thai


Friday, November 25, 2011

Ecursions


 Thailand is the perfect hub for onward journeys into Indochina. Bangkok itself has an extensive transportation network which links all corners of the globe to the wealth of historic and cultural treasures in Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam.
Cambodia
Angkor Wat.
Angkor Wat, located in Siem Reap, Cambodia, is considered by many to be one of the Seven Wonders of the World. This gigantic temple, which is nearly 1000 years old, offers a unique glimpse at a very advanced, past civilization, and is easily accessible from Thailand.


Myanmar Bagan.The ancient town of Bagan, Myanmar offers over 2000 ancient temples, pagodas, and shrines, dating back over 700 years. This collection of ancient temples is amongst the most impressive in the world, and is extremely significant in the history and religion of the region.

Vietnam Vietnam.Vietnam is very much at the heart of Indochina and boasts a host of attractions for the tourist, from the misty northern highlands of Sapa, to the unchanged capital of Hanoi, the resort center of Danang to the steamy city of Ho Chi Minh.

Laos Luang Prabang.This ancient city in Laos offers several well-preserved temples in some truly striking natural settings. Some of the temples in Luang Prabang are over 600 years old, and the vast number of caves, waterfalls, and vistas in the area are tremendous.

Recreation


Recreation in Thailand


If you've got just one day and you need some simple relaxation, don't worry; there are lots of places to go for some recreation.
Why not try a day at the zoo or a stroll through a public park to escape the tension of the city? Or perhaps take the kids for a trip to one of the many amusement parks that Thailand has to offer. Destinations like the floating markets are exotic and fascinating to the Western visitor. Or immerse yourself in culture at an art gallery or dramatic performance.
Whatever you choose, relax, smile and enjoy. After all, 'sanook' is what Thailand's all about; having a good time.

Night life


Nightlife

Closing Time?
By law, all bars and clubs are supposed to close at 1 or 2 am (2 am for places offering dance floors and live music).
The reality is quite different, however, as any visitor to the city will quickly find out. Most of the bars in areas like Patpong actually do close at 2 am, but then the action moves to late-night discos in the area and renowned bars like 'the Thermae' where the partying continues through to the daylight hours and on through the next day for those still on their feet.

Bangkok has a reputation for wild and rowdy nightlife. In fact, 'sanook' or 'fun' would be a better description. The city's nightlife is relaxed, safe and very enjoyable. You don't need to dress up, and you won't break the bank. The city's nightlife goes way beyond the over-worn naughty image from the Vietnam days. And it really does go on around the clock.
For tourists, the main centers for evening entertainment are concentrated around Silom Road (Patpong, Thaniya, SilomSoi 2 and 4), Sukhumvit (Soi Nana, Soi CowboySoi 33) and most recently Khao San Road. First-class hotels are often good centers for nightclubs and discotheques, which are generally quite cheap and of very good standard. Pubs and bars can be found all over the city, many specializing in live music and usually offering food as well.

Nature Attractions



Natural Attractions in Thailand

Forested mountains and lush valleys, fertile agricultural areas, beautiful beaches and islands, a plentiful array of plants and wildlife. Enjoy Thailand's boundless natural heritage.
National Parks
Bua tong fieldFor a true appreciation of Thailand's natural treasures, a visit to a national park is a must on your itinerary.
Waterfalls
Erawan waterfallThe hundreds of waterfalls spread throughout Thailand are the gems among the country's natural attractions.
Rivers
River KwaiTypical traditions and much of the culture of Thailand comes from the rivers. A cruise along one of the country's lifelines offers an unbeatable view of the Thai way of life.
Hot Springs
Want to give your health a boost? One of Thailand's hot springs may fit your needs.

Historical sites



Introduction  
Panom RungThailand has a very long and magnificent history. Proof of this can be seen in the countless historical sites spread throughout all regions of the kingdom. With two Unesco-listed historical World Heritage Sites and many more potential candidates, Thailand has made great contributions to the international cultural heritage.
Palaces
Grand PalaceThailand has a rich royal heritage spanning several centuries. Many royal palaces in Bangkok and elsewhere in Thailand offer a fascinating glimpse of the majesty and splendor of the Thai monarchy. In Thailand, several royal palaces are open to tourists.
Temples
Chedi LuangFor any visitor wishing to get a quick feel for the Thai people and culture, there's no better place to go than a temple. The temple or monastery, colloquially known as 'wat' is where much of Thailand's traditional culture originated. It's still the best place to go to see typical Thai Buddhist traditions.
Monuments
King Tak sinThe construction of monuments in the form of statues or symbolic figures in memory of important persons or historical incidents is actually not a Thai tradition. It came to Thailand only recently during the reign of King Rama V when the country began to open to western influences.
Shrines
San Lak MuangThe belief in the supernatural power of unseen and unproven phenomena is in the Thai blood. Even though most Thais are followers of Buddhism, Thai people also pay respect to icons and symbolic figures of holy spirits.