For years and years I've told people when we talk about going out to eat, "I'll eat any food except Thai and Indian. I only like Pad Thai and Chicken Satay, and never know what to order at Indian restaurants."
I'm attempting vegetarian eating habits these days, and have become addicted to Pad Thai. I decided I wanted to make my own sauce, and found this fabulous looking blog entry at chez pim: Pad Thai for beginners.
I searched at Trader Joe's and Whole Foods for tamarind pulp and came up empty handed. In our chat the other night - "What new dish/food do you want to try in the new year?" - I announced my quest, and received some good ideas for finding it. Then our Marcia went above and beyond and sent me a great chowhound entry: - where to find tamarind paste in the Bay Area! How's that for very specific and very helpful?!
Bottom line: I went to 99 Ranch Market yesterday, found tamarind pulp (among other fascinating foodstuffs - and very cheap rice noodles) and am ready to make my own Pad Thai sauce! Oh, about my not eating Thai food? Friends and I went out to dinner last night at nearby Krungthai so I could have my new favorite food, and we scarfed on the yellow curry, pineapple fried rice, white rice and peanut sauce, and Pad Thai. I think my taste buds grew up.
Posts: 14281 | Location: The Beautiful San Francisco Bay Area | Registered: 06 August 2001
Oh tell me how Pim's recipe turns out. I prefer pad thai with tamarind and tried a couple of different recipes but haven't found anything I really like. I want to try her's but I haven't yet. Recently, I've been lazy and I've been making pad thai with ketchup. (I know... I know... that is not authentic - but it tastes good).
I'm also getting into thai curries. I want to learn how to make a couple of them - red in particular. Meanwhile, I tried this Goan Curried Fish stew which is really Indian but very yummy.
Recently, I've been lazy and I've been making pad thai with ketchup. (I know... I know... that is not authentic - but it tastes good).
You want lazy? We make our pad thai from a mix in a can! Now the ingredients do list tamarind pulp AND it contains ketchup. Believe it or not it ins't bad.
Jerry
The traveler sees what he sees. The tourist sees what he has come to see. ~G.K. Chesterton
For years and years I've told people when we talk about going out to eat, "I'll eat any food except Thai...
Coleen! I MUST convert you! Quick -- hop on the first flight to Vegas. Meet me at 953 E. Sahara Avenue. When I'm through with you, you'll be a Thai fan.
Deborah Horn In a previous life I was an Umbrian sunflower farmer. I want to do a past life regression and stay there. ----------------------------------- www.petsburg.com My blog: Old Shoes - New Trip
Posts: 5026 | Location: St. Louis, MO | Registered: 04 September 2001
Originally posted by Colleen: I might try making the Pad Thai sauce tonight ... I'll let everyone know the results.
Damn good - and it could hardly have been easier. The hardest thing about it was finding the tamarind pulp! LOL
The sauce turned out a little salty for me (and I LOVE salt) so next time I'll substitute low-sodium soy sauce for maybe half of the fish sauce. Other than that, the Pad Thai aroma made my mouth water - and tasted as good as it smelled.
Posts: 14281 | Location: The Beautiful San Francisco Bay Area | Registered: 06 August 2001
Coleen! 
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