Thai recipe and palm sugar

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Can I use ordinary sugar instead as I can't get palm sugar? Will it make a huge difference to my green curry? And do I have to adjust quantities? TIA

If you have brown sugar, use that instead. I've swapped in the past and it has been fine. No need to adjust quantities.

Use dark brown sugar if you have that and use the same amount.

Palm sugar is available in Waitrose.

It's in Waitrose is it? I got mine in a Chinese supermarket.

Good to know I can get it more easily

Ordinary sugar is pefectly fine - it's what a lot of Thai people do in their day to day cooking. The trick, I find, is adding more than you would consider normal - green curries are supposed to be sweet

Oh, just thought, we have a Chinese supermarket nearby and they would probably stock it. Thanks for the tip about the dark brown sugar though as I always have that in the house for baking :)

No worries, have you already made it? [bsmile]

No its for a dinner for friends on Sunday night. Will let you know how it turns out. I've made green curries before but am experimenting with different recipes

Don't bother buying it specially for a curry - you'll end up with a bag of rock hard palm sugar bricks at the back of your cupboard (voice of experience, and I cook a lot of Thai). I think it only really comes into its own when you use it in Thai salad dressings ('yam's) and traditional dishes like 'som tam'. In our climate the stuff ends up being way too hard, which can be overcome by pounding or few seconds in the microwave, but for curries the hassle factor just isn't worth it.

Between dark brown and plain white, I'd always go for the plain white too. If you go to a chinese supermarket, much more important to get proper fish sauce (squid brand) and Thai sweet basil (horapa) to make it authentic

Yes let me know how it goes then pass the recipe on [bwink]

I bought my palm sugar as a hard rock. I just grate off amount needed.

Mmm might have to make pad thai tonight!

Thanks for the advice oricella. I go to the wholesalers for the Thai basil as its much cheaper there. Am off to check my brand of fish sauce now

Love Thai food!

Have checked but apart from 'Fish Sauce' and 'made in Thailand',I can't read it. The label is in Chinese, Thai and something that looks like Arabic

Anyway, its a fairly new bottle so I'll use it anyway!

I've always substituted honey for palm sugar - think I saw it on a cookery show once

You're proably fine if you can't read the label - very jealous of you having access to the wholesalers for fresh herbs.. make sure you get the sweet Thai basil; holy basil is very different and not generally used for curries

have a good party

Thanks oricella! Will check when I buy it