Recipes ✦ Inspiration
Yes, Thami Letto is extraordinary on rice. That is what it was born to do. But once you have a jar on the counter, you will start putting it on everything. Here are seven ways to use it that might surprise you.
The classic preparation is simple. Freshly cooked rice, two generous spoonfuls of Thami Letto mixed all the way through, topped with fresh coriander, sliced onion and a squeeze of lime. That is the dish. That is the tradition. But Thami Letto is made from roasted peanuts, sesame seeds, fried onions, gram flour and Burmese spices. Those ingredients do not only belong on rice.
Here are seven ways we use it beyond the bowl.
Toast with a Fried Egg
This is what our mornings look like. Toast a thick slice of sourdough, fry an egg until the whites are set and the yolk is still runny, then spoon Thami Letto directly onto the toast before placing the egg on top. The heat from the egg warms the oil in the jar mixture and the whole thing becomes something deeply, unexpectedly wonderful.
✦ Use the fish version for the fullest flavour. Finish with a few drops of hot sauce if you want heat.
Noodles Instead of Rice
Any noodle works. Egg noodles, rice noodles, soba, even instant ramen noodles drained of their sachet. Cook your noodles, drain well, and mix Thami Letto through while still warm. The noodles pick up the oil and spice beautifully. Add a soft boiled egg, some shredded spring onion and you have a proper lunch in under ten minutes.
✦ Rice noodles are closest to the original Htamin Let Thok tradition. Soba noodles add an earthy nuttiness that pairs brilliantly with the vegan version.
Scrambled Eggs
Make your scrambled eggs as you normally would, low and slow with butter. In the last thirty seconds, stir through a heaped teaspoon of Thami Letto and take off the heat. The residual warmth is enough to bloom the spices without cooking out the flavour. Serve on toast or straight from the pan. It is one of the best things you can do to scrambled eggs.
✦ The vegan version works particularly well here if you are cooking for someone avoiding fish.
Chicken Marinade
Mix two tablespoons of Thami Letto with a squeeze of lemon juice and a little extra oil to loosen it. Coat chicken thighs thoroughly and leave to marinate for at least an hour, ideally overnight. Grill or bake as normal. The peanuts and gram flour form a crust, the spices penetrate the meat, and the result is something that tastes like it took considerably more effort than it did.
✦ This works equally well on salmon fillets. Marinate for 30 minutes only and grill on high heat.
Grain Bowls
Quinoa, bulgur wheat, farro, freekeh. Any cooked grain responds well to Thami Letto. Mix it through warm grains as you would with rice, then build your bowl on top. Roasted vegetables, some leafy greens, a soft boiled egg or some chickpeas. The Thami Letto acts as your dressing, your seasoning and your main flavour element all at once. No need for a separate sauce.
✦ The vegan version is the obvious choice here for a fully plant based bowl.
Dipping Sauce Base
Loosen two tablespoons of Thami Letto with a splash of warm water, a little soy sauce and a squeeze of lime until it reaches a thick, pourable consistency. Use as a dipping sauce for dumplings, spring rolls, grilled flatbread or crudites. The peanut and sesame base gives it a satay quality, but with more complexity and depth than any shop bought satay sauce you have tried.
✦ Add a small amount of sesame oil and a pinch of sugar to balance if your version needs it.
Fried Rice
Day old rice, a hot wok, whatever vegetables and protein you have to hand. Stir fry as normal, then in the final minute add a generous spoonful of Thami Letto and toss everything together over high heat. The mixture coats every grain, the onions and spices caramelise slightly in the wok, and the whole dish transforms. This is the fastest route to the best fried rice you have ever made.
✦ Do not add the Thami Letto too early or the peanuts will burn. Last minute, high heat, quick toss.
Once you have a jar on the counter, you stop thinking of it as a rice topper and start thinking of it as the answer to whatever you are cooking.
The Rule of Thumb
If a dish would benefit from something nutty, savoury and aromatic, Thami Letto probably belongs in it. The roasted peanuts and sesame seeds give body and richness. The fried onions give sweetness and crunch. The gram flour gives a toasty, chickpea depth. The spices give warmth without aggression. Together, they work on almost anything.
We started with rice because that is where Htamin Let Thok lives. But 40 years of cooking taught us that good flavour does not stay in one lane. If you are looking for specific recipes to start with, our five quick rice and noodle meals is the natural next step.
✦ Burmawala Kitchen ✦
Get a Jar and Start Experimenting
Fish or vegan. Both handmade in Hackney. Both ready to use straight from the jar.
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