Lemongrass Chicken

The chicken in this tangy dish is covered with flavorful chunks of garlic, ginger, and lemongrass. Its easy to make, and its strong flavor complements rice and steamed vegetables.

Lauki Kofta

Lauki kofta is a fairly uncommon in the US, but it is a delicious, savory vegetarian dish. It is similar to meatballs in gravy, but without the meat. Kofta are generally ground meat kebabs, and the name has also been applied to this combination of besan (chickpea flour) and lauki . The English name is for lauki is "bottlegourd", but not really since no one will know what you're talking about. Its a green squash that is somewhere between a cucumber and a zucchini, but a lot bigger. (I forgot to take a picture of a whole one - you can google for one).

Mango Chicken

This mango chicken dish combines sweet and sour flavors. The sauce is made mostly of mangoes and roasted red peppers which give it an intense red color. I battered and fried the chicken, but you can save time by just stir frying it.

Rice Cakes

These rice cakes are a good use of leftover rice, and a quick and simple snack or light meal. These are different than the flavorless puffed rice disks that you find in the grocery store.

Larb

Larb is a Laotian minced meat dish that is commonly found in Thai restaurants. The meat is mixed with onions and seasoned with lime juice, fish sauce, and herbs. Any kind of meat can be used, and it can be a meal by itself or a dish in a larger meal. I made this after having some at a restaurant, and being disappointed in the intensity of the flavors.