Thai food and spices are popular across the world. Delicate and fragrant Thai spices can literally ‘spice’ up any meal and braais are no exception. Som Tam (a spicy papaya salad) is known for its spiciness, and is a famous example. But in fact, Thai food has five flavors in common: sour, sweet, salty, bitter and spicy. Some Thai dishes combine all these delightful flavors carefully. Something is also served to help cope with the powerful spiciness. For instance, the sour and spicy Tom Yum Goong is often coupled with an omelette or rice. This may be why rice is always included in Thai dinner. Fish sauce is often used in a way that is similar to the way salt has been used in Thai food, as well as many herbs and spices.
Here are some braai ideas as to how you can add a Thai flavour to a traditional South African braai and turn it into a Thai braai!
Thai braaibroodjies
Braaibroodjies (braai bread parcels) are a great favourite at any South African braai. Traditionally, sandwiches are buttered on both sides and then filled with onion, tomato and cheese and then placed on a folding grid and cooked over  moderate heat. To give your braaibroodjies a Thai twist, consider adding some chopped peppers and even a chilli or two. Instead of lining the inside of the bread with butter, add a dollop of green or red Thai curry paste and you’re ready to go!
Thai marinade or dipping sauce
Ready to marinade some steaks or looking for something to dip your boerewors into? Whip up this Thai sauce and you can creatively use it to add a Thai flavour to virtually everything you are cooking on your braai – you can even rub it on your corn:
- 1/4 cup fresh lime juice
- 2 Tbsp. brown sugar
- 2 Tbsp. fish sauce (or substitute 2.5 Tbsp. soy sauce)
- 2 Tbsp. shallots or purple onion, finely minced
- 1/2 tsp. cayenne pepper
Stir, then have a taste test to get the sauce to your liking. Add more fish/soy sauce if it’s not salty enough, or more sugar or spice if desired. Get Thai braaing and enjoy!
Thai chicken recipe
Chicken is a great favourite at any braai. To add some Thai flavour to your chicken when you next braai, use this recipe:
Ingredients:
- 8 chicken pieces
- salt and pepper
- Red, green and yellow peppers
- 4 x 5 cm sticks lemongrass
- 4 cloves garlic – grated
- A small piece of ginger – grated
- 1-2 green chillies – chopped
- 1 x 410 g coconut cream
- 20 ml fish sauce
- 15 – 25 ml green or red curry paste
- fresh coriander to serve
- 2 limes for serving
Method:
- Get your braai going so that it’s at medium heat. Cut up pieces of foil so you can comfortably wrap up each piece of chicken. Season your chicken with salt and pepper and add a stick of lemongrass to each parcel.
- Mix your coconut cream, ginger, garlic, chillies and fish sauce together. Bring the corners of each foil parcel together and just before you close it, pour a dollop of the mixture into each parcel. Close the foil packages and place them on the medium coals for 45 – 50 minutes depending on how big your chicken pieces are.
- While cooking check if your chicken needs more liquid and if so, add some chicken stock or top up with more of the Thai mixture.
Enjoy!
If you are a South African living or moving abroad, you would know to always use real fire wood. The atmosphere is better and the meat is tastier. Remember to tell somebody else what a great braaier they are… then sit back and let them do all the work. In the same way, you can sit back, relax and let FinGlobal assist in your cross-border financial services.