I absolutely love panang curry. If you’ve never tried it, Panang curry is a mild, nutty curry which has the nutty, mellow flavor and texture of roasted peanuts ground right into the curry paste. Here, inspired by Panang curry, I used Whole30 ingredients to make a delicious weeknight dinner. To make a quick Penang that remained Whole30 approved, I combined ready-made Thai Red Curry Paste with some creamy almond butter, plus a little ground coriander and cumin for added flavor. I really love the way the flavors all mend together. The warm, spicy, creamy curry combined with the sweetn ..read more

Nothing beats a big banh mi sandwich on soft, fresh french bread, don’t get me wrong…but, I will save that for the restaurants to do and let’s make a healthier rendition for the weeknights, okay?  What makes a banh mi so absolutely delicious is the combination of fresh herbs, delicious pickled veggies, and the sauce. The actual protein is obviously a big part of it, but the garnish is what gets me. Here is just about the easiest way you can get a banh mi on the table in no time at all. A pork burger infused with thai chiles and fish sauce, an assortment of quick pickled veggies, then a t ..read more

Yummy, yummy! This is my favorite meal I’ve eaten thus far during my current January Whole30 challenge. PACKED full of flavor, filling, and oh-so comforting. I want to make this again TOMORROW.  If you are a thai food lover like me and love big, bold flavors… this dish is for you! Plus, it’s SO easy to make!! Enjoy! Whole30 Thai Basil Beef 2018-01-12 14:48:01 Serves 3 Write a review Save Recipe Print Prep Time 15 min Cook Time 20 min Total Time 35 min Prep Time 15 min Cook Time 20 min Total Time 35 min Ingredients 1.5 lbs. flank steak 2 tbsp. + 1 tsp. avocado o ..read more

If you aren’t a soup lover and you are annoyed with the amount of soups I post during the fall/winter. I apologize. But to be honest, I have so many more soup and stew ideas brewing in my head, I don’t see an end in sight. I am a soup lover, what can I say? I love Red Curry Chicken and I love Chicken Noodle Soup, so this recipe here is an ode to both of those fabulous dishes. It’s like they had a baby together, and a beautiful baby if I say so myself.  This soup is so easy and absolutely full of flavor. It’s warm and cozy, and everything that you want to sit on the couch with and ..read more

It’s ironic that this is called a banh-mi bowl considering that “Banh-mi” is the vietnamese word for “bread”. Ha! But as an American, when I think of a banh-mi, I think of a delicious sandwich filled with all of the delicious flavors of Vietnam. Deliciously marinated and grilled meat,  crisp pickled vegetables, fresh herbs… I mean, I just love banh-mi sandwiches! They are so dang good! A Banh-mi bowl has been on my list of things to make for awhile now and I am so glad I finally got around to it. You guys are going to just love this recipe and it is perfect for summer gri ..read more

Hello Thai food, we meet again. These Thai Red Curry Lettuce Cups are so tasty, easy and perfect for either a weeknight meal or even a fun appetizer when entertaining! I made them as an appetizer for friends the other day and served them with my Mongolian Beef Stirfry for a fantastic, Whole30 approved meal and they all loved it!  I always keep curry pastes and coconut milk in my pantry so that I can whip up delicious thai food whenever I want and I highly recommend you do the same. Whole30 approved meals never have to lack flavor and spunk if you keep your pantry stocked with whole3 ..read more

Collard greens are the new black you guys, or at least over here on The Defined Dish it is! haha.  Recently, I posted How to Make Perfect Collard Wraps and you all loved it! I totally enjoyed watching you all make your own creations in your kitchens (thanks for sharing with me) and I had to up my game a bit and let me tell you folks.. this recipe is SO fun and so good! And really, could it be any better for summertime? Next time you are heading to or hosting a pool party, make these in advance and watch everyone ooh and ahh over how fun and delicious they taste. Plus, the ..read more

Penang (also called Panang) curry is a mild, nutty curry which is basically made up of a Thai red curry with the addition of Peanut Butter. To make my Penang Whole30/Paleo approved, full of flavor, but also easy to whip up I took some short cuts. But rest assured, its still one heck of a meal, trust me! You all know how I like to keep it simple and flavorful, so here is how I did it. To make a quick Penang, I combined ready made Thai Red Curry Paste with some creamy almond butter, a little ground coriander and cumin and voila! Paleo Penang paste like WOAH ..read more

For all of you Pho lovers that want a pho fix without all of the time that goes into it, here is a great way to get it…my pho in 15 minutes. Literally, this pho only takes 15 minutes to make and I love whipping this up when I have tons of fresh herbs leftover from one of my herby Thai recipes.  I always have bonafide provisions bone broth in my fridge/freezer at all times. I love the depth of flavor the beef one provides and I have found it is perfect for a quick pho fix. All you need is all the garnishes, a few few things to enhance the flavor of the broth and voila! You have yours ..read more