Thai Chilli Rice with Vietnamese Basil

Thai Chilli Rice with Vietnamese Basil

Thai Chilli Rice with Vietnamese Basil

Basil is a wonderfully fragrant herb which comes in many varieties. Thai basil is a favourite of mine since it is so full of flavour and lifts many a dish. I came across some Vietnamese basil and decided to make use of it in a Thai recipe for chilli rice. This is a quick recipe which makes use of cold rice that you might have left over. 

Vietnamese Basil

Ingredients:

2 tbsp olive oil

1 onion

2 tbsp red thai paste

1 tbsp tamari soy sauce

1 tbsp fish sauce

5 tbsp water

450g cold rice

Vietnamese basil

2 eggs

Thai Red Curry Paste

Heat the oil in a pan. Add some chopped onions and fry over a medium heat for a few minutes. Add the paste and cook for 1 minutes. Add the sauces and water, mixing and cook for a couple of minutes. 

Too steamy!

Add the rice and mix together with the paste for a couple of minutes until the rice is hot. Wash and coarsely cut the basil. Mix in with the rice.

Essential Basil

Push the rice to one side of the pan and add the 2 eggs. Quickly stir the eggs and allow to cook. When the eggs are almost cooked, mix in with the rice. 

Eggs

Enjoy the rice hot or if having later, try to warm it first. 

Quick Rice

So, do you enjoy basil?

Thai Spicy Fish Burger

Fried fish with spicy herbs

Thai Spicy Fish Burger

The great summery weather that we are enjoying in London at the moment calls for strong flavours and quick and easy recipes. One of the hardest things about a free from diet is having to do without favourites. This recipe is a quick gluten free alternative to battered fish which many people enjoy at lunchtime with chips. This is a healthier version packed with flavour as it comes with a Thai inspired spicy herb dressing.

Ingredients:

1 coley fish filet (about 400g)

10g cornflour

40g gluten-free plain flour

Spicy herb dressing:

1 green chilli

1/2 handful basil leaves

1 handful coriander leaves

3 cloves garlic

2 tbsp palm sugar

3 tbsp fish sauce

4.5 tbsp lime juice

Grated lime peel

6 cherry tomatoes

De-skin the filet. Rub with salt and wash thoroughly. Dry the filet and cut into large bite-sized pieces.

Coley

Mix the flours together and season with pepper. Toss the fish pieces into the flour mix to coat. Deep fry for a couple of minutes and leave to cool down on some kitchen paper. 

Fried fish!

Wash the herbs and chilli. Finely chop the chilli and coarsely chop the herbs.

Coriander and Basil

Green chilli

Peel and slice the garlic.

Garlic

Wash the tomatoes, cut in half and add to the herb salad. Combine all the dressing ingredients together in a bowl and leave to stand for 30 minutes.

Spicy herb dressing

Place the fried fish in the gluten free rolls that have been warmed in the oven and pour over some of the dressing. You will have some dressing left over which can be kept and enjoyed later.

The burger

So, what other favourites do you miss?