“Ride an elephant to catch a grasshopper…”

…can you imagine anything more ridiculous? This descriptive Thai proverb means, in layman’s terms, that you should always try to keep things simple and use the right tools for the job.

I am all for staying off of the elephant, especially when it comes to food and cooking. There is nothing that turns me off of a recipe more than a huge list of ingredients, the need for equipment that no normal person would have in their kitchen, or long-winded, exhausting cooking techniques. Let’s face it, who has the time, or inclination, to spend all day kneading, proving and faffing in the kitchen? Not me!

As a matter of fact, I have not been graced with a natural talent in the kitchen – just ask my poor guinea pig of a husband! – so am always looking for simple recipes that use creative ingredients to achieve impressive “I’ve spent all day in the kitchen” type results. Fusion Food has therefore become my hero, being the perfect way to disguise my culinary weakness by adding exotic flavours to run-of-the-mill, easy to cook dishes.

This Thai Swimming Rama Pizza is one of my favourite fusion recipes – even I couldn’t mess up a pizza! Simply switch conventional tomato sauce for Thaifusions All-Natural Peanut Sauce on the base. Containing the amazing Thai flavours of freshly ground peanut, coconut, red curry and chilli, the result is simply AROY –that’s “delicious” in Thai!

I am excited to launch Thaifusions All-Natural Sauces on my online cook shop in the UK & EU – (they are also available at Williams-Sonoma and other reputable retailers in the USA). Hand-crafted in small batches to authentic Thai recipes, Thaifusions use only high-quality, natural ingredients and use no artificial colourings or preservatives in their sauces – so what’s not to like?!

Before you get started on your Swimming Rama Thai Pizza, pre-heat the oven to 550°F (290°C). Spread a generous layer of Thaifusions Peanut Sauce onto the pizza base, then brush a little olive oil on the outer rim for a nice golden crust. Add a generous handful of fresh spinach leaves for a touch of colour and tonnes of healthy nutrients – yep, this pizza also contributes towards your five-a-day, bonus!

Now top the pizza with a sprinkle of mozzarella cheese, a handful of cooked chicken pieces and a flourish of roasted red peppers – you can buy these from most supermarkets, or if you are feeling adventurous, roast some at home.

Carefully slide the pizza onto a pre-heated pizza stone, or a lightly oiled baking sheet (the baking sheet will not need pre-heating) and place in the oven. Leave it to bake for 6 to 10 minutes, or until the crust is golden, the cheese has melted and you can resist the wonderful aromas coming from your oven for not a moment longer.

Once cooked, garnish with the crispy onions, crushed peanuts and as many hot red chili flakes as you dare.

I hope you enjoy – Kahp Kuhn Ka!

Have you visited the Arugula & Rocket Online Cook Shop lately? I have recently added some fantastic new lines, including fun Thumbsicle Ice Pop Moulds, amazingly good Flex-Core silicone spatulas, a brilliant 3-in-1 Avocado Knife and super fun Comic Burst Cookie Cutters – so take a look, there’s something for everyone!

Do you have a recipe that you’d like to see on the blog? Have you made one of my recipes that you would love to share? Or have you discovered a great product that you cannot find in the shops? Email me at: info@arugulaandrocket.com – I’d love to hear from you!