Blue Dragon

It’s almost Thai New Year; why not join in the celebrations?

It's not only the Chinese who have their own New Year, the Thais do too. And for the Thais, the New Year's festival of Songkran lasts three days between the 13th and the 15th of April (the hottest month of the year in Thailand). Thais celebrate the festival by throwing water over other party goers. This is to symbolise the cleansing of the old year and to aid good fortune in the new.

What better time to try a little authentic Thai cooking with Blue Dragon? With our new look ingredients range, whether you enjoy cooking Oriental dishes from scratch or just adding a dash of seasoning to your stir fry, we’ve got all you need. So for a mouth watering start to the Thai New Year just read on, and get cooking!

Quick Thai Beef Red Curry

If you want a tasty curry that takes just ten minutes to cook then this recipe’s for you. Just remember to slice your beef very thinly and this delicious curry will be ready to eat in next to no time.

Quick Thai Beef Red Curry

More delicious Thai recipes to help celebrate New Year

Green Papaya SaladGreen Papaya Salad (Som Tam) Pad ThaiPad Thai
Steamed VegetablesSteamed Vegetables with Spicy Chiang Mai Dip Thai FishcakesThai Fishcakes (Tod Man Pla)

Leeks

What is Galangal?

Leeks Galangal

From the same family as onion and garlic, leeks have a complex flavour, a bit like a mild onion.

Select leeks which are plump with deep green leaves that do not show any yellowing. Rinse well under cold water to remove the grit and mud that can hide between the green layers.

They are great sliced and used as an alternative to onions in stir fries. Also try using baby leeks which are more tender and delicate.

Recipe: Thai Red Curry

Galangal is a root of a plant that’s part of the ginger family. As an ingredient it’s used in a similar way to ginger, so you peel it first, then chop or grate it. When cutting it you’ll notice that it has a citrusy, earthy aroma. Interestingly it is said to act both as an aid to digestion and an aphrodisiac.

Recipe: Coconut Chicken Soup (Tom Kha Gai)

Fish Sauce

Sweet and Sour

Made in Thailand, our fish sauce or `nam pla` is matured for 12 months to allow a full, rich and salty flavour to develop. It is an essential part of so many Thai recipes that it really is one of the cornerstones of Thai cuisine. Fish sauce is used in Thailand in the same way that salt is used in the West, add to dishes such as Green and Red curries for depth of flavour.

How to serve a typical Thai meal

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