Thai Panang Curry

When my son was young, we would often have play dates with his friends and their moms/dads.  Whoever hosted the play date made lunch for the kids and parents. This dish is inspired by one of the play dates when one of my friends made it. It may sound like a complicated dish, but it is an easy recipe which I make all the time.

Ingredients:

• Grated Ginger (according to taste)
• 1 small onion, chopped to big pieces
• 2 small tomatoes, cut to big cubes
• 1/2 of each, small red & green bell peppers, cut to big pieces
• 1/2 can of baby corn
• Palm full of sugar snap peas
• 1/4 cup of pineapple chunks
• 1/4 cup broccoli, big florets
• 1 packet fried sponge tofu
• 3-4 tbsp Thai Panang curry paste (according to taste). I used Aroy D from 99 Ranch which doesn't have fish sauce or Shrimp Sauce in it.
• 2-3 tbsp brown sugar for sweetness (according to taste)
• Salt to taste
• Red chili powder if you want the curry to be more spicy
• 1 can coconut milk + 1 can of water. (I used the coconut milk and use the same can to measure out the water. Add more water or coconut milk if you want more gravy.
• About 10 large leaves of Thai basil -  half for cooking and half for garnish

Method:

• In a large pot or wok, heat up some oil and add the grated ginger, cook for a minute.
• Add onions, bell peppers, snap peas, baby corn and pineapple chunks
• Add half of the Thai basil cut into long strips
• Cook about 2 to 3 minutes on high flame. You want the veggies to remain crunchy for a nice texture.
• Set this vegetable mixture aside.  You can use the same pot/wok to make the curry.
• Heat up some oil in a wok
• Add in the Thai curry paste, stir and cook for 1 min. 
• Add coconut milk, water, brown sugar and some salt. Mix everything together and bring to a boil. 
• Add the sponge tofu and tomatoes and cook just till everything is well mixed Turn off the heat at this point and then add the vegetable mix.
• Taste and add more salt/brown sugar/chili powder to your taste. Garnish with Thai Basil 
• I like to serve the curry with brown rice.
• You can also add different vegetables - I have seen this dish with potatoes and carrots.