Troy McNaughtonNyaw - pumpkin!
August 19th 2006 02:14
What's orange and green and makes a noise like a dessert?
Thai custard pumpkin!
No, in fact the 'Mer'cans (merkins, tee-hee) weren't the first to combine this particular vegetable with sugar and pass it off as a delicacy. Then again the 'Mer'cans weren't the first to do much at all. Them and the Aussies are the bastard children of far more established empires - and just as my younger sisters have realised, the elder has to die before the younger ever catches up, so there is no cred in sight there.
And I'm not talking about pumpkin scones, because as long as you close your eyes, there is even less pumpkin influence there than there is banana influence in banana cake. I don't eat banana, including banana flavoured icecream etc, but dangle a piece of banana cake in front of me and I'll sit, shake and ... no actually I probably won't roll over - you'd need the whole cake for that.
Anyway, apart from 'Mer'can pumpkin pie, we don't get pumpkin used so readily outside being steamed or baked - the former being really only acceptable with cheese and bacon. *slather slather*
In the UK, pumpkin is considered pigs' food, and they wouldn't dream of chucking it into the baking pan with a nice leg of Australian lamb. They're quite happy to eat peas and sausages out of a can though... backwards cuisine if ever there was one.
So anyway, in a large Bangkok mall (MBK - the closest thing to a permanent indoor bazaar you will find - you can barter to your little heart's desire) we were pointing and looking puzzled at these strange delicacies, and by the time we'd interpreted what the guy was trying to tell us (it did NOT sound like pumpkin), we had taken up enough of his time for us to be obliged to buy some.
We tried to buy one, but apparently we made his night because we got two.
Greeeeeat we thought - this could be horrendous.
Then we didn't sit far enough away from the stall to screw up our noses in peace.
Never fear, however, because the custard with the cooked pumpkin actually works very well. The stringy, fibrous texture of the pumpkin works quite well and the flesh comes away from the skin easily and satisfyingly - but thank god the Thai use forks instead of chopsticks or we might have been in trouble.
Quite a rich dessert, the mystery Miss E and I give crazy Thai custard pumpkins two thumbs up - put a bit of cinnamon in the mix and I think we have a real winner!
| 105 |
| Vote |
Subscribe to this blog
Comment by edward
Rocky's Running Diary
I'm so jealous though, I can't wait for Thailand!
Comment by amy
Just need some of their magic lime... It makes the dish/drink every time - from cocktails to pad thai to mulberry pancakes.
Comment by edward
Rocky's Running Diary
Haven't tried that place, you recon it's good? Will have to go, then!
Mulberry pancakes; a typical Thai dish I presume?
Comment by ag
Eat French Bread
I had a pumpkin-cinnamon brownie once and it was rad.
Comment by amy
I will not rest until I try such a thing! And you know how I feel about cinnamon...
My latest problem with my favourite regular haunt, Cafe Ella in Redfern, is that their brownies taste like marzipan. Not very satisfying when you really just need rich chocolately goodness.