Thai-inspired curried noodles with tofu

Coconut Curry Noodle Bowl

It’s late, you just got home from work, and you’re hungry. You could order some food and wait half an hour for it to be delivered….or you can whip up a curry noodle bowl in even less time. I used fresh chow mein noodles that I buy at Russo’s (of Watertown, MA), but you can use any kind of Asian noodle, fresh or dry. Using 1 tablespoon of curry powder results in a fairly mild curry broth. Add more to turn up the kick.  Fresh ginger is always best when cooking, but if you don’t have any, substitute with ¼ tsp ground ginger. Bon appetite!

Ingredients

• 6-8 ounces egg noodles
• 1 can (14 oz.) coconut milk
• 4 cups chicken stock
• 1 Tbsp safflower or canola oil
• 1+ Tbsp curry powder (to taste)
  
• 2 garlic cloves
• 2 tsp fresh ginger (or ¼ tsp ground ginger)
• 2 small tomatoes
• 1 small jalapeno pepper, diced
• 1 block firm tofu, cut into cubes
• 1 red pepper, cut into strips
• ½ large onion, cut into strips
• 3 Tbsp lime juice
• salt to taste

 Directions

1. Cook noodles in boiling water. Drain water and set the noodles aside.
2. Heat oil in pot or round bottom pan.
3. Stir fry jalapeno, garlic, red pepper, and onions for 3-4 minutes.
4. Add curry powder.
   
5. Add chicken broth, coconut milk, salt, ginger
6. Bring to a boil.
7. Reduce to a simmer.
8. Add tofu, tomatoes, and lime juice. Simmer for 10 minutes.
9. Ladle over noodles. Makes 4 servings.

Shown above served with steamed bok choy and baked lemongrass tilapia filet, over chow mein noodles.

 

 

Trendy Thai: Khao San Road, Toronto

A few months ago, we arrived at Khao San Road early on a frigid Thursday night. It was only 5:40 PM, and -20°C. Still, there was a 25 minute wait for the two of us. Wow, this place was popular!

We were seated at the bar. The menu offered the typical Thai choices. This was, after all, a place that prides itself on elevated Thai street food.

Three Flavours Pad Thai with chicken

 

The green curry with thinly sliced beef could have benefited from more veggies, but it otherwise tasted good. The flavour of the bamboo shoots really came through.

 

I had the Khao Soi, a signature dish with egg noodles and crispy noodles in golden curry. It had many large chunks of tender beef I could pull apart with a fork.  The dish however, felt a bit incomplete without any vegetables.

This is definitely a place for 20 and 30-somethings, with long and high communal tables and plenty of bar seating. Khao San Road serves fancy street food that you can wash down with Thai iced tea, beer, or a selection from a wine list that is unexpectedly long for an Asian restaurant. The food is well-executed and nicely presented – nothing will catch you off guard, you’ll find the ingredients and combinations that you would expect.

Food: 4/5 | Atmosphere: 4/5 | Value: 3.5/5

Info: Khao San Road, 326 Adelaide Street West, Toronto, ON, Canada M5V 1R3