Thursday, January 14, 2010

Thai "Kanom Jean" Spicy Red Curry


Yeah baby. This was exactly what I was in the mood for tonight. A fiery red curry with soft tender vegetables and tofu, flavored with coconut milk, lime leaves and lemongrass atop a mound of "Kanom Jean", aka somen noodles. If I hadn't run out of somen noodles, I would have eaten much more! I ate two bowls for the record. It had broccoli, tofu, mushroom, red bell pepper and frozen butternut squash that had cooked down into a pulpy meltingly tender mush. It gave the curry a great texture.

Basic curry for "Kanom Jean" (Lemongrass and lime leaves can be found at Thai grocers or online.)

Somen noodles aka "Kanom Jean"
2 TB canola oil
2 TB Thai red curry paste
2 15oz. cans of coconut milk
2-3 cups water (use less for creamier curry, more for less creamy)
6-7 kaffir lime leaves
3-1" pieces of lemongrass
Assorted chopped vegetables: broccoli florets, mushrooms, red peppers, butternut squash cubes, carrots etc.
mushroom soy sauce
1-1/2 tsp. sugar
1 tsp. rhizome powder
7 oz. firm tofu cut into 1" cubes

Cook somen noodles according to package directions. Set aside.

Heat oil in a pot and add curry paste. Cook for a few minutes then add coconut milk, water and vegetables. Bring to a boil and add lemongrass, lime leaves, mushroom soy sauce to taste, sugar and rhizome powder. Lower heat and cook until vegetables are almost tender. Add tofu and simmer until vegetables are done. Serve over cooked somen noodles. Note: Do not eat lemongrass and lime leaves. You can pick them out if you want but I just eat around them. :)

A note about Lemongrass and Kaffir Lime Leaves: These items can be kept in the freezer. I have a small bag of lime leaves and lemongrass cut into 1" pieces that I keep in the freezer and only use what I need. They go straight into the cooking pot frozen!

7 comments:

Vic Robinson said...

Whoa! (insert Joey from Blossom voice) That looks great!

Glue and Glitter said...

Man, do I love a good curry! That looks fantastical!

I Am Gluten Free said...

The flavor of your Thai Kanom Jean Spicy Red Curry practically jumps off the computer screen. It looks delicious! And gluten free, to boot! That's fabulous, in my world.

kmouse said...

I Am Gluten Free,
It was really delicious! Although the curry may be gluten free, I don't think the somen noodles are. But you can easily switch them out for thin rice noodles. :)

Oraphan said...

Wow! Your kanom jean and curry looks SO gooood! This is really my kind of food, it's shouting my name! Yeah baby!!!

Monique a.k.a. Mo said...

Lookin gooood!

TzLdn said...

I absolutely love love love this Thai dish, its really good for breakfast! Am so glad you posted a vegan option. Will definitely be making this. Yummy!