| Mother Teresa allegedly said: "It is impossible to | | | | (prawns) |
| walk rapidly and be unhappy". All generalisations | | | | Method |
| are slightly suspect, perhaps - well, almost all, | | | | Soak the rice noodles in boiling water for the time |
| anyway :-)! Nevertheless, Mother Teresa's words | | | | specified on the packet while preparing the sauce. |
| point to a fundamental aspect of our humanity | | | | Drain. |
| that we tend to overlook: when you feel good in | | | | Heat the oil in a wok over high heat. Add the |
| your skin, you simply can't feel nearly as | | | | garlic and as soon as it starts to turn golden, add |
| miserable as you otherwise might. | | | | the chillies, then the green curry paste, stirring |
| Mind and body are intimately connected. If one | | | | constantly. |
| feels even halfway good, the other is bound to | | | | When the curry paste starts to smell fragrant, |
| feel better as a result. So, while I'm the first to | | | | throw in the asparagus and keep stirring for |
| acknowledge my smallness in the great scheme | | | | another minute or two. Once the asparagus turn |
| of things, I'd like to offer my own take on this | | | | a brighter green and begin to soften, add the lime |
| idea of connection and well-being. "It is impossible | | | | leaves, Thai sauce and sugar. |
| to eat good Thai green curry and be unhappy." | | | | Add the prawns and cook stirring for a minute or |
| When your lips are tingling with the perkiness of | | | | so, until the prawns heat up and the asparagus |
| Thai chillies and your palate is still resonating with | | | | are cooked through but still slightly crisp under |
| the clear, fragrant, harmonious flavours, it's | | | | your teeth. |
| impossible not to feel a sense of visceral | | | | Now, throw in the noodles and keep tossing and |
| contentment. | | | | turning everything until the noodles are |
| Serves 3 - 4 | | | | impregnated with all the flavours of the sauce. |
| 225 g/ 8 oz rice noodles | | | | Turn into a serving dish and either serve |
| 2 tbs vegetable oil | | | | immediately, or serve later at room temperature. |
| 2 or 3 garlic cloves | | | | This dish is delicious hot and possibly even better |
| 1 green bird chilli, seeded and finely chopped | | | | the next day at room temperature. If you ever |
| 125 g/ 4 oz thin asparagus (heads intact, stalks | | | | want to curry favour with a loved one by |
| chopped into 1cm/ ½ inch pieces) | | | | providing him/her with a delicious lunch box, you |
| 1 tbs Thai green curry paste | | | | can be sure of doing so with this noodle dish. |
| 1 stalk lemon grass (outer layer removed and | | | | Note: There are different qualities of rice noodles, |
| chopped fine) | | | | just as there are different qualities of pasta. If |
| 4 kaffir lime leaves, finely chopped | | | | you are fortunate enough to have the choice, |
| 3 tbs Thai fish sauce | | | | experiment with different brands until you come |
| 2 tsp sugar (palm sugar) | | | | up with one that you particularly like. |
| 225 g/ 8 oz small, cooked, peeled shrimp | | | | |