One fragrant curry or plate of Pad Thai can leave you wondering how to bring those flavours into your own kitchen.
Even if you’ve never been to Thailand, a good supper is reason enough to explore.
That’s become a little easier with the launch of Ocado’s Taste of Thailand range. The retailer says it added 15 products from Thailand in September, alongside more than 50 Thai products already on its website.
Its Thai food shop includes cooking essentials, curry pastes, noodles, snacks and drinks.
For me, the appeal is having more of the right ingredients to hand. Thai cooking often brings sweet, sour, salty and spicy flavours together in the same dish. Getting that balance just right is part of the fun, and a jar of curry paste or a packet of noodles can be the start of a very satisfying midweek meal.
To mark the launch, chefs working with Thai Trade London have put together serving ideas ranging from Thai coconut soup and a yellow curry rice bowl to green curry and Pad Thai chicken. If you’re in a hurry, pork and holy basil stir-fry sounds particularly tempting. The idea is to make these dishes approachable on an ordinary Tuesday, when everyone is hungry and nobody wants a mountain of washing-up.
There’s pudding, too. The suggested Mogu Mogu trifle combines a fruity drink with chewy coconut jelly, coconut milk and double cream. It sounds unusual, but isn’t trying something new half the pleasure of browsing an international food aisle?
You could make a whole Thai-inspired evening of it, perhaps with a Chang or Singha beer. Or simply start with one dish you love and see where it takes you. Stock and recipe ingredients may vary, so it’s worth checking the shop before planning your menu.
The only possible problem? Once you’ve mastered your favourite curry, the takeaway menu might start feeling a little neglected.