Photos from Kasma's Advanced Series, Set D, September 2012

We reunited with friends old and new around Kasma's table to prepare and eat some seriously spicy Thai food.

Week 1

So many chillies, but behold the soothing power of coconut milk.

1Mixing steamed and cooled sticky rice with seasoned porkMixing steamed and cooled sticky rice with seasoned pork

Stuffing sausage using a funnel with a wide opening at the bottomStuffing sausage using a funnel with a wide opening at the bottom

The rice will sour after several days out in a temperate kitchenThe rice will sour after several days out in a temperate kitchen

2Some ingredients for kua kling with steamed veggiesSome ingredients for kua kling with steamed veggies

No wonder this dish is so hot!No wonder this dish is so hot!

Dry roasting and grinding chillies helps them blend in with the meatDry roasting and grinding chillies helps them blend in with the meat

Lemongrass, galanga, kaffir lime peel, and turmeric for the pasteLemongrass, galanga, kaffir lime peel, and turmeric for the paste

Shallots and garlic for the pasteShallots and garlic for the paste

Taste carefully, it has a wicked punchTaste carefully, it has a wicked punch

Kaffir lime leaves and green peppercornsKaffir lime leaves and green peppercorns

Southern-Style Spicy Dry-Fried Chopped BeefSouthern-Style Spicy Dry-Fried Chopped Beef

Lightly steamed vegetables provide some relief from the heatLightly steamed vegetables provide some relief from the heat

3Curry paste and vegetables ready for the wokCurry paste and vegetables ready for the wok

Cooking the dry curry in oil, Southern styleCooking the dry curry in oil, Southern style

A final dash or two of fish sauce to tasteA final dash or two of fish sauce to taste

Southern-Style Dry Curry with Chicken and VegetablesSouthern-Style Dry Curry with Chicken and Vegetables

4Thinly sliced Thai chillies for the porkThinly sliced Thai chillies for the pork

Frying the curry paste in oilFrying the curry paste in oil

Look for the color to darken before adding the porkLook for the color to darken before adding the pork

Stir-Fried Pork in Hot Shrimp PasteStir-Fried Pork in Hot Shrimp Paste

5Leafy Greens (chard) Cooked in Coconut Milk with ShrimpLeafy Greens (chard) Cooked in Coconut Milk with Shrimp

6Just ripe (tinged with green) egg bananasJust ripe (tinged with green) egg bananas

Cooking the bananas in sugar syrupCooking the bananas in sugar syrup

Stewed Bananas in Syrup Topped with Coconut CreamStewed Bananas in Syrup Topped with Coconut Cream


Week 2

Unfortunately, I had to miss this session.

1Imagine this sausage a week later...Imagine this sausage a week later...


Week 3

Considering the amount of work involved, it's a wonder you can get these delicious "street snacks" so inexpensively in Thailand.

1Fresh garlic chives for chive cakesFresh garlic chives for chive cakes

''Mixed'' chive cake ready for the steamer''Mixed'' chive cake ready for the steamer

''Mixed'' chive cake cooling after steaming''Mixed'' chive cake cooling after steaming

Crisping the ''mixed'' chive cakesCrisping the ''mixed'' chive cakes

''Mixed'' chive cake topped with spicy sauce and fried garlic''Mixed'' chive cake topped with spicy sauce and fried garlic

Filling rice flour dough with chopped chivesFilling rice flour dough with chopped chives

Forming the stuffed chive cakeForming the stuffed chive cake

Stuffed chive cakes ready for the steamerStuffed chive cakes ready for the steamer

Crisping the stuffed chive cakes after steamingCrisping the stuffed chive cakes after steaming

Stuffed chive cake topped with spicy sauce and fried garlicStuffed chive cake topped with spicy sauce and fried garlic

2Chicken fat rice with steamed chicken and cucumberChicken fat rice with steamed chicken and cucumber

Rich chicken broth with fuzzy melonRich chicken broth with fuzzy melon

3Browning stew meatBrowning stew meat

Nicely browned beefNicely browned beef

Simmering slices of browned beef in coconut milkSimmering slices of browned beef in coconut milk

Blending roasted shallots into curry pasteBlending roasted shallots into curry paste

Frying the curry paste in oilFrying the curry paste in oil

Beef simmering in coconut milk and curry pasteBeef simmering in coconut milk and curry paste

Toppings for curry beef noodlesToppings for curry beef noodles

Noodles with beef curry and various toppingsNoodles with beef curry and various toppings

4Apple bananas with a touch of greenApple bananas with a touch of green

Bananas halved lengthwiseBananas halved lengthwise

Sticky rice plump with coconut sauceSticky rice plump with coconut sauce

Rectangles cut from banana leaves, then wilted over flameRectangles cut from banana leaves, then wilted over flame

Thin bottom layer of sticky rice with black beansThin bottom layer of sticky rice with black beans

Banana placed face down on the sticky riceBanana placed face down on the sticky rice

Banana fully enrobed in sticky rice and black beansBanana fully enrobed in sticky rice and black beans

Tightly folded and tied bundles ready to steamTightly folded and tied bundles ready to steam

Steamed sticky rice stuffed with banana and black beansSteamed sticky rice stuffed with banana and black beans

Sticky rice and banana extreme close-upSticky rice and banana extreme close-up


Week 4

Where else in the Bay Area could you have this unbelievable meal?

1Chopped salted black olivesChopped salted black olives

Oil-roasted cashews and dried shrimp fried to a crispOil-roasted cashews and dried shrimp fried to a crisp

Frying ground beef with garlic and spicesFrying ground beef with garlic and spices

Fold the rice over and press gently to avoid making mushFold the rice over and press gently to avoid making mush

Attractive presentation of fried rice and toppingsAttractive presentation of fried rice and toppings

Salted Olive Fried Rice mixed up and ready to eatSalted Olive Fried Rice mixed up and ready to eat

2Drying salted dried squid (sub for cuttlefish) over flameDrying salted dried squid (sub for cuttlefish) over flame

Hand-torn pieces of squidHand-torn pieces of squid

Squid fried crispy draining on the strainerSquid fried crispy draining on the strainer

Quickly fried fresh shrimpQuickly fried fresh shrimp

Yum Sadet salad assembled just before servingYum Sadet salad assembled just before serving

Yum Sadet is a delightful combination of crunchy and tenderYum Sadet is a delightful combination of crunchy and tender

3Toasting coriander seeds for massaman curry pasteToasting coriander seeds for massaman curry paste

Smooth massaman curry paste dark with toasted spicesSmooth massaman curry paste dark with toasted spices

Browning the lambBrowning the lamb

Frying yukon gold potatoes for better textureFrying yukon gold potatoes for better texture

Rich Massaman Curry Lamb served with crispy rotiRich Massaman Curry Lamb served with crispy roti

4Kasma forming a ball with rested Roti doughKasma forming a ball with rested Roti dough

Stretched roti dough formed into a snail-like swirlStretched roti dough formed into a snail-like swirl

Stretched roti dough formed into a rectangular packageStretched roti dough formed into a rectangular package

Frying plain roti with plenty of palm margarineFrying plain roti with plenty of palm margarine

Fluffing the plain roti (in an absorbent towel)Fluffing the plain roti (in an absorbent towel)

Roti topped with sweetened condensed milk and sugarRoti topped with sweetened condensed milk and sugar

Assembling savory fillings for stuffed roti matabaAssembling savory fillings for stuffed roti mataba

Fryng stuffed rotiFryng stuffed roti

Stuffed Roti MatabaStuffed Roti Mataba

Filling of banana slices, raisins, chopped peanuts, and eggsFilling of banana slices, raisins, chopped peanuts, and eggs

Assembling banana-stuffed rotiAssembling banana-stuffed roti

Drizzling sweetened condensed milk on banana rotiDrizzling sweetened condensed milk on banana roti

Banana-Stuffed RotiBanana-Stuffed Roti


For more information about this course, visit Thai Cooking Class – Advanced Series Menus

You might also enjoy: First Week Intensive 2009, Advanced Series Set A 2011, Advanced Series Set B 2010, and Advanced Series, Set C 2011

Copyright © 2012 Jefferson Scher