Notes from
the kitchen
Food and the ingredients behind it. What they are, where to find them and how we use them at home.
Things you need in your kitchen
Nine so far
01Galangal
ข่า · khaThe peppery, citrusy root that gives Thai soups and curry pastes their unmistakable fragrance.
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02Fish sauce
น้ำปลา · nam plaIf we could keep only one Thai ingredient in the cupboard, it would be this bottle.
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03Lime leaves
ใบมะกรูด · bai makrutGlossy double leaves with a citrus perfume that no lime zest can copy, and they keep for months in the freezer.
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04Chilli
พริก · prikFresh, dried or roasted: how heat fits the Thai balance, and how to tame it.
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05Lemongrass
ตะไคร้ · takraiThe bright, lemony grass found in almost every Thai kitchen, and how to trim, bruise and store it.
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06Nam Prik Pao
น้ำพริกเผา · nam prik paoThai roasted chilli paste: sweet, smoky and savoury, and the secret behind Tom Yum’s red glow.
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07Palm Sugar
น้ำตาลปี๊บ · nam tan peepThe soft, caramel sweetness that balances salty, sour and hot in almost every Thai dish.
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08Garam Masala
गरम मसाला · garam masalaThe warm Indian spice blend that finishes almost every curry, and how to make your own.
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09Garlic
กระเทียม · kra thiamPounded, fried or crushed with its skin on: the quiet base of almost every Thai dish.
Read the postThings you need in your kitchen — by Magnus & Lek