Spicy Thai

Well, tonight I was craving something spicy and something sweet. Something Thai. Across the street from our condo in Panama City Beach there was a Thai restaurant that I swear I could have eaten at every single night. Thai food perfectly marries sweet and spicy flavors. This recipe is really one for the books and it has a few surprising health benefits.

Cilantro - contains immune boosting properties, has been shown to reduce menstrual cramping, has powerful anti-inflamatory capacities that may help symptoms of arthritis 

Basil - known to have powerful antioxidants that can protect the body from premature aging, common skin issues, and even some types of cancer

Mint - helps relieve nausea and headaches, skin cleanser, and of course aids in oral care

   

Spicy Thai Shrimp 

(serves 4) 

Ingredients

- 2 lbs shrimp, peeled and deveined

- 1 package rice noodles

- 4 roma tomates, diced

- 3 shallots, thinly sliced

- 1 small red onion, thinly sliced

- 4 scallions, thinly sliced

- 3-5 cloves garlic, minced

- 1 c cilantro, loosely packed

-  1/2 c basil, roughly chopped

- 1/2 c mint, roughly chopped

- 1 T peanut oil or toasted sesame seed oil, divided

for the sauce:

- 4 T fish sauce

- 2 T chili paste

- 3 T brown sugar

- 1 t white sugar

- juice of 3 limes

Directions

Whisk all ingredients together for sauce and set aside. Fill pot with hot water and add dry rice noodles, cover and let sit for 10-15 minutes. In a large skillet heat half of oil over medium heat and add garlic, saute for 2-3 minutes. Reserve half a cup of sauce and add the rest to garlic then add shrimp and cook for 2-3 minutes or until shrimp are pink. In another skillet heat the rest of the oil over medium-heat heat and add the onion, shallots, tomatoes, scallions and remaining half cup of sauce. Cook until onions are tender. By now the noodles should be cooked through and ready to drain. Assemble noodles in 4 separate bowls and place onion and tomato mixture on top and then shrimp. Garnish with cilantro, basil, and mint. The herbs are what make this dish so don't leave them out! Enjoy!  

**This is one of those dishes where everything just goes together but not separate so if you tasted the sauce before you added it to anything don't be alarmed. It all works out just amazingly. 

I substituted the rice noodles for romaine and it was just as great! 

Spicy Thai Shrimp Salad 

Mom found this awesome chef's jacket at Unclaimed Baggage so I wore it while I got down in the kitchen. Definitely made me feel like a pro. Who knows, maybe one day I will be! Haha.

XOXO, 

Claire