Panang Curry

My introduction to Thai food was panang curry and it became an obsession. With it as a gateway, I have learned to love the entirety of Thai cuisine. To borrow a phrase, I’ve “gone bamboo”.

When traveling I make it a priority to visit the nearest Thai restaurant, always ordering pad Thai and panang curry. It’s interesting that no two restaurants prepare the dishes alike. There are similarities, but never the exact same ingredients. Initially I found it disappointing, but quickly learned to appreciate the differences, sometimes subtle, occasionally bold. Regardless, the outcome is always delicious.

Options

Beef, chicken and pork are usually available, or you can go meatless. When considering vegetables it becomes obvious that the variation among recipes depends on availability. This recipe uses bell pepper, onion and broccoli, but I have dined upon a virtual horn of plenty. Zucchini, carrot, baby corn and peas are frequent inhabitants of restaurant curries.

Pork Panang Curry

Like other dishes I learned to make it because of distance from my favorite Thai restaurant. Luckily we have a good Asian market nearby for the critical ingredients.

Dining out is a game of cat and mouse ordering my desired level of spiciness. Level 1 through 6 is a broad spectrum and the choice between 6 and Thai hot is a chasm. Servers try to gauge my tolerance for heat and I try to anticipate their instructions to the kitchen. Cooking at home, tasting as I go easily solves this dilemma.

Step-By-Step

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Panang Curry

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Introduce yourself to Thai cuisine with this delicious, spicy cashew curry!

• Author: Tim

Ingredients

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• 1 lb pork tenderloin sliced thinly into bite size pieces
• 2 TBL sesame oil – divided
• 4 oz red panang curry paste
• 1 onion – halved, sliced and separated
• 1 green bell pepper – roughly chopped
• 2 garlic cloves – minced
• 1 red bell pepper – roughly chopped
• 1 cup broccoli florets
• 4 seeded and minced red Thai chili peppers
• 35 oz coconut cream (2 cans)
• 2 TBL fish sauce
• 2 TBL brown sugar
• 1 heaping spoonful crunchy peanut butter
• 1/2 cup crushed cashews
• 6 kaffir lime leaves
• 1/2 cup whole cashews
• 1 Thai basil leaf
• Crushed red pepper – to taste
• Coconut milk – to thin the curry if necessary
• Jasmin rice

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Instructions

1. Heat the coconut cream until it begins to give off steam, but do not boil
2. Heat 1 TBL of oil over medium heat in a rondeau pan and saute the pork until almost done
3. Add the hot coconut cream, stir in the fish sauce and bring to a slow boil, then reduce to a simmer
4. Heat 1 TBL of oil in a saute pan and saute the onions for 1 minute on low heat
5. Add the bell peppers, broccoli, chili peppers and garlic and cook for another 1-2 minutes and set aside
6. Add the panang curry paste, crushed cashews, brown sugar and peanut butter
7. Stir simmer and reduce to intensify the flavor until the sauce thickens
8. Add the vegetables, stir, taste and adjust pepper if necessary
9. Reduce heat to low, crush the lime leaves and add them and the bay leaf. Stir and reduce to desired thickness
10. Taste and adjust spiciness with crushed red pepper and stir in the whole cashews
11. Serve with jasmin rice and a cold Singha beer

Notes

If it becomes too thick you can thin it with coconut milk