Khanom Jeen Nam Ya Poo (ขนมจีนน้ำยาปู)

 

Khanom Jeen Nam Ya Poo (ขนมจีนน้ำยาปู) is a delicious Thai dish consisting of rice noodles served with a rich and flavorful crab curry sauce. It is a popular street food in Thailand. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to cook Khanom Jeen Nam Ya Poo:

Ingredients:

For the crab curry sauce:

• 200 grams crab meat (fresh or canned)

• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil

• 3 cloves garlic, minced

• 2 shallots, minced

• 2 tablespoons red curry paste

• 1 cup coconut milk

• 1 cup water or fish stock

• 2 tablespoons fish sauce

• 1 tablespoon palm sugar or brown sugar

• 1 tablespoon tamarind paste

• 1 kaffir lime leaf, torn

• Thai basil leaves for garnish

For the rice noodles and toppings:

• Khanom Jeen (fresh rice noodles) or dried rice vermicelli noodles, cooked according to package instructions

• Bean sprouts

• Sliced cucumber

• Fresh herbs (such as Thai basil, cilantro, and mint)

• Lime wedges

• Fried shallots (optional)

• Roasted peanuts, crushed (optional)

Instructions:

1. In a large pan or wok, heat the vegetable oil over medium heat.

2. Add the minced garlic and shallots to the hot oil and stir-fry for a couple of minutes until they become fragrant and slightly golden.

3. Add the red curry paste to the pan and stir-fry for another minute to release its flavors.

4. Pour in the coconut milk and water (or fish stock) into the pan. Stir well to combine the curry paste with the liquid.

5. Add the crab meat to the pan and stir gently to incorporate it into the curry sauce.

6. Season the sauce with fish sauce, palm sugar, tamarind paste, and torn kaffir lime leaf. Stir well to combine the flavors.

7. Simmer the sauce over low heat for about 10-15 minutes to allow the flavors to meld together and the sauce to thicken slightly.

8. While the sauce is simmering, prepare the rice noodles according to the package instructions. Drain them and set them aside.

9. Taste the crab curry sauce and adjust the seasoning if needed, adding more fish sauce, sugar, or tamarind paste according to your taste preferences.

10. To serve, place a portion of cooked rice noodles in a bowl. Ladle the crab curry sauce over the noodles.

11. Top the dish with bean sprouts, sliced cucumber, fresh herbs, and a squeeze of lime juice.

12. Optionally, garnish with fried shallots and crushed roasted peanuts for added texture and flavor.

13. Serve Khanom Jeen Nam Ya Poo hot and enjoy the delicious combination of flavors and textures.

Note: You can adjust the spiciness of the dish by adding more or less red curry paste according to your preference. Additionally, feel free to customize the toppings with your favorite herbs and vegetables.

Enjoy the delightful flavors of Khanom Jeen Nam Ya Poo!