One-Pan Thai Rice
Ingredients
- Mahatma® Jasmine Rice
- 3 tbsp coconut oil
- 1 onion, minced
- 1 orange bell pepper, sliced
- 1 yellow bell pepper, sliced
- 6 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tbsp ginger, minced
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp pepper
- 1 tsp chili flakes
- 1 1/4 cup chicken broth
- 1 can (400 mL) coconut milk
- 1 tbsp soy sauce
- 2 tsp fish sauce
- 1 large tomato, diced
- 1/4 cup fresh Thai basil, torn
- 1 tbsp lime juice
- 1/2 cup unsalted roasted cashews
- 1 lime, cut into wedges
Instructions
Made with aromatic jasmine rice, this pad thai will take your dinner to the next level!
Step 1
In a large skillet set over medium heat, add coconut oil. Cook onion, red bell pepper, yellow bell pepper, garlic, and ginger for 5 to 8 mins or until starting to soften.
Step 2
Stir in broth, coconut milk, soy sauce and fish sauce; bring to a boil.
Stir in rice and tomatoes. Reduce heat to medium. Cook, uncovered, for 20 to 25 mins or until rice is tender and absorbs most of the liquid.
Step 3
Reduce heat to low. Stir in Thai basil, lime juice and cashews. Cook, uncovered, for 5 to 10 minutes or until rice starts to caramelize on the bottom of the pan.
Step 4
Garnish with lime wedges.
Recipe Tip
For a vegetarian dish, substitute chicken broth with vegetable broth and substitute fish sauce with 2 more tbsp soy sauce.
Recipe Video
Why Thai Rice is Different…
Thai and Chinese rice dishes are similar in that both tend to include vegetables. In Chinese dishes, however, soy sauce is a key ingredient whereas fish or oyster sauce is far more common in Thai recipes.
Soy sauce does, however, have a role to play in Thai cooking. But Thai chefs use a different kind of soy sauce. Thin soy sauce, as it’s often called, is preferred in Thai cooking to its Chinese counterpart which is stronger and thicker.
Aside from being more elaborate, Thai rice also has a rather exceptional feature – its ability to maintain moisture and flavor for long after it has been cooked. That’s great news if any of your guests arrive late for the meal.
There are a number of ways to prepare Thai rice. A noteworthy alternative is Pad Thai Fried Rice with Japanese Omelet.
The History of Thai Food
An abundance of flavors gives Thai cuisine a distinct identity that has taken centuries to develop. Throughout history, Thai food has both given and taken influences from neighboring Asian countries. Ingredients from the likes of India, Cambodia, Malaysia, and China have all crisscrossed in Thailand. Moreover, there is also said to be a Western influence in Thai recipes. Portuguese explorers and traders brought their own ingredients and cooking methods to Asia in the 1500s, an event that would also play a part in the evolution of Thai cooking. The result? Those delicious Thai dishes that are enjoyed around the world today.
Get Creative
There are plenty of ways to tweak Thai rice recipes and jazz them up even more. We suggest these Thai Coconut Curry Chicken Burritos for a tantalizing taste of Thai-Mexican fusion. This can be a smooth way of unfollowing la receta and slipping the exotic into the familiar while charming those around the dinner table. Looking for an easy side dish? Try our: Thai coconut rice recipe.
If you’re still craving Asian food, see more fantastic recipes here.
