Thai Kaju Curry: Noodlebox Guest Feature Series

A few months back Noodlebox Canada invited me to participate in their Guest Feature Series.

It’s a fun and novel idea. Three food experts create a signature dish, using fresh ingredients and bold flavors (true to Noodlebox style), to add to their menu for a short time.

I am one of their feature foodies, and have the privilege of showcasing a flavor-rich and nutrient-abundant vegan dish!

Teaser: this Noodlebox dish is FABULOUS

If you’re unfamiliar with Noodlebox restaurants, they offer a unique style of Southeast Asian street food with locations Vancouver, Vancouver Island, and Alberta. They boast real food, made by hand from fresh ingredients like non-gmo vegetables, and house-made sauces that do not include MSG.

Although the menu is not fully vegetarian/vegan, they have many plant-based options, and make it pretty easy for us to modify dishes.

They also give customers the option to modify the intensity of spice in their dishes. Which I personally love. I enjoy a little heat and a lot of flavor. When it’s too hot-spicy, I cannot taste any of the underlying flavors. So I sure appreciate when a restaurant can adjust this spice level.

When they approached me to create a vegan dish, I wanted to do something that was big on flavor (true to the Noodlebox style) yet not using oil to carry those flavors.

Often restaurant dishes are especially flavorful because they are very liberal with oil. It carries flavors very well, but there are other ways to convey big flavors and offer that sumptuous “mouth feel”.

I had an idea. It worked beautifully… and my Noodlebox feature dish was born!

This THAI KAJU CURRY begins with a healthy house-made sauce of blended cashews, tomato, Thai red curry and key seasonings. Flame-cooked with fresh local vegetables and served with rice noodles and scattered with crunchy sprouts – it’s intensely delicious and oh-so satisfying.

I love pasta and love Asian-inspired sauces. My thanks to Noodlebox for the opportunity to deliver this recipe – now for them to deliver it to you!

It’s available for a week starting Wednesday, August 15th.

Last word: This is the only vegan dish that’s being featured during the series. Please help spread the word and support delicious vegan options! If you’re near a Noodlebox, get out and order the Thai Kaju Curry (or another other vegan dish). If you’re not near one of their locations, please share this post or my facebook, instagram, pinterest, and twitter posts to get the word out. Thank you.

If you do get to try the dish, I’d love to hear from you! x Dreena

food photos credit: Anna Pelzer