Lemon grass
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The British have always taken quickly to the flavours of the Orient. Thai cooking, in particular, has grown enormously in popularity and thus introduced us to the fragrant stalks of lemon grass.
It's not exactly a lemon flavour, but the strong scent is noticeably citrus. When you buy lemon grass it looks uninviting but the flavour is sublime. Added to a very English summer fruit compote, it gives a marvellously new dimension and I've also used it to create a very different Vichyssoise.
Serves 6Summer Fruit Compôte scented with Lemon Grass
Predominantly fruit, this is a healthy summery dessert to serve to dieters who often feel they miss out on the pudding front. You can use any fruit combination you like - the lemon grass adds a subtle and intriguing element.
Serves 4Chilled Lemon Grass and Coriander Vichyssoise
Although leeks are the traditional ingredient in a vichyssoise, the inclusion of lemon grass instead gives the soup a wonderful citrusy oriental flavour that really lends itself to serving chilled.
Serves 4Thai Creamed Coconut Chicken
The very good news about this brilliant recipe for busy people is that it's made with ready-cooked chicken. You can, of course, cook the chicken yourself, but either way, it's a quick but excellent supper party dish for four people, and extra special
Serves 2Thai Prawn Curry with Pineapple
This lovely recipe from The Oriental's Cookery School in Bangkok has been slightly adjusted to accommodate Western ingredients without, I think, losing its authenticity. It's incredibly simple and easy and it really does taste exotic and unusual. If
Serves 4Hot and Sour Thai Chicken Broth
A Thai Tom Yum soup full of flavour and with hardly any fat, this lovely recipe is just as good made with prawns.
