Indonesia is the home of sambal – a large and diverse family of chilli-based sauces and relishes. One of the most unusual (and my favourite) is sambal matah – a raw sambal originating from the island of Bali. A simple hand-squeezed mixture of raw shallots, salt, oil, hot chillies and kaffir lime leaves, sambal matah …
Sambal Matah – authentic Balinese raw sambal recipe Read More »
I don’t usually consider ordering Italian-inspired dishes when in South East Asia, let alone rave about them. However this Thai basil pesto with cashews from Ranong province (the heart of Thailand’s cashew nut industry) was a triumph. It was a Thai-run restaurant’s take on the classic Italian pesto genovese. European basil and pine nuts were …
Thai basil pesto pasta recipe – straight from Thailand’s cashew nut province Read More »
Pho bo is delicious – but have you ever tried the stir-fried version? Pho Xao Thit Bo (or stir fried flat rice noodles) is the overlooked younger cousin of pho bo: the behemoth of a noodle soup dish that has found international fame and now seems entwined with the identity of Vietnam. I think this …
Pho Xao in Hanoi – where to eat pho bo’s little-known stir-fried cousin Read More »
You know a side-dish is impressive when it is more memorable than the dish it was supposed to support. This was the case with an incredible Taiwanese cucumber salad I ate at Fuhong Beef Noodles in Ximending District, Taipei. This cucumber salad is unlike any you have eaten before. An unusual cross between pickled and …