The theme for this month’s Foodbuzz 24 x 24 is cooking on a budget with kitchen staples and pantry items. We are excited to share some easy and affordable recipes to whip together when you’re in a pinch. You can create a delicious Thai inspired meal using some common ingredients found in your fridge and pantry such as potatoes, garlic, frozen peas, chicken and a little help from a jarred Thai red curry sauce. Our pantry is usually stocked with a jar or two of Trader Joe’s Thai Red Curry sauce. It’s flavorful and it’s at a fraction of going out to eat. The sauce is about 2 dollars – a steal! Derrick and I both work full time and this is a dish we often make when we’re both tired after a long day at work. We then pack the left overs for lunch the next day.
You can add any vegetables or protein that you have on hand. The ingredient list may look long, but it just some items that I found in my kitchen. Feel free to substitute the ingredients or leave out the the ones that you don’t have. I’ve packed a lot of vegetables in this dish so it’s not as saucy as a traditional Thai curry, but it’s still satisfying and great served with rice. The addition of zucchinis and toasted coconut reminds me of The Cheesecake Factory’s popular Bang Bang Chicken & Shrimp dish. YUM!
A meal isn’t complete without dessert, so we’re going to a make tropical Asian smoothie using canned lychees, vanilla ice cream and a splash of coconut milk. It’s the perfect way to end the meal.
Use whatever vegetables (frozen or fresh that you may have) - carrots, green beans or even tofu would be great too!
*Tip – ginger stores well in the fridge and can even be frozen for later use. It’s great to keep on hand for a fresh pop of flavor.
Thai Red Curry
Prep: 15 minutes Cook time: 30 minutes Serves 6
2 medium russet potatoes, cubed into 1 inch pieces
½ large onion, thinly sliced
1 zucchini, cut in half lengthwise and then slice about ¼ inch thick)
5-6 mushrooms, quartered
2 chicken breasts, cubed into 1 inch pieces
2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
1 tsp of grated ginger
1 jar of Thai red curry sauce (11 oz)
½ C of coconut milk or milk
1 C frozen green peas
1 red bell pepper, julienne
½ C of shredded coconut
Directions:
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Boil the potatoes in salted water until tender, drain and set aside.
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In a large pan, heat pan with olive oil and cook onions until translucent over medium high heat, remove onions and set aside.
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In the same pan, saute the zucchinis and mushrooms until tender, add more oil if needed, remove the zucchinis and mushrooms and set aside with the onions.
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Add chicken, garlic and ginger to pan and season lightly with salt and black pepper. Cook until done, add Thai red curry sauce, cooked vegetables and potatoes to pan.
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Pour the coconut milk or regular milk (it can be whole, 2% or non-fat – whatever you have) in the Thai red curry jar, close the lid and shake well. Pour the milk into the pan.
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Reduce heat to medium low, add red bell peppers, green peas and cover pan. Let simmer for 5-10 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
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In a medium saute pan over medium heat, add shredded coconut to dry pan. Using a spatula stir constantly until toasted.
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Serve curry over rice and top with toasted coconut.
Enjoy!
Vanilla ice cream, lychee and coconut milk - a creamy and sweet drink & dessert!
Lychee Smoothie
Time: 10 minutes Serves: 4
Ingredients:
1 20 oz can of lychee
vanilla ice cream
coconut milk (note if this isn’t something you have on hand you can just omit it completely from the recipe)
Directions:
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In a blender or personal blender (Magic Bullet) add 1 ½ C of vanilla ice cream (about 1 and a half scoops of ice cream), 4-5 lychees, 3 Tbs of lychee syrup from the can and 1 Tbs of coconut milk. Blend until smooth. Pour into a glass and repeat for the other 3 servings. Enjoy!
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Awesome combo,…
First of all I’m a dork & thought you were putting curry in a smoothie when I first read the title! Second, I do love dishes that you can throw together so quickly & are adaptable to what you have on hand. I’ll give it a try but may change the sauce though since I’m a wuss!
The lychee smoothie looks refreshing & a good end to this meal.
Love Trader Joe’s sauces! Great reminder that delicous meals don’t have to require alot of upfront planning- just use whatever ingredients you have on hand/prefer and make it your own.
Really looks and sounds good. I love curry but don’t make it at home much since the recipe is too complicated. You make it look simple, now I have no excuse!
I like the addition of coconut milk and lychee juice to vanilla ice cream. What a great Thai twist to a classic milkshake. Thanks for the inspiration on this month’s 24×24.
omg. you put so much of what i love all in 1 post! sensory overload. i ALWAYS order thai red curry when we get thai. and i LOVE lychee anything. on a side note, i have made mango sticky rice, but i’d like to see a recipe from you on that if you have one.
Hey Bianca! You were not the only one who thought that was the case…LOL! Anyway, love the lychee smoothie…have to make one since summer will bid goodbye pretty soon…
Notyet100: Thank you!!
Bianca @ South Bay Rants & Raves: Hmm….I haven’t thought of adding curry to a smoothie… not sure about that one 🙂 I love simple meals that you can throw together last minute too!
Sara: Yes – it’s a great way to use up ingredients that you have on hand!
Renee Fontes: Thank you!! Yes – easy pea-sy!
Brooke @ Food Woolf: Thanks!!
Amee: 🙂 mmmmmmmmmmmmmm mango sticky rice yum!!
Anna: hee,hee gotta think of better titles next time! Good thing is with canned lychees you can enjoy this all year round!
good tip on the curry from traders, never had it. so what i the recipe plugin you are using, i like that!
i’m a wordpress girl now…
Thanks Louise! Welcome to wordpress!