Jake's Thai-me

This week we went on a thai adventure.  Mari and Jake are going to thailand in a few weeks, so they hosted a thai inspired soup night.  The menu consisted of spring rolls, tom khaa soup with scallops and shrimp, and mochi and cake for dessert.  The tom khaa soup had some of the best broth we've tasted, it was well balanced and very flavorful.  Hope you enjoy!

Tom Khaa Soup with Shrimp and Scallops
serves 4
*adapted from about.com

Ingredients

6 cups vegetable broth

1 stalk lemongrass , minced

3 kaffir lime leaves 

4 cloves garlic, minced

2 red chilies, finely sliced

3 Tbsp. fish sauce 

a generous handful of fresh shiitake mushrooms, sliced thinly

a generous handful of bok choy, chopped

a generous handful of red peppers, chopped

12 medium raw shrimp, shells removed

2 cup bay scallops

rice noodles

1/2 can good-quality coconut milk

1 Tbsp. freshly-squeezed lime juice

1/3 cup cilantro, roughly chopped

1/2 tsp. sugar

garnish with green onions

Directions

Pour stock into a deep cooking pot and bring to a boil.  Add the lemongrass and boil for 1-2 minutes. If using fresh lemongrass, also add the upper stalk pieces for extra flavor.  Add garlic, chili, lime leaves, and mushrooms. Reduce heat to medium and simmer 1-2 minutes.

Add the shrimp, scallops, rice noodles, bok choy and red peppers.  Simmer 3-4 minutes, or until shrimp is pink and plump.  Reduce heat to medium-low and add the coconut milk, sugar, fish sauce and lime juice. Stir well to combine and gently simmer until hot and noodles are soft.  Add cilantro and Garnish with green onions.

Spring Rolls with Peanut Sauce

Spring Roll Ingrdients
rice paper
cooked shrimp
carrots
green onions
woon sen (glass-rice) noodles
fresh mint leaves

Peanut Sauce Ingredients
1 cup fresh-tasting dry roasted peanuts, unsalted
1/3 cup water
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 tsp. dark soy sauce
2 tsp. sesame oil
1/2 to 2 Tbsp. brown sugar, to taste
2 to 2.5 Tbsp. fish sauce
1/2 tsp. tamarind paste
1 tsp. Thai chili sauce (more or less to taste)
1/3 cup coconut milk

Cook noodles and set aside. On a large flat surface moisten one sheet of rice paper. Place some noodles, shrimp, carrots, green onions and mint in the center. Carefully roll rice paper in the same way you would roll a burrito. For the peanut sauce combine all ingredients in a mixer. Serve springs rolls with peanut sauce.

Thai Cake and Mochi