This is phenomenal. Especially if you like fresh Thai salads like green papaya salad or vermicelli salad.

The spaghetti squash makes an interesting substitute for noodles in this cooling salad. Great for a hot summer day.

serves 4

• 1 small Spaghetti Squash, roasted whole to tender 45 minutes to an hour in a 400 degree oven

While it is still hot, cut it in half. Remove seeds. Remove spaghetti strands with a fork into a bowl. Get what you can and allow the rest to cool for easy removal later.

Add:

• 1-2 T fresh butter
• Pinch salt
• Pinch fresh cracked black pepper
• 1 small onion, sliced thin and rinsed under cold water

This is really easy to make and handy to have in the kitchen. A mainstay in Burmese kitchens it results in two great additions for salads. Crispy golden fried garlic and garlic-turmeric infused oil.

Method:
Peel and slice thinly as much garlic as you would like to have available. I suggest 2 heads of garlic to make the exercise worthwhile.

• Fill a heavy bottomed pan with enough oil to deep fry the garlic.
  
• Add a teaspoon or so of turmeric
• When it starts to sizzle slightly add the garlic
• Stir occasionally and keep an eye on the garlic. It is quite easy to burn at this point
• When it begins to get golden and before it starts turning black, quickly take the garlic out of the oil and drain on paper towels
• Allow to cool and store it in an air-tight jar. This crispy fried garlic will keep indefinitely stored in this manner
• When the oil has cooled store it in a jar in a cool place

Use it for flavoring your hand-tossed Burmese salads!

This makes a nice breakfast. It has a powerful punch of nutrients and energy. It is also just a really nice salad and can be served hot or warm.

Serves 4

• 3 free range eggs
• 4-5 cloves garlic, sliced or pounded
• 2 small onions, sliced
• 1 inch ginger, grated or pounded
• 1-2 T oil or butter or both
• 1 t turmeric
• 1 t chili powder
• 1 t cumin seeds, ground
• 1 t coriander seeds, ground
• 1 avocado, diced
• 3 T toasted sesame seeds
• 2 tomatoes, diced
• lime juice to taste
• 1 bunch cilantro, roughly chopped
• salt and pepper to taste

Lightly steamed homegrown green beans are delicious with cream cheese and balachaung

Serves 2-4

• 500g (1 lb) green beans
• ¼ c homemade cream cheese
• ¼ c peanut balachaung
• ½ lime’s juice
• salt to taste

Method:
Blanch green beans and drain. While hot add the cream cheese and toss until it has melted and coated the beans. Add balachaung, lime juice and salt to taste.

Luke Nguyen tells us all about eating tomatoes in Myanmar

This is a signature hand tossed Burmese salad. Variations can be found all around Myanmar.

Burmese salads are always thrown together fresh, the last minute possible before being served. Quick fingers toss and blend the salad, adding the personal touch of the creator into the mixture.

Serves 4

• 4-5 tomatoes, de-seeded and sliced
• 1 T turmeric and garlic oil
• 1 small onion, sliced very thin and rinsed in cold water
• 1 T sesame seeds, toasted
• ½ c cabbage, shredded very finely
• 1 lime’s juice
• ½ c peanuts, chopped
• 1 bunch coriander (cilantro) roughly chopped
• salt or fish sauce to taste

In Myanmar this salad is usually made with star-beans* or snake-beans and is another of their famous hand-tossed salads.

Serves 4

• 500g (1lb) star beans or green beans
• 1 small onion, sliced very thin and rinsed under cold water
• 1 T sesame seeds, toasted
• 1 T garlic and turmeric oil
• 1 lime’s juice
• ½ c peanuts, chopped
• salt or fish sauce to taste
• 1 or 2 hot green chilis, sliced (optional)

Method:
Blanch green beans and cut into about 1 inch lengths. Toss the ingredients together with your hands at the last minute before you serve to your guests. In some areas of Myanmar it is said that the Chef’s hands themselves add the secret ingredient to these famous hand tossed salads.