THAI CURRY NOODLE SOUP

YIELD: SERVES 4

Ingredients

2 cans (14-ounce/400 mL each)of premium coconut milk
1 heaping tablespoon (20 mL) of Thai curry paste
the tender stems of 1 bunch of cilantro, rinsed well
2 chicken breasts, thinly sliced
2 cups (500 mL0 of chicken broth
1 carrot, shredded
4 or 5 lime leaves
2 stalks of lemon grass, halved lengthwise, woody leaves removed
2 tablespoons (30 mL) of fish sauce
the zest and juice of 2 limes
a small knob frozen ginger
a handful bean sprouts
a 8 ounce (225 g) package rice noodles
1 bunch of cilantro leaves, rinsed well
2 or 3 green onions, thinly sliced
a sprinkle or two salt or soy sauce

Procedure

Scoop the thick coconut cream from the top of just one of the cans into a large stockpot set over a medium-high heat. Melt the cream, add the curry paste and stir for a few minutes until they begin to sizzle.

Add the cilantro roots and chicken and sauté until the chicken is cooked through, about 5 minutes.

Add the coconut juice from the first can and all the contents of the second can along with the chicken broth, carrot, lime leaves, lemon grass, fish sauce and lime zest and juice. Grate the frozen ginger into the broth with a Microplane grater or standard box grater. Simmer for 20 minutes or so.

Stir in the bean sprouts. Add the rice noodles, gently pushing them beneath the surface of the broth. Turn off the heat and let stand until the noodles soften, about 5 minutes. Rice noodles don’t need to simmer like pasta to cook; they simply need to rehydrate in the hot liquid.

Stir in most of the cilantro leaves. Remove the lemon grass stalks. Taste and season with a touch more salt (or soy sauce) as needed. Ladle into large bowls and garnish with the green onions and remaining cilantro leaves.

POZOLE WITH CHICKEN

9 cups water

1 Turkish or 1/2 California bay leaf

1 large white onion, halved lengthwise and thinly sliced

6 garlic cloves, chopped

2 1/2 teaspoons salt

3 lb skinless boneless chicken thighs

1/2 cup hulled (green) pumpkin seeds (not roasted; 2 1/4 ounce)

1 lb tomatillos, husked

2 fresh jalapeño chiles, quartered (including seeds)

3/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro

1 teaspoon dried epazote or oregano (preferably Mexican), crumbled

2 tablespoons vegetable oil

2 (15-oz) cans white hominy, rinsed and drained

Accompaniments: diced radish; cubed avocado tossed with lime juice; shredded romaine; chopped white onion; lime wedges; dried oregano

Special equipment: an electric coffee/spice grinder



Preparation

Cook chicken:

Bring 8 cups water, bay leaf, half of onion, half of garlic, and 1 teaspoon salt to a boil, covered, in a 6-quart heavy pot, then reduce heat and simmer 10 minutes. Add chicken and poach at a bare simmer, uncovered, skimming off any foam, until just cooked through, about 20 minutes. Transfer chicken to a cutting board to cool. Pour broth through a fine-mesh sieve into a large bowl, discarding solids, and reserve. When chicken is cool enough to handle, coarsely shred with your fingers.

Make sauce while chicken cools:

Cook pumpkin seeds in a dry small skillet over low heat, stirring occasionally, until puffed but not browned (seeds will pop as they puff), 6 to 7 minutes. Transfer to a bowl to cool completely, then finely grind in coffee/spice grinder.

Simmer tomatillos and remaining onion in remaining cup water in a 3-quart saucepan, covered, until tender, about 10 minutes. Drain vegetables and purée in a blender with jalapeños, 1/4 cup cilantro, epazote, remaining garlic, and remaining 1 1/2 teaspoons salt.

Heat oil in a 4- to 5-quart heavy pot over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking, then add purée (use caution as it will splatter and steam). Cook, uncovered, stirring frequently, until thickened, about 10 minutes. Stir in pumpkin seeds and 1 cup reserved broth and simmer 5 minutes. Stir in shredded chicken, hominy, and 3 more cups reserved broth and simmer, partially covered, 20 minutes.

Stir in remaining 1/2 cup cilantro and serve pozole in deep bowls with accompaniments.

Cooks' note: • Chicken can be cooked and shredded 1 day ahead and chilled in 4 cups reserved broth. Measure out 1 cup broth before proceeding.

TOM KA GAI SOUP

Ingredients

2 teaspoons peanut oil
2 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
2 tablespoons grated fresh ginger root
1/4 cup chopped lemon grass
2 teaspoons crushed red pepper
1 teaspoon ground coriander
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves - cut into thin strips
1 onion, thinly sliced
2 cups bok choy, shredded
4 cups water
1 (10 ounce) can coconut milk
1/4 cup fish sauce
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro

Directions

1.In a large saucepan over medium heat, heat peanut oil. Stir in garlic, ginger, lemon grass, red pepper, coriander and cumin and cook until fragrant, 2 minutes. Stir in chicken and onion and cook, stirring, until chicken is white and onion is translucent, 5 minutes. Stir in bok choy and cook until it begins to wilt, 5 to 10 minutes. Stir in water, coconut milk, fish sauce and cilantro. Simmer until chicken is thoroughly cooked and flavors are well blended, 30 minutes.