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Sambal
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The chili-based sauce known as sambal is a common at all Indonesian tables. Chilies, sharp fermented shrimp paste, tangy lime juice, sugar and salt all pounded together. If you like it hot, make sure you give this a try.
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Indonesian
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Pad Thai
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If your not sure what to order at a Thai restaurant you can't go wrong with Pad Thai! Definitely one of the most popular Thai dishes that consists of noodles, dried shrimp, chicken, red chillies, tamarind and thai basil. Some restaurants are now introducing a ‘chilli beef’ pad Thai which gives a whole different texture and flavour to the dish.
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Thai
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Thai Spring Rolls
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Not unlike the Chinese version, these are served in most thai restaurants you come across. Deep fried in pancake rolls, some are vegetarian and others include chicken, duck or prawns with herbs and spices. Usually served with a sweet chilli dip or a sweet plumb sauce, they are delicious as you crunch into the pastry wrapper and reveal the delicious contents!
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Thai
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Tom Yum
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The most famous of Thai soups, Tom Yum is spicy and sour and utterly delicious. Served usually with prawns and chicken, the flavours are created by crushing all the herbs into a paste and stir frying in oil. To make the soup, stock is added and topped off with fresh herbs. Tom Yum Soup is often served with a bowl of steamed rice.
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Thai
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Grilled Vegetables with Dips
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A very easy but delicious dish of grilled or chargilled vegetables, cooked with herbs, spices and garlic are served with a selection of dips on a large platter, put in the centre of the table for everyone to enjoy. A selection of eggplant, zucchini, red onions and round squash and turnips would be a usual combination, but also grilled baby corn and capsicum. Plenty of different dips are included as well as yoghurt and sauces.
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Vegetarian
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Thai Green Curry
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Thai food is famous for its curries and the Green curry is probably the most famous of the lot. Made from fresh chillies, lemongrass, shrimp paste, galangal, garlic, lime leaves and coriander, Thai green curry paste has a fabulous distinctive flavour and is mixed with coconut cream to make the curry creamy. Quite often served with green beans and pea aubergines and mountains of jasmine rice, it is a heart warming dish that is loved by Thai food fans around the world.
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Thai
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Lasagne Primavera
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A delicious vegetarian lasagne usually made with spinach pasta and a selected of sliced vegetables such as eggplant, courgette, tomatoes, mushrooms and onions and covered in a béchamel sauce. Served with garlic bread and salad, this is a lovely dish for non-meat eaters.
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Vegetarian
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Noodles with Coconut Vegetable Curry
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A lovely dish even for meat eaters! Delicate soft cooked noodles are served with a mixture of vegetables steeped in a coconut curry sauce full of herbs and spices. A good selection of vegetables such as potatoes, squash, onions, carrots, peas and green beans all cooked to perfection. Served with flatbreads or chapattis and usually a side tray of dips and yoghurt with cucumber. Tofu can be added if required.
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Vegetarian
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Mushroom Burger
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No bread involved in this burger – the filling is full of vegetables and herbs, and the ‘bun’ is comprised of two large grilled Portobello mushrooms. Quite a lot of garlic is usually included in this dish to give it oodles of flavour. Can be served with chips or salad as an accompaniment, and a selection of dips and sauces.
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Vegetarian
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Pumpkin and Feta Ravioli
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A very popular pasta dish in vegetarian restaurants with delicate but lightly spiced pumpkin and rich feta cheese. The pasta is normally served with either a burnt butter sauce, including garlic, or with a spinach and finely chopped tomato sauce with herbs. A sprinkling of pine nuts usually completes the dish.
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Vegetarian
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Tomato Risotto
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A simple but effective dish of Arborio rice and tomatoes, garlic and basil as the accompanying herb. The rice is cooked in a pan with white wine, seasoning and garlic with the finely chopped tomatoes being added towards the end. A touch of cream and a scattering of basil completes the dish with some parmesan cheese also added towards the end. Plenty of French or Italian bread to wipe your bowl with is a good idea!
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Vegetarian
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Nasi Goreng
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Considered Indonesia’s national dish. Rice stir-fried with eggs, meatballs, chicken/beef/shrimp, assorted vegetables. The rice is made brown with thick and sweet soy sauce called kecap.
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Indonesian
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Gado Gado
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One of the most well known traditional Indonesian dishes, gado gado is a beautiful salad which is served with a peanut sauce. It is a very unusual dish comprising vegetables such as sliced cucumber, spinach, bitter melon, green beans, sliced potatoes and usually accompanied by hard boiled eggs. The peanut sauce should not be confused with satay sauce, even though they both contain peanuts. The gado sauce is more pungent and will frequently have sliced red chillis in it. Lotek, another version of gado, is made using raw vegetables, whereas gado uses cooked vegetables.
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Indonesian
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Mango Lassi
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Served in most Asian restaurants, it is probably a ‘signature smoothie’ type of drink. Fresh mangoes with yoghurt and light spices poured over ice – absolutely delicious and refreshing to the palate and takes away any heat from spicy food still burning your tongue!
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Asian
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Beer
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Singha and Kloster are the most consumed Thai beers. Singha was originally brewed over 80 years ago in Thailand by members of the Thai nobility. Fairly strong and ‘hoppy’ tasting, it is made from barley and has 6% alcohol content. Kloster is a much smoother beer and a little more expensive.
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Thai
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Whisky
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Some restaurants in Australia serve a selection of Thai whiskies. The whisky is made from rice and is sharp and sweet, but very high in alcohol content at 35%. Mekong and Kwangthong are popular brands. It is not a cheap drink to buy, even though its cheaper in Thailand than beer!
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Thai
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Lemongrass Soda
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Very refreshing drink made with lemon grass syrup and mixed with soda or sparkling water, garnished with lemon slices and served over ice. Sometimes garnished with Thai basil to give a more herby taste.
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Thai
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Thai Papaya Smash
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A wonderful cocktail mainly served in the medium to larger restaurants. Made with fresh papaya, orange and a shot of tequila and dash of freshly squeezed lime it has both a bitter and sweet taste. The addition of agave nectar brings more sweetness, but sometimes you have to ask for it.
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Thai
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Juices
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A large selection of fresh juices are normally available, being made at the counter. Varieties of vegetable and fruit, some with the addition of spices. A spicy carrot and tomato juice is fantastic as it will contain ginger and cumin but classics such as fresh berry juice with strawberries, blackberries and blueberries are also very popular
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Vegetarian
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