Thai Cooking Class with Chef Ooy, SILK Restaurant, Phuket

The Andara Resort and Villas Phuket offers a wide range of activities to guests whether of a relaxing nature or more adventurous. We are persuaded to sample a cookery class with the lovely Chef Ooy. We find a colourful table set up for us, literally groaning with ingredients, and we are inducted in the trickeries of wrapping prawns in thread noodles. After this it is happy pounding of the spice for the Panang curry paste involving turmeric and coriander root, two kinds of chili, a whole host of garlic, shallot, lemongrass and more. We learn how to cut Japanese tofu, dip it in flour, egg and breadcrumb lightly before making the sauce. Coconut milk is simmered with the paste while teeny amounts of salt, oyster sauce and palm sugar are added to taste. While cooling the sauce turns a vibrant golden yellow from the turmeric. Our prawns and tofu are deep fried in a sizzling wok before being ready to serve with a fresh papaya salad. We earned our lunch for sure!

The Setting

A lovely semi al fresco setting cooled by sea breezes and surrounded by greenery is the setting for the cooking class. Participants are provided with water and a pandan welcome drink as well as paper and pencil to record any notes.

Ingredients for Marinating the Prawns

Preparing the Noodles

Wrapping the Noodles Around the Prawns is Tricky Business

The Finished Prawn Dish – Goong Sarong

Panang
Tao Hoo Taud – Deep Fried Tofu with a Coconut Curry Sauce

Preparation of the chili paste.

Ingredients for the Chili Paste