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Glossary

Index


Bai Dtamleung

A green, maple-shaped leaf that tastes like spinach. It is used mainly in Thai food in dishes such as...

Bamboo Shoots

Crisp with a slightly nutty bitterness. Choose shoots that are smaller in size and firm in texture. They are...

Banana Flower

Used right across Asia, the banana flower is crimson-purple and used as a vegetable. In Thailand, slices of the flower...

Banana Leaves

Used to wrap foods when cooking. Mainly used for grilling and containing desserts....

Basil, Holy

Known by this name as it is traditionally planted around temples. Serrated leaves, with a strong odour. Only used...

Basil, Sweet

This basil has large leaves and purple stems. It has a strong aniseed taste and is used to garnish curries...

Bean Curd (fresh, deep fried, silken, pressed, skins)

Originally only eaten by the poor as a meat substitute, beancurd was discovered by an emperor in the C.17th in the...

Bean Paste, Yellow

Not yellow, but actually brown. It is salty and used when a lighter sauce is required....

Bean Sprouts

Usually grown from mung beans (or soy beans). If using soy bean sprouts (less widely available) they must be cooked...

Bento

Japanese lunch box containing several small dishes....

Betel Leaves

Used in the making of miang, a popular Thai snack and added to some curries. Cha plu (Thai) is a...

Bitter Gourd/ Melon

Long, green and knobbly they have a bitter taste due to the natural presence of quinine (an anti-malarial substance). It...

Blachan

This pungent paste is made from fermented prawns (shrimp). It can be sold in jars, cans, slabs and cakes it...

Black Bean, Fermented Salted

These are black soy beans which are fermented and heavily salted. They can be sold in cans or in bags...

Bonito

A dried fish that is added to dishes to increase flavour and protein. Dried and whole, it is reminiscent of...

Bread Fruit

This fruit is large in size, with a knobbly skin and starts out green but then ripens to a browny-yellow....

Bulgogi

Korean barbeque sauce made with soy, sugar, toasted sesame seeds, ginger and spring onions. Wafer thin beef is usually cooked...

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