Product Review: Verve Culture Green Curry Thai for Two

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Hello There Loyal Fans and Followers!

I have something I want to share with you, but first of all,Full Disclosure…..
By no means  do I receive any compensation or product endorsement from any company, but I am always happy to find extremely  the excellent products in which I think most people could benefit from.

One of this such finds is Thai for Two Curry Kits from Verve Culture.

Verve Culture is a women-run business spanning three generational groups from Baby Boomer, Gen X, to Millennial. We are in constant pursuit of life travelled fully. As founders,a mother and daughter team and have worked together for 25 years in the gift industry. After becoming disillusioned with the mass produced products prevalent in the marketplace, we started to seek products that were more unique and have actual heart and soul.

Verve Culture’s concept is about Culture Exploration and is not product specific. They curate iconic items that are made in the country of origin using traditional practices.  They also work with a team of amazing artisans and craftsmen from around the world that are proud to share their stories of heritage and passion.

They are committed to offering an inside view of how certain tools and tastes can create memorable experiences with friends and family. Beautiful, purposeful, authentic and respectful of the people who make the items, is at the heart of Verve Culture’s  philosophy. Each of  their kitchen, homeware and gourmet food products comes with the story of where it is made, by whom, and the history of the item.  Verve Culture believe that exposure to new cultures and experiences brings joy.

And with that being said, I was intrigued to try some of their epicurean food offerings.  Earlier this year, they were offering a special deal on buying four meal kits  and receiving one for free, with free shipping. Given the COVID-19 Pandemic and I was missing the entrees and soups from my favorite Thai restaurant, I took a chance to see what these products were all about. In the past, I have tried meal kit services like Plated, Home Chef, and Blue Apron with mixed success.

So I decided to try the Green Curry , which is is one of the most recognizable and iconic dishes from Thailand. It is both gently soothing and packed with flavor.  Verve Culture  work with an organic farm in Thailand to give the consumer  authentic green curry ingredients that are hard to get – seasonings and herbs, like kaffir lime leaves and Thai green chile peppers  that makes the meal deliciously, authentically Thai. This kit is unbelievably easy to make.  Along with the pre-packaged items in the kit, you can add your own protein and vegetables, follow the easy directions, and in less than ten minutes you’ll have your first bite. ……..and it is a delicious one, leaving you wanting more.

The Thai Green Curry Meal Kit includes:

  • Instructions
  • Organic dried herbs
  • Organic green curry seasoning
  • Organic green curry paste
  • Organic coconut milk

Straight from the source
Verve Culture worked with a USDA-certified organic farm in Thailand that yields fresh, pure produce like kaffir lime leaf, galangal, and lemongrass. This farm uses renewable resources and conserves the fertility of their soil and water to preserve the environmental quality for future generations.

Everyone-friendly
These Thai kits are organic, vegan, gluten-free, and sustainably-made. They’re easy, convenient, and healthy – and not to mention gift-worthy thanks to the beautiful drawstring bag! Perfect for date night or a hostess gift at your next dinner party.

You’ll have date nights and family nights covered with our Thai cooking kits. Check out the rest of them here.

Meet the Farmers
Verve Culture partnered with Somkiat and Pornpan – a couple who met in university studying Food Engineering. Their family is dedicated to sharing the true taste of Thailand from their organic farm, and only use pure ingredients without fillers. Learn more about them here.

Ingredients: Ingredients:
Organic Coconut Milk, Organic Sugar, Organic Green Chili,  Salt, Organic Rice Bran Oil, Organic Garlic, Organic Shallot, Organic Galangal, Organic Lemongrass, Organic Coriander Leaves, Organic Dried Sweet Basil Leaves, Organic Kaffir Lime Rind, Organic Dried Kaffir Lime Leaves, Organic Dried Sliced Chili, Acidity Regulators (Citric Acid (INS330)).
* Contains Coconut
* Manufactured in a facility that uses peanut ingredients.

Thai Green Curry is known for its spicy, tangy and pungent flavor, enriched with the fresh taste of coconut milk and kaffir limes leaves. 

Here is my offering of the meal kit. I opted to use boneless, skinless chicken thighs as my protein. Broccoli, green beans, and julienned carrots along with a few fresh serrano chilies and mini red bell peppers were my vegetables of choice.

Basically, everything in Verve Culture’s Thai for Two Organic Green Curry cooking kit comply with global standards for organic certified ingredients.

6 EAST STEPS FOR AUTHENTIC GREEN CURRY

  1. Heat 1 Tbsp vegetable oil in a wok or saucepan over medium heat and fry Organic Green Curry Paste for 1 minute to release the aroma. Use less paste to make the final dish less spicy.
  2. Add the Organic Coconut Milk and stir until the oil starts separating on the surface.
  3. Add 1 1/4 (150 ml) water. Bring to a boil.
  4. Add Organic Green Curry Seasoning. Mix well for about 2 minutes.
  5. Add your desired meat or protein and cook for 3-4 minutes. Add desired vegetables. Stir the mixture for another 2-3 minutes until cooked.
  6. Add Organic Dried Herbs, and mix well together.

Serve with jasmine rice, and enjoy!

Simple Green Curry combination suggestions:

  • Chicken, broccoli and green beans
  • Chicken, asparagus, broccoli and spring onions
  • Shrimp, zucchini and sugar snap peas
  • Tofu, green beans, broccoli and green peppers
  • Tofu, asparagus and green beans

For the more adventurous palate…

    • Thai eggplant is round, green, and found in most Asian markets. Occasionally you will also find Pea Eggplant there too. When cooked, both of these eggplants become softer and absorb the flavor of the sauce.
      thai-eggplant pea-eggplant
    • Bok Choy and Chinese Broccoli are traditional and nutrient dense vegetable additions to Thai curry, and are available in most supermarkets
      bok-choy        chinese-broccoli

The best thing about Verve Culture’s  Thai for Two cooking kits is that you can customize them in countless ways. Use all the vegetables that are in the fridge. Take advantage of that great deal on pork at the supermarket. Use tofu or seitan on meatless Monday. The possibilities are endless, and totally up to you!

To be perfectly honest, this was one of the best meal kits I ever had. It was so easy to make that any home cook on any level from beginner to completely experienced, will find it a pleasure. It is also great for kids who are just learning to cook as well.

The basic kit cost $12.00 each, which comes down to $6.00 per serving. A few other kits cost about $15.00. This price range is reasonable for most home cook’s budgets. It is also the perfect meal kit to use in family activity in teaching kids how to cook a simple meal.

The packaging provides for shelf stable products. The coconut milk is vacuumed sealed in a pouch as wells as the other ingredients like the green curry paste, the dried herbs and seasonings are also packaged separately and labeled for you convenience.

On a scale of 1 to 5 with 5 being the rating that is the best ever, this meal kit is a 5, ten times over. It was really that good. Authentic Thai to a tee……

Just so, you know, that in the  past two months, these kits have become very popular.

So , just a note, go to the Verve Culture website and pre-order today! This flavor is currently sold out and will be back in stock in limited quantities in late September. Order today to reserve your Green Curry Cooking Kits. Be sure to check out our other flavors which are still available (but selling fast!).

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Thank You!

Roasted Red Pepper, Chickpea, and Spinach Curry

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Photo Credit: One Green Planet, 2018

 

Sometimes we need simple food to fill our souls. For a Meatless Monday, this Indian inspired curry is to die for! Chickpeas and spinach are blanketed in a rich, red pepper and coconut sauce. Not only is it spicy and fragrant, it is also good for you. If you’re looking for something that is rich in iron, look no further. What more could you want in a dish that will delight your palate and fill you up at the same time?

Adapted from Sonia Trurnit
One Green Planet, 2018

Serves 4

Ingredients
3 to 4 large red bell peppers
3 tablespoon olive oil
1 red onion, diced
3 cloves of garlic, diced
Kosher salt, to taste
Ground black pepper, to taste
1 1/3 cups coconut milk
2 1/2 tablespoons cornstarch
A pinch of smoked paprika
1 1/4 cups  canned chickpeas
1 cup baby spinach, washed and dried
3/4 cup cherry tomatoes

Directions:
Preheat the oven to 425°F.

Line a baking sheet with foil. Place the bell pepper on the foil. Put the bell peppers in the oven for about 30 minutes and roast until charred. Place the bell peppers in a plastic bag and allow to cool until they can be easily handled. Remove skin, seeds, and stems, then set aside.

While the bell peppers are roasting, heat up a pan on medium high and sauté the onion and garlic in the olive oil until golden brown Season to taste with salt and pepper, then set aside.

To a blender add the peppers, onion and garlic, coconut milk, cornstarch, and smoked paprika; blend until well combined. Adjust the seasoning, if needed with salt and pepper.

Heat the oven to at 390°F.

Transfer the vegetable mixture to a medium sized Dutch oven or a large cast iron skillet. Add chickpeas, spinach and halved tomatoes and bake in the oven for about 30 minutes. Remove from the oven and stir.

Serve with rice or freshly baked naan.

Sunday Indian Omelette

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Because of the Blizzard of 2016, it was snow day and I was stuck in the house with limited options, given the local media stations  had been covering the snowstorm for a straight 48 hours. Well, I took advantage of the snow day by watching  a couple of movies and among the choice of selections was “The Hundred-Foot Journey”, a 2014  film adapted from Richard Morais’ 2010 novel of the same name, that  tells the story of a feud between two adjacent restaurants in a French town: one operated by a recently relocated Indian family and the other a Michelin-starred restaurant.

Despite the movie starring Academy Award®-winner Helen Mirren, Om Puri and Manish Dayal, the  real stars of the movie were the 27 eye opening and mouth watering dishes, with so  many of them that were created by Chef Floyd Cartoz, who served as a consultant on the film.

CChef-Floyd-Cardoz-at-The-Bo.jpghef Cartoz, was the  2011 winner  of Top Chef Masters. His own life story is somewhat reminiscent of the film’s main character, Hassan Kadam.  Chef Cartoz was  born in India, migrated to the United States and had a hard time transitioning. He eventfully found work and he currently works as an executive chef  at White Street, located in Tribeca, New York. Drawing from his extensive culinary experience, Chef Cartoz was instrumental in bringing the foods in the novel alive on screen.

Omelette or Omelet, no matter how it is spelled or you call it, we can all agree that this French dish has an international appeal. If you’ve seen the movie,  then you may recall the scene  where Hassan made an Omelette aux Fines Herbes  with Indian spices, for Madam Mallory. It was divine.  And  at that moment, being a totally foodie, I fell in love with the cooking and presentation of my favorite dish from the film, the omelette.

It was the Sunday Indian Omelette, to be exact, which   is a  a part of a traditional Sunday morning breakfast in India.  This dish is extremely popular in The union territory of Puducherry, which was a  French colony for around 200 years, making French cuisine a strong influence in the area.  The sellers would walk around the neighborhood, calling out – “omelette, omelette”, a sign to let the community know they were open for business. It’s usually eaten alone or sometimes in between a piece of naan, making something akin to a breakfast sandwich. If you are passionate about cooking, like me and if you love eggs, may I  suggest that you try this omelette…… because I thoroughly enjoyed it, and the dish left me feeling happy with a full stomach on a snowy day.

Enjoy!

Adapted from Chef Floyd Cartoz, 2014

Serves 4 to 6

Ingredients:
2 cups onions, minced
2 scallions, thinly sliced
1  small Serano chili, seeded and finely minced
2 cups fresh cherry tomatoes, diced
1/2 bunch of cilantro, washed and roughly chopped
1 Tablespoon turmeric
1 Tablespoon Vadouvan French Masala Curry
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper, or to taste
4 Tablespoons coconut or canola oil
12 eggs
Kosher salt, to taste
Ground black pepper, to taste
Clarified butter, for serving

 

Directions:
In a large bowl combine the onion, scallions,tomatoes, cilantro, salt and mix well. Split vegetable mixture into 6 equal parts.

In a another bowl, combine the turmeric, vadouvan, cayenne pepper and black pepper with the eggs.

For each omelette that will be made, take about 1/4  cup of the spiced eggs and add it to one part of the vegetables and mix well in a small bowl with a fork.

Heat a medium size non-stick pan over moderate heat and 1/2 tablespoons coconut oil and heat until shimmering. Pour the egg mixture into the pan  and gently swril the pan to spread the eggs evenly. Stir gently with a fork, lifting the bottom to allow the uncooked eggs to flow underneath. Cook for 2 to  3 minutes. Reduce heat and let eggs cool until it sets. The eggs should not set too quickly or take on too much color.

Once the eggs are almost completely set, that is, they can no longer be stirred, give the pan a good shake or tap. Lift the pan almost vertically. With the aid of a fork or spatula, fold the omelette in half and slip it onto a plate, folding it again onto itself. Brush the top of the omelette with clarified butter before serving.

Repeat with the rest of the egg mixture.

Serve immediately.

 

TODAY.com Parenting Team FC Contributor