Monday 20 February 2017

Vegetable Khao Suey

Khao Suey or Khow Suey is a one-pot dish, with its origin from the mountainous states of Burma. Consisting of a lentil base, it is topped with noodles and stir fried vegetables. Protein, carbohydrate as well as vitamins and fibers, all in one dish.

Vegetable Khow Suey

While preparing the dish would appear easy, the art of eating it actually takes away most of the credit for the enhancing the overall experience.

It was while on a business trip, that I had come across this gentleman who took out the time and patience to explain to a bunch of us about 'Khao Suey'. A tale of the bygone days ;) ..
Some of my friends and I had been to this particular restaurant which had an item on it's menu, which was unanimously chosen as the order for each one of us. It was called Khao Suey . None of us had any idea what the name meant exactly but it's depiction was what had allured each of us. To be exact, the pictorial description was that of something which our ophthalmic nerves transferred to our brain which translated it as our very own Indian Maggi with vegetables dish. Probably, then the brain must have triggered the cells responsible for nostalgia, for each of us ended up ordering the so called 'Khao Suey' !

Vegetable Khao Suey


Very soon, steaming bowls appeared and were placed in front. As hungry as we were, we dug into it with the provided forks. I remember us wondering why the chef had not mixed all the veggies up with the noodles and why was the noodles as plain as they could be? It seemed as if they were directly poured from the boiling pot.
We almost swore never to visit the place again and how nothing could ever match our Maggi. One of us even commented that it would have been better to have prepared it ourselves than waste good money over half processed noodles. Anyways. our hunger took over soon and we had started to stir the contents so as to obtain, what we thought, a mix-veg-noodle :D :D .

It was at that time, when this completely bald gentleman (who I guess had overheard all our frustration :( ) approached . With a heavily accented English, he introduced himself and inquired whether we were first time visitor's to that particular restaurant. Upon getting a positive response, he pulled himself a chair and started explaining the name of the dish, the reason behind the name and how it has to be eaten.

It turns out Khao Suey or Khow Suey literally means noodles in coconut milk. He went on further to explain that the base curry was a mix of lentils, broth and coconut milk, hence the name.
Meanwhile, he asked the waiter for a bowl of KS and to re-heat our bowls. As soon as the piping hot bowls arrived, he asked to observe him eat. With one soup spoon in one hand and a fork in another, he scooped a little soup and then placed a few strands of noodles on top of it. A slice of carrot and a bean on it , and then he started to sip the spoon contents .... finally taking the in the rest. And, all this with a big slurrrpy sound. By the end of two spoonfuls, the gravy had started to run down his chin, which with a quick move,he wiped with his napkin.

He slurped and wiped, and so did we as soon as we followed his steps...err hands ;) .

Khao Suey




Before taking his leave, he did mention that louder the slurp noise, the better one was getting at eating KS. And, boy! We did agree to that wholeheartedly. Slurp, finish the bowl while the contents are hot (else the noodles lose their charm) and above all, to our embarrassment,do not mix the contents :D.
We parted ways with a content belly, tongue and brain. Happy to have learnt a new art of eating a new dish, discovered a restaurant which served a healthy yet tasty dish and the most of all, gained a new friend !
We ended up dining in this restaurant many a time till we were there ,but never again did we have the pleasure of meeting our friend cum teacher again. Although, his topic does surf up whenever any of us get together.
All that I can do now, is dedicate this page to, as we refer to him as, The Slurp Monk !

Khao Suey




  
In a hot pan, add oil. Add all the chopped veggies and stir fry on a high flame. The vegetables should retain their crispiness. Keep aside. 

Heat water in a pan and boil noodes for 2-3 minutes or as per package instructions. Strain out the hot water and rinse with cold water. Add a tspn of oil and toss to keep the noodles from sticking with each other. Keep aside.


Boil the red lentils with salt and turmeric, until soft. Soak the soya chunks in hot water.
Mash the lentils well and then add the coconut milk. Add about a cup of vegetable broth (else plain water). Mix well and let it boil for about 5 minutes. The final consistency should be broth like.
Heat a pan and add cooking oil. Add the finely chopped green chilly and garlic. Saute. Pour this garlic chilly tempering into the lentil broth. Add the soaked up soya chunks. Let it come to a boil. Switch off flame and keep aside.

In a serving bowl, pour the lentil gravy till almost half filled.

Place noodles. 

Top the noodles with the stir fried vegetables. Garnish with chopped coriander leaves and spring onions. Add a dash of lemon to give it a twist.


Khao Suey INGREDIENTS
  • 100gm Noodles 
Vegetablescan include the following-
  •  3-4 Baby Corn, diced
  • 1 Small Capsicum, sliced
  • 1 Medium Carrot, peeled & sliced
  • 3-4 French Beans, diagonally sliced
  • 1 Medium Zuchhini, sliced
  • 1 Medium Onion, sliced finely
For the Gravy
  • 2 Tbspn Garlic, sliced finley
  • 1 Green Chilly, sliced
  • 1/2 Cup Red Lentils
  • 1/2 Cup Coconut Milk
  • Soya Chunks
  • Green Chilly, as per taste
  • Salt, as per taste
  • 1 Tspn Turmeric
For Granish
  • Coriander Leaves, chopped finely
  • Spring Onions, chopped finely
  • Lemon
METHOD
  • Heat water in a pan and boil noodes for 2-3 minutes or as per package instructions. Strain out the hot water and rinse with cold water. Add a tspn of oil and toss to keep the noodles from sticking with each other. Keep aside.
  • Boil the red lentils with salt and turmeric, until soft. Soak the soya chunks in hot water.
  • Mash the lentils well and then add the coconut milk. Add about a cup of vegetable broth (else plain water). Mix well and let it boil for about 5 minutes. The final consistency should be broth like.
  • Heat a pan and add cooking oil. Add the finely chopped green chilly and garlic. Saute. Pour this garlic chilly tempering into the lentil broth. Add the soaked up soya chunks. Let it come to a boil. Switch off flame and keep aside.
  • In a hot pan, add oil. Add all the chopped veggies and stir fry on a high flame. The vegetables should retain their crispiness. Keep aside. 
  • Now that the cooking part is over, proceeding over to the serving: 
  • In a deep dish or bowl, pour the lentil gravy till almost half of the container is filled. Then place noodles. Top the noodles with the stir fried vegetables. Garnish with chopped coriander leaves and spring onions. Add a dash of lemon to give it a twist.
  • Now, sit back, relax and enjoy the piping hot Burmese delight. 
  • Slurrrrrrrpp away ..!!  

No comments:

Post a Comment

Banana Pancake (Eggless)

INGREDIENTS 1/2 Cup Flour 2 Ripe Bananas, mashed 1/2 Cup Milk 1 Tbsp Sugar (or increase as per taste) A pinch of baking powder A ...