Thai basil, Galangal, Kafir Lime Leaves, Lemon Grass, and Jasmine Rice – the pillars of Thai cuisine. Chef Sunil Joshi at Ban Tao, Pune kicked off our Thai food education methodically with this brief introduction.
Every cuisine is unique. It is unique because it uses some specific ingredients in specific proportions and it is absolutely necessary that you understand what these key ingredients are to make sure that you can recreate the authentic flavors at home.
I was glad that I took up the opportunity to attend this cooking class. I had almost backed out at the last moment, but managed to get there, though a bit late. I am no stranger to Thai flavors and recently posted the Green Chicken Curry Recipe on this blog. But I never had the opportunity to learn from a professional and a chef from a restaurant famed for Thai Cuisine was not something to miss. I am so glad I did not miss this.
Our task was cut out for the session. The three hour class was planned in a very thoughtful manner and included dishes for a complete meal: from soups to desserts.
We began with a round of introductions. It was a group of passionate foodies, veteran cooks, and cooking enthusiasts wanting to try their hand at new cuisines. And chef Sunil had something new for everyone of the group.
With basics out of the way, our first lesson was how to make a flavorful stock. The stock ensures that you have all the flavors infused in your dish. You can also cook it in advance before actually making the dish before your guests walk in. Well if you really want to give them a Thai experience, I would suggest you cook at least one dish after they come and let the aromas invade their senses.
Anyway, the stock tip was a great addition to my Thai food journal – I was already happy that I attended the class.
Chef Sunil had planned both vegetarian and meat options for the class and suggested appropriate substitutes that vegetarians could use.
He also explained the various ingredients used in the Thai curry pastes and gave us all recipes of how to make these at home from available ingredients. The heat in Thai cuisine comes from Bird’s Eye Chili and the bitter lemony flavors are because of the Kaffir Lime Leaves.
A Thai Masterclass would be really incomplete without a Raw Papaya Salad or Som Tam.
Chef Sunil began with tips on how to choose the right Papaya in the market so that you get the right texture for the salad. He then demonstrated how to shred the papaya and introduced the various ingredients that would go into the Pestle for making Som Tam. The key, of course, is to get the Raw Papaya Juliennes. You will need a Juliennes peeler to get those fancy strings.
Although coconut based curries are most popular, I love clear Thai curries, which are not really common. So, I was glad to see Chef Sunil mix a clear prawns soup. The tangy, spicy soup was full of intense Thai flavors and perfect to sip on slightly cool wet afternoons.
Along with the basic ingredients, the soup also included a few veggies and prawns.
With a clear soup and a very spicy coconut milk based soup, we were deep into Thai Kitchen. The aroma of the various spices and herbs had invaded our senses. For the main course, chef Sunil had planned to show us Green Curry and Red Curry preparation. Just as MSG gives the Chinese cuisine its Umami flavor, the Thai Umami flavors come from the Shrimp Paste and Fish Sauce. And if you are not allergic to Shell Fish, I would strongly suggest that you do not skimp on this vital ingredient.
I have had various types of Thai curries like the Jungle Curry or the peanut based Rama Tofu. But somehow I never went for the desserts at a Thai restaurant. I was happy to see a dessert on our Thai Masterclass syllabus.
Chef Sunil shared a simple but delicious rice based dessert that perfectly complemented the rest of the dishes that we had for the class. The coconut milk based dessert was infused with lemon grass and the combination of Palm Sugar, Lemongrass, and coconut milk was simply mouth watering.
Hyatt Pune regularly offers cooking classes for food and cooking enthusiasts in Pune. If I am not wrong, there is a Baking Masterclass coming up at Hyatt soon. If this is something you are interested in , I suggest you follow the Hyatt Pune Facebook page to get information about what’s coming up.