Our Gourmet Curry: Give it a Thai

Have you had your first spring pea dish yet?  What about young asparagus? Spring is most definitely here, and while you may think this season is for delicate flavors alone, think again.  It’s rather simple to achieve a dish full of robust flavors without the heaviness that winter dishes can provide.  Which brings us to one of our favorites: Thai curry.

Curry is a bold flavor.  Even better?  It’s fast and extremely versatile.  So often we believe we can only get curries for $7.95 at our local Thai restaurant.  But why bother when it is achieved in only a few simple steps at home?  In our recipe below, we’ve also added some gelatine powder and xanthan gum for added texture and thicker consistency, as sometimes a curry sauce can look and taste more like a soup.  You may feel like you’re cooking with the molecular gastronomists at New York’s WD-50 or Chicago’s Alinea, but fear not!   This dish pairs wonderfully with just about everything: proteins (chicken, fish, tofu) and vegetables alike.   With the added benefit of the iSi whipper, you achieve a beautiful  foam that makes the dish even more fun to eat.  It’s almost like biting into edible bubble wrap, bursting with the sweet, spicy and sour flavors of your favorite curry.

Red Thai Curry
Ingredients for 1 pint Whipper
2 tablespoons red curry paste
1 1/2 cups coconut milk
1 cup chicken broth
1 teaspoon lemongrass, minced
1 teaspoon ginger, minced
1 teaspoon garlic, minced
1 teaspoon gelatine powder
1 teaspoon xanthan gum
2 tablespoon lime juice
1 teaspoon lime zest

Procedure:
Combine the lemongrass, ginger and garlic in a pan and brown for about one minute on medium-high heat.  Add the red curry paste and cook for another minute until all the spices become very aromatic.  Add the chicken broth (you can also substitute with water or another stock depending on your chosen protein), coconut milk and lime juice.  Stir well to make sure the curry paste dissolves.  Let simmer for at least 10 minutes.

Add the gelatin powder and xanthan gum (which can be found at most health food stores or even Whole Foods) and stir constantly until combined.  Strain the sauce through the iSi funnel and let cool before pouring into a 0.5 L iSi whipper.  Screw on two iSi cream chargers and shake vigorously after each one.   Pair with your favorite protein and/or vegetables and garnish with lime zest.

Note: You can use the Gourmet Whip Plus, Cream Profi Whip Plus or Creative Whip for this application.

Post and photo by Bao Ong

Post and photo by Judiaann | PUBLISHED: March 27, 2012