Thai Food

We have been on a major Thai food kick lately! Our favorite local place is called Thai Palace and it's located in a totally unassuming strip mall in Bradenton, Florida. The interior is completely decked out in Thai decor, the staff is very attentive, and the food is fabulous! We always order the Tom Kah Soup, the Thai Spring Rolls, and a Green Curry: 

Thai Palace: Tom Kah Soup

Thai Palace: Fresh Spring Rolls

Thai Palace: Green Curry

Thai Palace

4756 Cortez Road West

Bradenton, FL 34210

941.761.9100

http://www.thaipalacebradenton.com

It's a bit of a drive to Thai Palace and so we thought, why not try to create a few of these dishes ourselves? We started with the Fresh Spring Rolls and they were much easier than we had anticipated. Of course access to an Asian grocer is key, but you can also usually order some of the hard-to-find ingredients online.

Our Homemade Fresh Spring Rolls 

SPRING ROLL RECIPE:
To make the Spring Rolls, you can find most everything at your local grocery store. Some of the trickier items may be the Rice Paper Wrappers (this pack below was $2.19 for 25 wrappers) and a few of the sauce ingredients including Sambal Oelek (this bottle was $1.99 at the Asian market on 301 if you're a local). So please be sure to source those ingredients first before making this dish, or be prepared to improvise. Believe it or not, the most challenging item to find was fresh mint this time of year. We have our own basil growing out back so that was easy, but if you can find actual Thai Basil, that is even better. Sometimes the Asian grocers sell it frozen. 

Spring Roll Wrappers

Fish Sauce (from Whole Foods)

Sambal Oelek

Ingredients (makes 6):
6 spring roll wrappers
2 ounces of rice vermicelli (we use brown rice vermicelli from Whole Foods)
6 Boston lettuce Leaves (chopped)
3 carrots (peeled and finely shredded) 
Fresh Thai Basil leaves
Fresh mint leaves
Fresh cilantro 
Any combination of the following:
*Cooked Shrimp (peeled and deveined) 
*Cooked Tofu
*Cooked Chicken

1) Boil the rice vermicelli for 3-5 minutes or until al dente, but do not overcook! Drain noodles and put on the side. 

2) Take a large frying pan and fill it with hot water. Carefully and quickly soak one spring roll wrapper and place it on a cookie sheet (or other workable surface). The wet wrapper will be extremely sticky! 

3) One at a time, fill each wrapper with a layer down the middle containing the cooked rice vermicelli, lettuce, shredded carrot, basil, mint, and cilantro (you may chop the herbs if you wish) and then add any combination of the cooked shrimp, tofu, and/or chicken. 

4) Tightly roll in the sides (like a burrito) and place the finished spring roll seam side down on your plate or serving dish. Use one wrapper per spring roll. Repeat process for all 6 Spring Rolls.


Fish Sauce:
Mix together the following and serve on the side as a dipping sauce: 

2.5 Tablespoons water
2 cloves minced garlic
1 teaspoon Sambal Oelek
1/2 teaspoon sugar
4 teaspoons fish sauce
1 Tablespoon fresh lime juice


Hoisin Peanut Sauce:
Mix together the following and serve on the side as a dipping sauce: 

2 teaspoons chopped peanuts
3 Tablespoons hoisin sauce


Bon Appetit! 

Please tell us about your favorite local Thai restaurant or add your Thai recipes in the comment section below! 

-Tom & Carrie