Pandan

Definition: Pandan is a herbaceous tropical plant with long green leaves. In Southeast Asia, pandan leaves are used to lend a unique taste and aroma to many Thai desserts and some drinks. Pandan leaves can also be used to wrap savory foods, such as chicken (see recipe links below). Pandan paste is used in cakes and desserts, as it is sweet and imbues foods with a bright green color. It can be purchased as a ready-to-use paste in Asian specialty stores. If purchased fresh, pandan leaves should be pounded into a paste for use in desserts, adding water sparingly.

Coconut Sugar & Palm Sugar

Coconut and Palm Sugar are actually two different types of sugars. Both are natural sweeteners that come from trees: coconut sugar comes from the buds of coconut tree flowers, while palm sugar is made from the sap of sugar palm tree (also called date palm). Both are collected as sap, and, like North American maple syrup, the sap is then boiled in enormous vats to create either a sugar paste (sold in jars or tins) or rock-like chunks of sugar (see my photos on this page) also known as 'jaggery' (note that jaggery can be made from cane sugar as well - it just means the solid, rock-form of sugar).

Taste: You will find these sugars are not as sickly sweet as refined white sugars (so if using them for cakes or other desserts, you may need to add more to achieve the same level of sweetness). However, I find they have a nice caramel-like taste which is similar to natural molasses, but lighter. You'll definitely enjoy the taste!

Buying Tips: Both coconut sugar and palm sugar are created and sold across most Southeast-Asian countries, including Thailand. You can purchase imported coconut sugar or palm sugar in either the soft paste form or rock form in North American Asian stores (the rock type comes in a plastic package, so you'll be able to see these "cakes" quite clearly - see photo).

When purchasing these sugars: Keep in mind that the names palm sugar and coconut sugar are often used interchangably, even on package labels. That's why it's best, if you are looking for a specific type, to go by the ingredients on the package rather than the title on the label. Aside from Asian stores, you may also be able to find these sugars at many health food stores or gourmet food stores.

Noodles

Definition: Noodles are used in great variety throughout Thailand. While they can be purchased fresh at some Asian stores, it may be more convenient to buy dried, packaged noodles. The typical rice noodle in Thailand, commonly referred to as “Rick Stick”, is long, thin, and flat (as used in Pad Thai, for instance). But Thai chefs also use rice vermicelli noodles, thin egg and wheat noodles, as well as a type of noodle known as “cellophane”. Cellophane (also called “bean thread” or “glass”) noodles are extremely thin and become clear when you cook them. These noodles are especially healthy, as they are made from mung beans instead of rice or wheat.

Also Known As: cellophane rice stick bean thread glass noodles rice vermicelli

Lime leaf, also known as 'kaffir lime leaf', is a key ingredient in Thai cooking as well as other Southeast-Asian cuisines. Note that 'kaffir' is considered a rude word in certain languages, and for this reason it is often omitted these days from most Western packaging, though you will still see it in Asian packaging.

Kaffir Lime Leaf versus Leaves from Lime Trees: Kaffir lime leaves are not the same as leaves from a regular lime tree. Kaffir limes are very different from regular limes in that they are very bitter with bumpy skin. In Thailand, kaffir limes are not consumed but are used mainly in producing household cleaning products. The leaves, however, are very aromatic and can be consumed if cooked or very thinly sliced.

Where to Buy Lime Leaves: Kaffir lime leaves can be purchased fresh, frozen, or dried from Thai or Vietnamese food stores (some Chinese food stores carry them while others do not). A few of the larger regular supermarket chains in the US and Canada are also starting to sell lime leaves - look for them in the fresh herbs section. In Asian food stores, you'll find them either in the fresh produce section alongside the other herbs, or in the freezer section.

Buying Tip: Note that dried lime leaves are not as aromatic or flavorful as fresh or frozen. Lime leaves freeze well, so this is a great way to buy them. One package will last you a year or longer. Take one or two out as you need them, then wrap up the package and return it to the freezer until next time.

Definition: Lime more often than lemon is used in Thai cooking. Key limes are especially common, providing just the right amount of juice squeezed over noodles or soup.

Lemongrass

Definition: Lemongrass provides a fragrant and distinct lemon flavor to many Thai dishes. Thai cooks use the lower, bulbous part of the lemongrass stalk, first slicing it, then usually pounding or crushing before adding it to spice pastes that form the basis of many fish and noodle dishes, soups, and especially Thai curries. Whole bruised lemongrass stalks, cut into lengths of three or four inches, are often added to soups and then removed just before serving.

Jackfruit

Definition: Enormous and prickly on the outside, jackfruit looks somewhat like durian (though jackfruit is usually even larger). Once a jackfruit is cracked open, what you will find inside are pods or "bulbs". Often referred to as the seeds, these bulbs are actually a kind of fleshy covering for the true seeds or pits, which are round and dark like chesnuts. The fleshy part (the "bulb") can be eaten as is, or cut up and cooked. When unripe (green), it is remarkably similar in texture to chicken, making jackfruit an excellent vegetarian substitute for meat. In fact, canned jackfruit (in brine) is sometimes referred to as "vegetable meat".

Jackfruit can also be purchased frozen, dried, or canned either in brine (usually unripe) or in syrup (ripe and sweet). If using fresh jackfruit, it's a good idea to oil your knife and hands first before cutting, as the fruit is very sticky.

Jackfruit contains many vitamins and minerals, and offers numerous health benefits. The fruit's isoflavones, antioxidants, and phytonutrients mean that jackfruit has cancer-fighting properties. It is also known to help cure ulcers and indigestion. For more on Jackfruit, its health benefits, or to make my Thai Jackfruit Curry Recipe (Vegetarian), see links below.

Also Known As: "Khanun" in Thai

Common Misspellings: Jack Fruit