29 March, 2009

Tofu & Pineapple Thai Yellow Curry: Sunshine, at least, in My Bowl!

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Tofu & Pineapple Thai Yellow Curry

Sunshine is delicious, rain is refreshing, wind braces us up, snow is exhilarating; there is really no such thing as bad weather, only different kinds of good weather.
~John Ruskin



Yeah, yeah! I got your point Mr. Ruskin! I have decided not to crib anymore about the weather anymore and instead enjoy it. It’s not exactly my resolution, but just to enjoy everyday as it comes irrespective of how gloomy and dark the weather turns out be! Living in a country that is known for its unpredictable weather, there is no point in comparing how brightly the sun shines at this time of the year in India! ~sigh~


Talking about other things, I have been busy shopping for new spring wardrobe (what else?;). But at the same time it’s really saddening to see many top shops and retail stores shutting down due to credit crunch. I kind of feel guilty when I see many people losing their jobs and I am busy walking around the malls with colourful shopping bags filled with new cloths and stuff for home! Once busy and overcrowded shopping malls and streets are now almost empty with very little crowd actually buying things rather than just window shopping. The ups and downs of life, some things that are beyond our control!!!


But what is within our control is cooking food at home instead of ordering takeaways or going to restaurants. K and I are not great fans of eating out. We choose to cook and experimenting in our kitchen than shedding unnecessary money on plate of food that we don’t enjoy. There are very few restaurants in our neck of wood that serves good food and that may be one of the reasons why we enjoy cooking. And having handful of friends is also another reason for not eating out that often. Whatever reason it may be, we both are kind of people who enjoy spending quality time in kitchen, doing things together and having lots of fun with experimenting and tasting new cuisines.


One cuisine that we are very comfortable with cooking is Thai. The simple flavours and aromatic ingredients make it a pleasant eating experience. Pour fridge and freezer is always stocked with fresh batch of homemade Thai curry pastes and when needed all we have to do it take them out and use in making quick and delicious pot of Thai curries. This Tofu & Pineapple Thai Yellow Curry is one such recipe that requires just few minutes and very little effort in stirring a pot full of aromatic and flavoursome dish in jiffy. The sweet and sour pineapple with soft tofu is a brilliant combination and the addition of peppers and peas gives it a crunchy and peppery flavour. Served along fragrant Thai Jasmine Rice, this Tofu & Pineapple Thai Yellow Curry is one plate of delicious meal to shoo away all the blues! :) And off this goes to dear Priya who is guest hosting this month's IAVW-Thai, a vegan event started by lovely Vaishali.

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Ingredients for Tofu & Pineapple Thai Yellow Curry

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Tofu & Pineapple Thai Yellow Curry
Prep Time: 10 mins
Cooking Time: 15 mins
Serves: 4-6
Recipe Source: Real Vegetarian Thai by Nancie McDermott
Recipe Level: Medium
Spice Level: Medium
Serving Suggestion: With Thai Jasmine Rice or Basamati Rice

Ingredients:
2 cups Tofu, cut into 1 inch cubes
1 cup Pineapple, cut into 1 inch cubes
1½ cups Coloured Bell Peppers, cut into 1 inch squares (I used red and yellow)
½-¾ cup Green Peas, fresh/frozen
1 cans Coconut Milk or 2-3 cups of fresh Coconut Milk
2-3 cups of Vegetable Stock or Water
2-3 tbsp Yellow Curry Paste (use more according to your taste)
1 tsp Brown sugar
1 tbsp Soya Sauce
1 fresh Lemon Grass, bruised (Optional)
2 Kaffir Lime Leaves, thinly cut (Optional)
Small handful of Basil Leaves, roughly chopped
Coriander leaves of Spring Onion Greens for garnishing
Salt to taste
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Tofu & Pineapple Thai Yellow Curry

Method:
Heat a heavy bottomed pan and empty 1/3rd of Coconut milk in a pan. Stir this coconut milk on medium heat till its sweet fragrance is released and starts to thicken, about 4-5 minutes, in a medium flame.
Now add 2-3 tbsp of Yellow Curry Paste and stir well. Keep stirring for 2-3 minutes till the curry paste blends well with the coconut milk and its raw smell disappears. Add the vegetables, pineapple and tofu and mix them well so that each piece is coated with coconut and curry paste mixture.
Mix in vegetable stock or water, remaining coconut milk, Soya sauce, kaffir lime leaves & lemon grass if using, brown sugar and salt to taste. Cover and cook for 5 minutes.
Open the lid, add roughly chopped basil leaves and adjust the seasonings. Simmer the heat and let it cook uncovered for another 5 minutes till the vegetables are cooked to tender. Make sure that the vegetables are not overcooked and retain their crunch.
Garnish with finely chopped coriander leaves and greens of spring onion and serve with aromatic bowl of Jasmine Rice and enjoy.


Wishing all the readers of Monsoon Spice a very Happy Ugadi!
May you find peace and lot more happiness in coming year :)


Warm Regards
Sia

42 comments :

  1. Wow ! sia ..nice pics ..and new recipe to me will try and let u know Thanks :)

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  2. Vow Sia, a must try on my list. The curry really looks yummy and with all that pineapple, its sure to take away your blues.

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  3. WOW that's looks fab....lovely bowl and wonderful pic

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  4. I am a huge fan of thai food, but have never tried yellow curry...I have bookmarked this, will give it a try soon...It looks so mouthwatering!!
    btw, awards waiting for you on my blog :)

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  5. oh i can imagine how the pineapple must've been in that curry. absolutely gorgeous!!

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  6. That looks very tempting sia...nice picture

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  7. That looks absolutely delish Sia!!

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  8. Yum! Yum! Yum! Delicioso! (line courtesy M's favorite cartoon, Dora!)

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  9. mmmmmm I might try this..i'll let u know how it goes ;-)

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  10. Curry looks very delicious..Lovely color :)

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  11. that sure looks amazing .. never thought of adding pineapple

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  12. Woah..Thats a lot of sunshine Sia..I am not much of a Thai food lover..But luvvv Tofu's though..This looks totally fab..loved the pot n the leaf..:)

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  13. That really does look like a bowl of sunshine...lovely curry !

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  14. I really liked your blog !!! looking at the pictures makes my mouth water... will have to try this tofu and pineapple curry since my hubby loves tofu !!!

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  15. Sia, this is just awesome!! This is what is called a good meal. after seeing your gorgeous picture & preparation, i feel like unpublishing my ugly one:-(
    Soma(www.ecurry.com)

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  16. Love the colour of this dish.I am sure it might have tasted great with all those ingredients :)Happy Ugadi to you.

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  17. Hummm I love yellow curry, this looks just delicious!!!

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  18. Sia, your pics take my breath away:)
    Coming to the cribbing about weather part, I love those words you have quoted.
    Don't feel guilty that u are walking around shopping, becos u maybe the lifeline of the stores u shopped from. People like u ( and me) maybe keeping the American economy going;)

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  19. there are tons of thai curry pastes available in stores here but according to my thai colleagues, they all have fish paste in it so i can't buy it since TH is vegetarian. i am so lazy to do this on my own so postponed indefinitely :D

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  20. Am apprehensive about pineapple, but your curry looks beautiful!

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  21. WOw..looks very colorful and delicious :)

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  22. Beautiful - looks lovely and your pics are always so amazing !! I love thai food and taste of pineapple gives it such a nice twist...Must try this soon...

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  23. Great dish, very colorful and tasty. Happy Ugadi to you too. Have a wonderful new year's day.

    I just got up and am hurrying thru' all the posts this morning, got to go and start cooking something special for dinner.So little time! :D

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  24. mmhh lovely Thai cuisine....i have to try Tofu....I am late at trying anything :D...


    Wishing you and your family a very Happy Ugadi!!

    Have a nice day!

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  25. Nice pictures Sia! Curry looks so colourful...

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  26. Hey Sia Thanks for stopping by .and wonderful comments :) Happy ugadi to u and ur family too :)

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  27. Oooh.. My favorite Thai curry! I make a very similar version, but add basil leaves too...

    Nice quote about the weather! A good way to console ourselves on a burning hot or a brutally cold day :)

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  28. Wish u and ur family a Happy Ugadi :)

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  29. I wish I had thai curry's all stocked up in my freezer, I could eat this cuisine more if I had it... I think I will go in search of the elusive kaffir lime leaves this weekend, I HAVE to make some of this!

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  30. Hi Sia

    Happy Ugadi to you and your Family.

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  31. Happy Ugadi Sia and may your new year be filled with sunshine like your bowl

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  32. Hi Sia, Pineapple and thai both my favourite, Thanks for sharing ur sunshine in to our lives. Have to wait for 9 days after Ramnavmi, Thai is one thing i'm looking for to cook. Thanks.

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  33. Looks lovely! gr8 click asusual! Yummy curry..

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  34. wooo thi looks fabulous dear...i love thai food...wishing u too happy ugadi. :)

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  35. pineapple and tofu nice..i heard so many recipes which used pineapple but i was always afraid to use a fruit in curry but your looks so amazing..

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  36. I was planning on curry for supper tonight...I think I'll go with this one!

    OT but what font did you use for your watermark on your image?

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  37. Looks stunning! nice combination of tofu and pineapple! truly delicious!

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  38. That is such a gorgeous click!!!Love Thai food!

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  39. I'm salivating! It looks fabulously yummy Sia.

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  40. Wish you too a happy Ugadi.
    I've never tried making thai dish till now.... Seeing ur recipes makes me want to try one.... Very nice pics...

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  41. This is really sunshine in a bowl. The colour is fantastic and I kinda like the addition of pineapple in it.

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  42. I would love to try this dish. I am intrigued by the taste of pineapples amidst the Thai curry.
    thailand holidays

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Namaste! I am Sia and welcome to Monsoon Spice, my virtual home. Thank you for all your comments, inputs and feedback. I really appreciate the valuable time you spent browsing through my recipe repertoire.

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