Thai and Asian Recipe's

[shortstuff]

Thai Peanut Beef & Pea Pods over Noodles

8 oz. uncooked thin spaghetti
1 lb. lean (at least 80%) ground beef
4 medium green onions, chopped (1/4 cup)
8 oz. fresh pea pods, cut diagonally in half (about 3 cups)
1 medium red bell peppers, cut into 3x1/4x1/4-inch thin strips
1 1/2 cups Progresso chicken broth (from 32 oz. carton)
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons cornstarch
1/2 cup peanut butter
1/4 cup chopped salted peanuts

cook & drain spaghetti as directed
in a 12-inch skillet, cook beff over med.-high heat 5 - 7 minutes
stir occasionally until thoroughly cooked
drain
add onions, pea pods & bell peppers
cook 3 - 4 minutes
stir frequently until vegetables are crisp-tender
small bowl - mix broth, red pepper, salt & cornstarch
stir into beef & veg.
add peanut butter
cook 1 - 2 minutes
stirring frequently until thick and bubbly
serve over spaghetti
top with peanuts

Calories 750

[shortstuff]

Anyone have some Thai and Asian recipe's they might want to share??

[shortstuff]

1 tbsp olive oil
1 1/2 cups finely chopped onion
2 tbsp finely chopped fresh ginger
1 tbsp minced garlic
1 tbsp curry powder
1 tsp ground coriander
1 tsp ground cumin
1 can (14.5 oz) fire-roasted tomatoes
7 oz light coconut milk
1 cup fat-free chicken or vegetable broth
1 tbsp fish sauce *
1 1/2 cups cooked brown lentils
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro, without stems
6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (3 oz each)
Salt
Freshly ground black pepper

heat 1/2 tbsp of the oil in saucepan over medium heat
add onion, saute' 4 minutes or until softened
add ginger, garlic and saute'
stir until golden brown
add curry powder, coriander & cumin/stir
add tomatoes, coconut milk, broth & fish sauce and bring to a boil
stir in brown lentils and cilantro/keep warm
preheat charcoal grill, brush chicken light with remaining olive oil and arrange on rack-
grill 4 minutes each side until cooked
season

*fish sauce also called nuoc nam, a thai ingredient available in Asian markets
Calories 230

This is really good.

[Bioguy231]

Check out the website www.atasteofthai.com

You can buy rice noodles, curry pastes and stuff that is normally difficult to buy. They also have a bunch of very easy to follow recipes.

I've been buying stuff there and using their recipes and haven't cooked up anything bad yet.

[nickelcityhomes]

I'm a big fan of pho and one day I decided I was going to make it myself. There's a vietnamese owned corner shop about a block from my old job and I got to know the owner pretty well over 5-6 years. I figured an authentic recipe was much better than anything I'd find online, so I asked him how to make it one day. You would have thought I had just asked him to expalin the history of earth. He grabbed a sheet of paper and starting scribbling in his native language, then handed a full notebook sized sheet of paper to me and said, "you take this to asian store on Niagara Street. They help you." The next night I stopped at his store and he told me I was wasting my time trying to make good pho by myself. It would NEVER be as good as the stuff I was used to, and it would be expensive and time-intensive. He's probably right so I never tried, but I still have that huge recipe somewhere.

[shortstuff]

Check out the website www.atasteofthai.com

You can buy rice noodles, curry pastes and stuff that is normally difficult to buy. They also have a bunch of very easy to follow recipes.

I've been buying stuff there and using their recipes and haven't cooked up anything bad yet.

THANK YOU !!!! for that website. Excellent stuff. I do like the idea of meatless dishes. We have meat rarely.

[shortstuff]

I'm a big fan of pho and one day I decided I was going to make it myself. There's a vietnamese owned corner shop about a block from my old job and I got to know the owner pretty well over 5-6 years. I figured an authentic recipe was much better than anything I'd find online, so I asked him how to make it one day. You would have thought I had just asked him to expalin the history of earth. He grabbed a sheet of paper and starting scribbling in his native language, then handed a full notebook sized sheet of paper to me and said, "you take this to asian store on Niagara Street. They help you." The next night I stopped at his store and he told me I was wasting my time trying to make good pho by myself. It would NEVER be as good as the stuff I was used to, and it would be expensive and time-intensive. He's probably right so I never tried, but I still have that huge recipe somewhere.

nickel nice story. Thanks for sharing~~I'm sure you enjoyed that moment of cultural synergy. I love that stuff.

On Niagara Street there are some wonderful ethnic restaurants. I for the life of me cannot think of the (I know this is off topic a bit) italian restaurant on Niagara Street that makes great pasta' fisolia' (spelling sorry).

[nickelcityhomes]

Here's a quick personal review of some of the asian restaurants in the area...

Thai

Jasmine - Niagara Falls Blvd - My personal favorite. Their Tom Yum is the best in the area. They usually have interesting daily specials. Good service.

King and I - Cheektowaga - This used to be my favorite, but several friends have reported the place has gone downhill.

Taste of Thai - Hertel - My second choice after Jasmine. Large portions. Dining room setting could use some updates. The best part about this place is they don't "dumb-down" the food for us stinking yankees. When you order the food "extra spicy" the waitress will ask if you want it "american spicy" or "thai spicy".

Saigon Cafe - Elmwood/Forest - Great for lunch, never been there for dinner. Several different curries available. The crab and asparagus soup is off-the-hook.

Yummy Thai - North Tonawanda - Decent takeout if you live in the northtowns.

Japanese - Fish

Kyoto - Maple Rd - I was there on Wednesday for dinner with a friend who is a sushi snob. He rated it as a 7 on a scale of ten. Everything was fresh. The presentation is generally superior to the food quality. They have a conventional dining room and two community grills similar to Shogun. The chefs at the grills appear to be fairly talented. The service is mediocre (nonchalant), but there is usually a fair amount of female eye-candy if that type of thing settles your appetite.

Bonefish - Boulevard Mall - Don't let the fact that this is a chain fool you. It's an amazing restaurant for pseudo-fine-dining. I get sashimi tuna takeout on a semi-weekly basis. The place is usually packed for dinner, so expect a 45 minute wait. The Canadians flock to this place after they are finished loading up their trunks at Target and Best Buy. They run a butterfish special occasionally that will blow your head off, best I've ever had in the states. Try to grab a seat at the bar if Jennifer is tending. If I ever open a restaurant she's my number one draft pick to run the front of the house. You'll instantly know what I mean if you meet her.

Wegmans - This sounds really silly, but their takeout sushi rolls are damn good! The pacific rolls and spicy tuna rolls are my favorites. Grab a bottle of Sriracha and a tube of authentic wasabi to create a downright kick-ass lunch.

NOTE: I've never had Kuni's, I've been told it is the best sushi available in WNY.

Chinese

Unless you plan on going somewhere like Ming Teh in Ft. Erie there isn't much use in discussing this ethnic cuisine. The places on our side of the ditch are dumbed-down chinese fast food. The best I've found is Ling-Ling on Elmwood in Kenmore, and China Town for soup on Delaware Rd (across from Tops). The place beside the Dollar Store on Niagara Street in the City of Tonawanda isn't bad either. As far as buffets go, I'll occasionally get takeout from New Star on Elmwood (beside the movie theater). Eating there leaves a lot to be desired. It's white-trashville, and ghetto-fabulous at lunch. You'll enjoy the place if camping out for 8 plates, leaving the server a $1 tip, and listening to children being yelled at is your idea of a good time.

Pho - Vietnamese

Pho 99 - Bailey near Winspear - This place is hands-down the absolute best pho in Western New York, and competes with many of the restaurants in Toronto. It's no-nonsense traditional pho, no other way to explain it. If pho isn't your thing, try the beef short rib bbq or green bean teriyaki sauce.

Pho Saigon - Niagara Falls Blvd - A distant runner-up to Pho 99, the soup is somewhat Americanized and sweeter, but very good in freshness and ingredient quality. I get takeout from here around once a month when I don't feel like driving to Bailey.

Mode Urban Bistro - Elmwood/Utica - I mention this reluctantly because I do not consider their pho to be authentic. It's a chicken base instead of beef. All snobbishness aside, it's pretty damn good. It's a nice place to take friends when you are looking for an eclectic menu. Plus, you can buy gift certificates for pennies on the dollar at restaurant.com.

Korean
This is a cuisine that is not well represented in WNY. Seoul Garden on NFB is probably the best available, and that leaves a lot to be desired.

Maybe I should change my screen name to NickelCityDining.

[diggeral]

Thai Peanut Beef & Pea Pods over Noodles

8 oz. uncooked thin spaghetti
1 lb. lean (at least 80%) ground beef
4 medium green onions, chopped (1/4 cup)
8 oz. fresh pea pods, cut diagonally in half (about 3 cups)
1 medium red bell peppers, cut into 3x1/4x1/4-inch thin strips
1 1/2 cups Progresso chicken broth (from 32 oz. carton)
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons cornstarch
1/2 cup peanut butter
1/4 cup chopped salted peanuts

cook & drain spaghetti as directed
in a 12-inch skillet, cook beff over med.-high heat 5 - 7 minutes
stir occasionally until thoroughly cooked
drain
add onions, pea pods & bell peppers
cook 3 - 4 minutes
stir frequently until vegetables are crisp-tender
small bowl - mix broth, red pepper, salt & cornstarch
stir into beef & veg.
add peanut butter
cook 1 - 2 minutes
stirring frequently until thick and bubbly
serve over spaghetti
top with peanuts

Calories 750

shortstuff, thanks for posting.
We tried the peanut beef and pea pods today. Easy to make and it turned out great!

[shortstuff]

shortstuff, thanks for posting.
We tried the peanut beef and pea pods today. Easy to make and it turned out great!

Awesome digger, most of the posts I put up we have tried, or our family member made and some of that I put up, are recipe's that I am trying. Our family loves Thai food. I will have to make this again...

[shortstuff]

Here's a quick personal review of some of the asian restaurants in the area...

Thai

Jasmine - Niagara Falls Blvd - My personal favorite. Their Tom Yum is the best in the area. They usually have interesting daily specials. Good service.

King and I - Cheektowaga - This used to be my favorite, but several friends have reported the place has gone downhill.

Taste of Thai - Hertel - My second choice after Jasmine. Large portions. Dining room setting could use some updates. The best part about this place is they don't "dumb-down" the food for us stinking yankees. When you order the food "extra spicy" the waitress will ask if you want it "american spicy" or "thai spicy".

Saigon Cafe - Elmwood/Forest - Great for lunch, never been there for dinner. Several different curries available. The crab and asparagus soup is off-the-hook.

Yummy Thai - North Tonawanda - Decent takeout if you live in the northtowns.

Japanese - Fish

Kyoto - Maple Rd - I was there on Wednesday for dinner with a friend who is a sushi snob. He rated it as a 7 on a scale of ten. Everything was fresh. The presentation is generally superior to the food quality. They have a conventional dining room and two community grills similar to Shogun. The chefs at the grills appear to be fairly talented. The service is mediocre (nonchalant), but there is usually a fair amount of female eye-candy if that type of thing settles your appetite.

Bonefish - Boulevard Mall - Don't let the fact that this is a chain fool you. It's an amazing restaurant for pseudo-fine-dining. I get sashimi tuna takeout on a semi-weekly basis. The place is usually packed for dinner, so expect a 45 minute wait. The Canadians flock to this place after they are finished loading up their trunks at Target and Best Buy. They run a butterfish special occasionally that will blow your head off, best I've ever had in the states. Try to grab a seat at the bar if Jennifer is tending. If I ever open a restaurant she's my number one draft pick to run the front of the house. You'll instantly know what I mean if you meet her.

Wegmans - This sounds really silly, but their takeout sushi rolls are damn good! The pacific rolls and spicy tuna rolls are my favorites. Grab a bottle of Sriracha and a tube of authentic wasabi to create a downright kick-ass lunch.

NOTE: I've never had Kuni's, I've been told it is the best sushi available in WNY.

Chinese

Unless you plan on going somewhere like Ming Teh in Ft. Erie there isn't much use in discussing this ethnic cuisine. The places on our side of the ditch are dumbed-down chinese fast food. The best I've found is Ling-Ling on Elmwood in Kenmore, and China Town for soup on Delaware Rd (across from Tops). The place beside the Dollar Store on Niagara Street in the City of Tonawanda isn't bad either. As far as buffets go, I'll occasionally get takeout from New Star on Elmwood (beside the movie theater). Eating there leaves a lot to be desired. It's white-trashville, and ghetto-fabulous at lunch. You'll enjoy the place if camping out for 8 plates, leaving the server a $1 tip, and listening to children being yelled at is your idea of a good time.

Pho - Vietnamese

Pho 99 - Bailey near Winspear - This place is hands-down the absolute best pho in Western New York, and competes with many of the restaurants in Toronto. It's no-nonsense traditional pho, no other way to explain it. If pho isn't your thing, try the beef short rib bbq or green bean teriyaki sauce.

Pho Saigon - Niagara Falls Blvd - A distant runner-up to Pho 99, the soup is somewhat Americanized and sweeter, but very good in freshness and ingredient quality. I get takeout from here around once a month when I don't feel like driving to Bailey.

Mode Urban Bistro - Elmwood/Utica - I mention this reluctantly because I do not consider their pho to be authentic. It's a chicken base instead of beef. All snobbishness aside, it's pretty damn good. It's a nice place to take friends when you are looking for an eclectic menu. Plus, you can buy gift certificates for pennies on the dollar at restaurant.com.

Korean
This is a cuisine that is not well represented in WNY. Seoul Garden on NFB is probably the best available, and that leaves a lot to be desired.

Maybe I should change my screen name to NickelCityDining.

Nickercitydining~~~thanks for the diary of restaurants. I will go through the one's I have been too:
1. Jasmine~~was ok for me, I wasn't as crazy about it as I am about Siagon.

2. Kyoto~~was there a couple of times, I have to agree with you on this one. Nice but not great

3. Bonefish is my FAVORITE!!!! I go there as often as I can. LOVE their crab corn soup. It is the best ever. I love their lemon olive oil dressing salad and bang bang shrimp-. OMG I will have to do a run to this place real soon!!!

4. Wegman's yeah we love it too!!Our out of towners travel there first.

Have you tried Wasabi on Hopkins in the Dash's Plaza? Bang bang shrimp is amazing. Great first time experience, second time just average.

My mind escapes me but there is an Asian place we went to in the Lowe's Plaza on Transit in Clarence--neat deco food first time excellent and cool but the second time it comes in as average.

The only place that has been consistant is Siagon. But Bonefish rules hands down.

thanks for sharing.

[cookie]

Waaaaay easy and good to boot.
Ingredients
* 3/4 pound (16 to 20 per lb.) raw shrimp, peeled and deveined
* 1/4 teaspoon salt
* 1/4 teaspoon pepper
* 1 package (3 3/4 oz.) cellophane noodles (see notes)
* 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
* 1/2 to 1 teaspoon finely minced hot chile
* 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice (about 3 small limes)
* 2 cloves garlic, minced
* 1 tablespoon sugar
* 4 tablespoons Asian fish sauce (nuoc mam or nam pla)
* 2 heads Boston or butter lettuce, cores trimmed and leaves separated, rinsed, and drained
* 1 large carrot, peeled, ends trimmed, and grated
* 1/4 cup basil leaves
* 1/4 cup cilantro leaves
* 1/4 cup mint leaves
* 1/4 cup dry-roasted peanuts, finely chopped

Preparation
Place glass noodles in bowl. Cover with hot water and let sit for 15 min. When softened, drain and then drizzle with vinegar

Chop shrimp into med. small pieces.
Chiffonade basil, cilantro and mint.
Toss all ingredients together (except lettuce)
Serve both on platters and let everyone fill and wrap their own.
Serve with the Nuoc Cham sauce.


Nuoc Cham
* 1/2 to 1 teaspoon finely minced hot chile
* 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice (about 3 small limes)
* 2 cloves garlic, minced
* 1 tablespoon sugar
* 4 tablespoons Asian fish sauce (nuoc mam or nam pla)
Whisk fish sauce and sugar to dissolve. Add remaining ingredients and whisk til well blended.
(Many nuoc cham recipes call for dissolving the sugar in 1/2 cup water, but I find that tastes too diluted.)

[cookie]

The place in Lowe's Plaza is Sake Cafe. We order take out from there quite often.

We have friends that always raved about King and I, so I took my brother there last summer. meh!! with 3 (clean and set up) tables open, it took almost 10 min to get seated. Long wait to order. The food was luke warm and the sauce was starting to congeal yuck!

Anyone know what happened to the Thai place just north of Sheridan on NFB? I think it was near Salvation Army. Maybe Neon Thai? They had an amazing menu and the meals I had there were excellent!

[shortstuff]

The place in Lowe's Plaza is Sake Cafe. We order take out from there quite often.

We have friends that always raved about King and I, so I took my brother there last summer. meh!! with 3 (clean and set up) tables open, it took almost 10 min to get seated. Long wait to order. The food was luke warm and the sauce was starting to congeal yuck!

Anyone know what happened to the Thai place just north of Sheridan on NFB? I think it was near Salvation Army. Maybe Neon Thai? They had an amazing menu and the meals I had there were excellent!

That's right, Sake Cafe. Thanks cookie. No I don't know of that one on Sheridan, I'll ask around.

[shortstuff]

Waaaaay easy and good to boot.
Ingredients
* 3/4 pound (16 to 20 per lb.) raw shrimp, peeled and deveined
* 1/4 teaspoon salt
* 1/4 teaspoon pepper
* 1 package (3 3/4 oz.) cellophane noodles (see notes)
* 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
* 1/2 to 1 teaspoon finely minced hot chile
* 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice (about 3 small limes)
* 2 cloves garlic, minced
* 1 tablespoon sugar
* 4 tablespoons Asian fish sauce (nuoc mam or nam pla)
* 2 heads Boston or butter lettuce, cores trimmed and leaves separated, rinsed, and drained
* 1 large carrot, peeled, ends trimmed, and grated
* 1/4 cup basil leaves
* 1/4 cup cilantro leaves
* 1/4 cup mint leaves
* 1/4 cup dry-roasted peanuts, finely chopped

Preparation
Place glass noodles in bowl. Cover with hot water and let sit for 15 min. When softened, drain and then drizzle with vinegar

Chop shrimp into med. small pieces.
Chiffonade basil, cilantro and mint.
Toss all ingredients together (except lettuce)
Serve both on platters and let everyone fill and wrap their own.
Serve with the Nuoc Cham sauce.


Nuoc Cham
* 1/2 to 1 teaspoon finely minced hot chile
* 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice (about 3 small limes)
* 2 cloves garlic, minced
* 1 tablespoon sugar
* 4 tablespoons Asian fish sauce (nuoc mam or nam pla)
Whisk fish sauce and sugar to dissolve. Add remaining ingredients and whisk til well blended.
(Many nuoc cham recipes call for dissolving the sugar in 1/2 cup water, but I find that tastes too diluted.)

OK this is great, we will have to try this one. I'm sending this to the fam out of town. I'll let you know what they think of this one....yummmy