Big Momma Thai Stew

Tonight the Vegetables in my Vegetable Draw and the Herbs and Spices in my fridge where all competing for my attention and I could hear them calling to me: 'Pick me! Pick Me!'

The Vegetables are all of the Caribbean kind (Cassava Root, Purple Sweet Potato, Okra, Spinach) and they wanted to be in a big Momma Caribbean Stew. While the Herbs were the delicate Thai Variety (Coriander, Birds Eye Chillies,  Lemongrass, Kafir Lime Leaf, Ginger) and they wanted to be in a little Thai Coconut Soup.

After long deliberating and contemplating, I decided that a Fusion is the only answer. By the way the chicken thighs I was defrosting, didn't mind at all what they became.
Everything will just have to all go into a pot together and make a Caribbean & Thai Fusion Pot.

I am not normally a fan of fusion food and some foods and flavours quite frankly should be left alone and celebrated for what they are, instead of forcing them to go together.
Which is why I resisted the temptation to add spices from the Caribbean as well as the flavours of Thailand into my creation.

So, here are the Ingredients:

200g Chicken Thighs, taken off the bone and diced

1/2 small Cassava Root, peeled and diced into medium chunks

1 Purple Sweet Potato, peeled and cut into large chunks

1 Carrot, peeled and cut into small chunks

a few Cauliflower Florets

a large handful of Spinach,roughly chopped

a large handful of Coriander, roughly chopped

3-4 Birds Eye Chillies, chopped

1 large Spring Onion, sliced

3 Garlic Cloves, minced

1 thumb sized piece of Ginger, minced

6 Kafir Lime Leaves

1 stalk of Lemongrass

1 tsp Palm  Sugar

1 tbs Fish Sauce

500ml Chicken Stock

1 tin of Coconut Milk

Place all the Ingredients into a large Pot... wait not all... keep the Spinach, Spring Onion, Chillies and Coriander until right at the end. Pour over the Chicken stock and Coconut milk and bring to a gentle simmer. Cover with a lid and simmer quietly for 10-15 minutes, check the vegetables are cooked just right with a little bite and freshness retained.

Turn off the heat and gently stir in the Spinach, Spring Onion, Chilli and Coriander. Done is the Big Momma Thai Stew. It tastes just like a Tom Kha Thai Soup but with many more goodies inside :-)