Top 3 Cheap, Easy and Delicious Meals: Clever Cooking

In the true Cool Footing spirit of living in rather than just visiting a destination, there will come a time when cooking becomes an issue.

Even in Thailand eating out for every meal becomes a slight burden.  Sometimes you just want to stay in after a hectic day of Wats.  Cooking then becomes an issue because, more than likely, you’ll be living in a small apartment with very limited kitchen facilities.  While living in Chiang Mai we have 2 hobs and a skillet/wok with no lid.  This kitchen arrangement is common in Thai apartments and means you have to get pretty clever with your menu.

One pot wonders are the key.  We’ve got a few in our repertoire now, but these are our top 3.  They are cheap, easy and delicious.

Sausage and Butter Bean Stew

Light Chicken Stew

Wannabe Krapao Moo

I’ve jotted down the recipes for future reference, but feel free to try them out.

 

Sausage and Butter Bean Stew

Ingredients

½ tbsp oil

2 chorizo

1 onion

1 celery stick

4 garlic cloves

300ml chicken stock

1 tin butter beans

75g butter

Zest of 1 lemon

Handful parsley

Method

• Heat oil, cook sausages, then set aside
• Cook onion, then add celery and garlic. Cook for another 2 mins.
• Add stock, simmer 20 mins.
• Add sausages and beans. Simmer 8 mins.
• Add butter, zest and parsley
• Serve

Light Chicken Stew

Ingredients

1 tbsp oil

2 leeks, or 1 onion

1 clove garlic

1 sprig of thyme

1 chicken breast, cut into pieces

2 small potatoes, halved

Green beans

Juice 1 lemon

Method

• Heat oil, cook leeks, garlic and thyme gently for 10 mins
• Season potatoes and chicken add to pan, turn up heat
• Add stock, bring to boil, then simmer 35 mins
• Add beans, cook 10 mins.
• Season and add lemon juice
• Serve

Wannabe Krapao Moo

Ingredients

1 tbsp oil

1 garlic clove

1 tsp pepper

½ onion

1 tsp ginger

250g minced pork

2 tbsp sambal olek (a chilli and garlic paste)

1 tbsp soy sauce

½ lime juice

Bok Choy

½ cup Thai basil

Method

• Heat oil, fry onion, garlic, ginger, pepper and pork 5 mins.
• Add sambal olek, soy sauce and a tbsp of water, simmer 5 mins
• Add bok choy and lime juice, simmer 5 minutes
• Add Thai basil, stir then serve.