After our trip to the oriental supermarket I had in mind to use up some of the things I bought for last night's dinner in a different way.
I decided to make a thai chicken noodle broth. I had some organic chicken drumsticks in the freezer which needed eating up and I thought poaching them and shredding them in soup would be great and also I could use up some more of the greens we bought to go with last night's dinner and a piece of ginger that was starting to look a little fatigued. My recent store cupboard clear out had revealed thai fish sauce and minced lemon grass in a squeezy tube so it was all there to be used.
I was so bewitched by the chillis we bought. They are so beautiful as you can see and I was marvelling at their perfection - each one seemed like a supermodel of a chilli, slim, perfectly shaped, glossy.
But these little red bullets were tricksy! Now, I always taste a little bit of any fresh chilli I buy to gauge the heat as it varies so much even if you are buying the same kind from the same supplier. Nervously, as these are small and thai, I placed a little bit on my tongue and waited for the tingle. It did tingle, but not vastly so I put four of the little monkeys into the wet and dry grinder, along with the fresh ginger and the garlic.
Later on as the chicken was simmering away in it's fragrant broth, I finely sliced more chillis, about four I think, along with the holy basil, coriander and the spring onions.
When the time came, I took the chopping board over to the pan and scrapped the chillis and the onions into the broth. A small sliver of red chilli remained behind so I popped it into my mouth. Oh my.
The chilli was a real scorcher. Now, I am quite accustomed to chilli, you can't live with dear Dom for 10 years and not be - he's a really chilli addict and they, and various chilli sauces find their way into many dishes in this house. Including things where they really SHOULDN'T be but don't get me started on that. But this one was... well, shall we say beyond uncomfortable? And I had put about eight of them into my soup! The milder one I tasted initially was laughing at me from the broth along with it's seven sizzling sisters!
Well I thought, at least Dom will be happy!
I continued to make the soup and called the boy through for lunch, steeling myself and my taste buds for the assault to come.
Even he admitted it was VERY hot soup and we both had to blow our noses several times whilst eating it. But it was so hot it was funny and actually despite that was really delicious. We sort of smiled and laughed and slurped and gasped our way through it. My eyes even watered at one point and Dom had a few coughs as it hit the back of his throat, over and over again!
I won't give the recipe dear reader for fear of doing you an injury. But if any hardened chilli fans wants to leave me a post and request I will email you the details.
And joy of joys, there is more left over to have for tomorrow's lunch at work. I must remember to take some tissues...
What a great little story! You were really leading me on, it sounded so delicious............. and delicate.......... and then bam! Hot, hot, hot! I'm sure this story wasn't as entertaining for you as it is for us readers!
Posted by: vanessa | 06 February 2008 at 01:52 PM
Was indeed a great story - very funny for us readers though poor you with sniffingly chilli noses! I heeded the warning about those tricksy chilli's last night. I was using harissa paste for the first time and remembered your story so added it just a little at a time. Just as well cause it was very hot.
Love Janice xxx
Posted by: Janice Robertson | 08 February 2008 at 01:17 PM