Greatest recipes ever: David Thompson’s stir-fried beef with spices

‘It's a complex, beautifully balanced dish that is classically Thai and typically David Thompson, too. Spicy, rich and deeply aromatic, it's a dish that makes every sense sing'

Tom Parker Bowles

Stir-fried beef with spices

Neua pat nahm prik pao kaek

Extract from David Thompson's

Thai Food Published by Pavillion Books in 2002

1tsp coriander seeds 1tsp cumin seeds Pinch of salt 3-4tbsp fish sauce 200g (6oz) rump of beef, sliced into strips 5cm by 2cm (2in by 1in) 1-2tbsp of oil 2-3tbsp chilli jam 5tbsp deep-fried shallots Large pinch-1tsp roasted chilli powder Pinch of ground white pepper Extra 1tbsp fish sauce 1tbsp chopped coriander leaves

Lightly roast the coriander and cumin seeds, then grind them. Mix with salt and fish sauce, and marinate beef in this for a few hours. Heat oil in a wok and stir-fry beef until cooked as preferred-about 2-3 minutes for medium-rare. Turn down the heat and add chilli jam and deep-fried shallots, adding a little water if necessary. Season with chilli powder, pepper and extra fish sauce. Check the seasoning: it should be hot, salty, aromatic from the spices, and sweet and nutty from the deep-fried shallots. Serve sprinkled with chopped coriander leaves.

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