I think my recipe picker is off. To be honest, we usually like 95% of the meals that I make. Maybe they aren’t all home runs, but they are at least good enough to eat – and good enough to eat the leftovers for lunch the next day. But it seems like with the last few choices for Cookbook of the Month, each book has had one of the four recipes that is not-so-great. This is the not-so-great recipe from this book.
Really, it basically tastes like it looks – very bland. And when I think of Thai food, the last thing that comes to mind is bland. And I was so disappointed, because I actually made the full recipe (I usually half recipes since I’m only cooking for 2), and now I have a ton of leftovers. I didn’t really enjoy this meal the first time around, so I’m having a hard time tolerating it the second and third times around. I even tripled the chili sauce from the original recipe, but no such luck. I also added the peanuts – and they only added marginally to the flavor.
I guess they all can’t be winners!
Recipe rating: 2.25 out of 5
Corrie’s Thai-Style Chicken and Veggies
slightly adapted from The Deen Family Cookbook
serves 4
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 medium yellow onion, chopped
1 1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut crosswise into strips
salt and pepper
2 cups chicken broth
1 cup unsweetened coconut milk
1 cup broccoli florets
8 ears canned baby corn, cut in half crosswise
1/2 cup drained canned sliced bamboo shoots
3 tablespoons sweet chili sauce
1 tablespoon Asian fish sauce
juice of 1/2 lime
1 tablespoon cornstarch
cooked rice, for serving
chopped peanuts (optional)
In a medium saucepan, warm the olive oil over medium heat. Add the onion and cook until translucent, 3 to 5 minutes. Add the chicken, season with salt and pepper, and cook until chicken is done. Remove chicken and reserve.
In the same pan, combine the broth, coconut milk, broccoli, baby corn, bamboo shoots, chili sauce, fish sauce and lime juice. Boil gently until the broccoli is crisp tender.
In a small cup, combine the cornstarch with 1 tablespoon water and stir until smooth. Add the cornstarch mixture to the pan and let boil, stirring, until slightly thickened, about 1 minute. Add the chicken back in and simmer until heated through.
Serve over rice and sprinkle chopped peanuts on top, if desired.
beach houses says
Love your Corrie's Thai-Style Chicken and Veggies.. fabulous..
jobs newzealand says
Thanks for the post.. 🙂
stonemaven says
Add ginger, garlic, scallions and a dragon pepper to that mess. I’d throw in a splash of black vinegar too, but I’m addicted to that stuff…
Emily says
Uh oh! Sorry this one didn’t work for you.
Make some more of those buffalo chicken sloppy joes!
Maria says
Sorry it wasn’t a favorite.
Elyse says
Aww, I’m so sorry that this chicken recipe didn’t live up to its tasty sounding name. I know you’ve done a post about this before, but I must say how much I appreciate your honesty in evaluating and posting about recipes that don’t quite pan out. I’m sure the next recipe will be awesome! Sorry I’ve been away from blogging/commenting for so long. I just finished up with my exams and am finally getting around to my google reader 🙂
Gwyn says
Sorry to hear it didn’t turn out, though I have tried some of your other recipes and they were great like you said. I also think the gooey caramel butter bars are very tempting and I will have to try them!!
Gwyn
eatme_delicious says
Sorry to hear that this didn’t turn out so well. Maybe adding some garlic, ginger and/or Thai chili paste would help?
kat says
Sometimes I think curry recipes are often watered down when written for an Anglo audience, I find I’m always adding more stuff to them for flavor.
Grace says
i love that you gave it 2.25–so precise. 🙂
sorry it disappointed, but you’re right–sometimes we do come across a busted recipe.
Debbie says
Sorry to hear you didn’t care for the recipe. I absolutely hate it when that happens. Putting in time and effort and then nothing!!! I know how you feel….I get pretty ticked when this happens so mine would have hit the trash at pronto speed!!!
Kelly says
I should also say I am incredibly jealous of all the cookbooks you have. I have no space whatsoever so I’ve had to stop buying them and rely on the library (which has been fun in and of itself) but occasionally I come across a book from the library that is so good I end up buying it anyway.
Kelly says
I stumbled on your blog after searching for snickerdoodle recipes. Nice job.
♥Rosie♥ says
What a disappointment for you – I just hate that when it happens! Hope the next ones a cracker packed full of flavours.
Rosie x
Sylvie says
I hope your bad spell is over soon! It’s so disappointing when something doesn’t work out as imagined.
Ingrid says
That stinks. I hate when that happens…you look forward to something and then it’s really not so good.
~ingrid
Jean Bugs says
That is such a bummer! I have had mixed success with Paula’s recipes. And it is so disappointing when you expect something wonderful and it so isn’t!!!
Abby says
Bummer. I hate it when that happens. (Usually happens to me when I try Indian food.) But you’re right: the ingredients leave a lot to be desired. And color! It needs color.
We all win and we all lose sometimes. Back to the drawing board!
BMK says
Sorry you didn’t love this one. I generally have good luck with recipes from Paula Deen’s books. Hopefully, your next one will be a winner!
Rosa's Yummy Yums says
I’m so sorry to hear it was bland! This recipe looks dubious; I find that there’s a lack of flavorful ingredients (Thai food incorporates more herbs, roots and spices)….
Cheers,
Rosa
Cassie says
Man, I hate it when that happens. When I saw the title of the recipe I thought it sounded delicious. Don’t let us down, Paula!!