Plenty of people look for braised pumpkin with seaweed to keep a light rice meal from tasting thin. What makes it good is the starchy pumpkin, the soft seaweed and a braising liquid scented with Thai basil. The hard part is that pumpkin breaks down easily, and a few extra minutes will turn it to mush.
The pumpkin is seasoned with mushroom seasoning powder and lightly fried before braising, so the surface sets and each piece keeps its shape. The pot stays covered over the lowest heat for exactly 4 to 5 minutes.
This batch weighs about 1.1kg, at roughly 55 calories per 100g.
Method
Cut 300g pumpkin and the vegetarian cha lua into pieces 2.5 by 4cm. Toss the pumpkin with 1 teaspoon mushroom seasoning powder.
Soak the wakame just until it opens up, then tear it into bite sized pieces. Bruise the bird's eye chilies and green peppercorns. Chop a third of the Thai basil leaves.
Heat the oil, fry the Thai basil leaves until crisp, then fry the pumpkin briefly and drain.
Fry the leek until fragrant, then add the vegetarian cha lua, pumpkin, chili and green peppercorns and toss with 1 teaspoon kOBE Monk Fruit Blend, 1 teaspoon mushroom seasoning powder and 2.5 tablespoons soy sauce.
Add 1 bowl fresh coconut water and 1 bowl cold water, and braise over the lowest heat, covered, for 4 to 5 minutes.
Stir in the seaweed, add 1 tablespoon annatto oil, braise for 2 more minutes and turn off the heat. Scatter the chopped Thai basil and the fried basil leaves over the top.
Tips
Choose a two toned pumpkin with deep orange flesh, which gives denser, sweeter pieces.
Marinate the pumpkin and sear it before braising so it is fragrant, well seasoned and holds together.
Fry the Thai basil crisp first and the pumpkin in the same pan after, as the other way round leaves the basil oily and dull.
Add the seaweed last, since a long soak in the pot leaves it soft and limp.
Keep the lid on while braising, as the trapped steam cooks the pumpkin evenly with little stirring.
Need kOBE Monk Fruit Blend?
The recipe above is sweetened with kOBE Monk Fruit Blend, measured 1:1 like sugar. See the product page or send us a message.