StepByStep Index

All About Mangoes: How to Choose, Cut, and Eat a Mango
Find out more about mango fruit! How do you choose a mango, and how do you know if it's ripe? How do you go about cutting a mango? And how do you eat it? If you've ever asked yourself any of these questions about mangos, you can easily find the answers by checking out this All About Mangos: How to Cut a Mango guide (with pictures). Mango makes a wonderful snack and also a great addition to fruit salads - juicy, tropical tasting, and nutritious.

Heavenly Pineapple Fried Rice
If you like fried rice, but have been disappointed with homemade fried rice recipes, try this recipe! Pineapple Fried Rice is the signature dish of Thailand, normally served in a carved-out pineapple. The next time you host a party, impress your guests to no end by serving this tropical-looking (and tasting) fried rice. It isn't difficult to make - in fact, this easy Thai recipe will have you cooking and enjoying this pineapple fried rice in no time!

Lemongrass - How to Use Lemongrass in Your Cooking
Lemongrass is a wonderful herb used for all kinds of Thai recipes and in Southeast-Asian cooking in general. Find out how to buy and cook with lemongrass with simple step-by-step guide to cooking with lemongrass. It will teach you how to choose, prepare, and process lemongrass - all you need to do then is add it to your recipe. Thai lemon grass is easy to use once you know how, so check out this step-by-step lemon grass guide!

Thai Green Papaya Salad Recipe (Som Tam)
Som Tam (Green Papaya Salad) is a very popular Thai dish. In fact, it's the most popular salad in Thailand, and is especially loved by women - perhaps because it's so low in calories and fat, but so high in taste and eating satisfaction! Som Tam is delicious on its own, or try eating it as they do in Thailand: with a bowl of sticky rice. This som tam recipe is easy to make, and includes buy and shredding instructions for the green papaya. ENJOY!

Miang (Mieng) Khum Recipe: a Tastebud-tantalizing Thai Appetizer!
This special Thai appetizer can only be described as tastebud-tantalizing! Meng Khum (or Miang Khum) combines ingredients like coconut, peanuts, dried shrimp, and lime. Traditionally it is served on banana leaves, but spinach or basil leaves work just as well (and unlike banana leaves, they're edible). Try this simple thai dish with my step-by-step recipe. Then serve it to your friends at your next dinner party and wait for the "wow!" to escape their lips!

Fresh Spring Rolls
These fresh spring rolls are truly a refreshing change from regular spring rolls, and they're also much healthier. Make up a "bouquet" today as an appetizer, snack, or part of a main course (served with a Thai salad, these rolls make a complete meal). Or make culinary waves by serving them at your next party. They're a beautiful party food to look at - AND to eat! (Includes instructions on wrapping spring rolls.)

How to Cut a Pineapple (Plus Create a Pineapple "Boat")
Learn how to cut a pineapple and enjoy the fruit, OR create a pineapple "boat" - great for serving fruit salad or Thai fried rice just like they do on the beaches of Thailand! Follow these easy step-by-step "how to cut a pineapple" instructions. Then enjoy eating your fresh pineapple fruit, or use it to fill your pineapple "boat" with fruit salad or heavenly pineapple fried rice for the ultimate party dish!

Papaya - How to Buy, Cut, & Prepare Fresh Papaya
Papaya was called "Fruit of the Angels" by Christopher Columbus, and for good reason. Papaya is sweet and succulent, plus it offers numerous health benefits, from improving digestion to preventing heart disease, arthritis, lung disease, and eye disorders. Full of antioxidants, flavoniods, plus loads of vitamins and minerals, this is one of the healthiest of nature's fruit. But how do you cut and eat a papaya? Just follow these simple steps to find out!

Fresh Thai Summer Rolls
Unlike spring rolls, summer rolls are not deep-fried - they're fresh and crisp like summer itself, plus rich in flavor and texture. Thai Summer Rolls are a meal unto themselves, including adequate servings of protein, carbs, and greens (vegetarian instructions included). But they also make an excellent appetizer (see recipe). So why not try this easy recipe and taste the freshness of summer all rolled up in one neat little package?!

Pad Thai from Phuket
There are two basic types of Pad Thai: one is tomato (or tamarind) based, the other is fish sauce based. When I was in Phuket, I ordered the latter nearly every day because it was soooo good. I've replicated the dish here in this easy pad thai recipe, which I call "Phuket Pad Thai". This pad thai recipe is healthy, low-fat, and delicious! Includes lots of useful tips that will help you cook up the best pad thai noodles you've ever tried!

Cooking with Tofu - How to Make Fried Tofu (gluten-free)
What is tofu and how do you cook tofu? How do you make a great-tasting tofu recipe? These questions are all answered in this easy tofu recipe for crunchy fried tofu. This recipe will take you from the first step of buying tofu to making delicious fried tofu. Included is a recipe for Thai peanut dip which is an excellent accompaniment to freshly fried tofu. Or you can use your fried tofu to create other vegetarian thai food recipes (find links to these too!).

Lime Chicken Stir-Fry with Bell Peppers & Basil
If you like Thai food, you're going to fall in love with this simple but fantastic Thai stir fry recipe! This chicken stir fry features the unique taste of lime leaf combined with fresh basil for a taste explosion with every bite. Easy to make, yet the results are gourmet-Thai delicious. A terrific recipe for busy weekdays, but also makes a crowd-pleasing dish to serve at your next dinner party or social gathering. Chicken stir fry never tasted so tantalizing!

Thai Sticky Rice with Pork, Mushrooms, and Spring Onion
Learn how to make savory Thai sticky rice, step by step. Like fried rice, this sticky rice recipe is a meal unto itself, combining small pieces of pork and mushroom, plus spring onion and bits of chili together in a savory sauce that marries well with the sticky rice. Sticky rice is easy to make, and this recipe shows you how, step by step (with pictures). If you enjoy Chinese-style sticky rice, you'll love this savory Thai version!

Thai Tropical Tapioca Pudding
Tapioca is a kind of starch (like pasta) that comes from the root of the cassava plant (which means it's gluten free!). Tapioca pearls can be purchased very cheaply in Asian stores, and are faster cooking than our so-called "Minute Tapioca". Among Asian desserts, this tapioca pudding recipe is also known as "Sago", and can be served cold on warm summer nights, or warm during the winter months. Just follow the steps to this wonderful and easy tapioca pudding!

How to Make Kaya (Coconut Jam)
Kaya or "coconut jam" is a truly Asian inspiration. Light brown or green in color, with the consistency of custard, kaya makes a nice spread to enjoy over toast. Kaya has its roots in Malaysia and Indonesia, but can be found in most Southeast-Asian countries. This simple step-by-step recipe will show you how to make kaya very simply and easily. Includes canning instructions (optional). ENJOY!

Rainbow Rice Cake
This rice cake recipe is beautiful to look at, and as fun to make as coloring easter eggs. It has a coconut flavor, as well as the subtle taste of pandan leaf. Made with glutinous rice flour and tapioca flour, this sticky rice cake is uniquely delicious, low-fat, low-calorie, and a gluten free recipe. Make it for your next party or potluck where it will be sure to steal the show!

Curry Pastries
Small pastries filled with curry chicken, beef, or vegetables are a common marketplace food in many Southeast-Asian countries. Try this Thai recipe for curry pastries (also called curry puff) made extra simple by using filo dough instead of homemade pastry. Follow my step-by-step recipe and enjoy these Thai Curry Pastries for a snack at teatime, lunch, or as a special appetizer.

Thai Steamed Fish
Afraid of cooking fish? Don't be! This simple recipe will teach you how to make delicious steamed fish, step by step. In coastal Thailand, fresh fish is plentiful and delicious grilled or steamed in a wok. Try this healthy steamed version combining lemongrass, galangal (or ginger), and fresh coriander for a melt-in-your-mouth taste experience. Be sure to use fresh fish for the most succulent results.

Sticky Rice Chicken Dumplings
Sticky rice dumplings are common throughout Southeast-Asia - both savory and sweet versions. This savory Thai dumpling recipe has a healthy chicken and shiitake mushroom filling. The chicken dumplings are then wrapped in banana leaves and may be steamed, barbecued, or baked in the oven. Serve them as part of a main course, or as a snack. Sticky rice chicken dumplings also make a great lunch during the work week - just heat up for a quick, deliciously unique lunch!