Songkran Festival

Songkran is a Thai traditional New Year which starts on April 13 every year and lasts for 3 days.  Songkran festival on April 13 is Maha Songkran Day or the day to mark the end of the old year, April 14 is Wan Nao which is the day after and April 15 is Wan Thaloeng Sok which the New Year begins.

            Songkran means “movement” or “changing” since according to Thai astrology, the sun will move into a new sign of the Zodiac on this day.  Songkran is also called the “Water Festival”.  Water is believed to flow and wash away all bad omens during this time.  Thus, it is a time for cleaning; houses, villages, temples and spirit houses.    

            In the Thai tradition, the New Year begins early in the morning when faithful Thai Buddhists give alms to Buddhist monks.  After that, they release caged animals, especially birds and fish.  Elders and parents will be visited and respected by their children and grandchildren.  The young pour scented water over their elder’s hands, they in return, wish them good health, happiness and prosperity.  This tradition of paying respect, is called “Rod Nam Dam Hua”.    April 14 is called “Family Day”.

Thai Food

Pad Ga-prao

 is one of the most common dishes in Thailand. It’s usually served as a one-dish meal, a quick meal eaten over rice, and is usually topped with a fried egg. This recipe is for a ‘one-dish meal’ sized portion. If you plan on making this as a dish to serve with others for a shared meal, double the recipe. Unfortunately, it’s hard to get Holy Basil outside of Thailand, so most restaurants in the West substitute with Thai Basil, which isn’t as good in this dish. Pad Ga-prao can be made with ground or sliced chicken, beef or pork using this same recipe. 

Ingredients:

-220g Lean chopped or ground meat (it can be chicken, pork, beef, etc, or even fresh mixed seafood)

-1 tbsp Fresh chopped garlic

-Chillies, cut in half, or on an angle (amount & variety up to your heat tolerance)

-1 cup Holy basil leaves, fresh

-1 tbsp/ 20ml Oil for frying

-1 tbsp/20ml Soy sauce (Thai 'golden mountain' or 'healthy boy' is great)

-1 tbsp/20ml Oyster sauce (Thai Maekrua is awesome!)

*Fried egg (to put on top of the rice)

*Steamed rice 

Thai Food Preparations:

1. Heat a little oil in a frying pan, wok or sauteuse

2. Fry garlic until golden over medium heat

3. Add chopped/minced meat or seafood

4. Stir-fry a minute or two until almost cooked.

5. Add oyster sauce, soy sauce, basil leaves and chilli

6. Fry the egg

7. Serve on a plate with steamed rice. Put the fried egg on top of the rice.