Welcome to what might just be the most eye-opening episode of Eva Pau’s Asian Kitchen yet! Episode 4 is all about the incredible variety of Asian vegetables and herbs – those beautiful, fresh ingredients that bring Asian cooking to life with flavours and textures you simply can’t find in your typical supermarket.
Stream Eva Pau’s Asian Kitchen Wherever You Are
Before we dive into this garden of Asian delights, remember you can watch Eva Pau’s Asian Kitchen on RTE One (Ireland and UK), Prime Video (Canada), SBS (Australia), BBC (Asia Pacific), and Disney (Eastern Europe). Eva’s ready to introduce you to a whole new world of vegetables and herbs that’ll transform how you cook.
Why Asian Vegetables and Herbs Matter
Here’s what makes Eva Pau’s Asian Kitchen Episode 4 so special: this isn’t just about learning new recipes – it’s about discovering ingredients that might be completely new to you. Thai basil with its anise-like aroma, perilla leaves with their unique minty-spicy flavour, green papaya that’s nothing like the ripe fruit you know, and mushroom varieties that each bring their own personality to a dish.
What I love about Eva’s approach in this episode of Eva Pau’s Asian Kitchen is how she makes these unfamiliar ingredients feel approachable. She explains what makes each vegetable or herb special, where to find them (many are now available in Asian grocers or even mainstream supermarkets), and most importantly, how to use them to create authentic Asian flavours at home.
This episode is a celebration of freshness, colour, and the incredible diversity of Asian produce. Get ready to expand your cooking horizons!
Crispy Tofu with Stir-Fried Mixed Asian Mushrooms and Pak Choi
Eva Pau’s Asian Kitchen Episode 4 kicks off with a dish that’s all about texture and umami: Crispy Tofu with Stir-Fried Mixed Asian Mushrooms and Pak Choi. If you’ve ever wondered what makes Asian restaurant vegetable dishes so satisfying, this is your answer.
Eva showcases three mushroom varieties that are absolute staples in Asian cooking: shimeji with their delicate, slightly crunchy texture; shiitake with their meaty, umami-rich flavour; and oyster mushrooms with their tender, almost velvety quality. Each mushroom brings something different to the party, and together they create an incredible depth of flavour.
But here’s the real star of this Eva Pau’s Asian Kitchen recipe: the crispy tofu. Eva demonstrates how to transform bland, soft tofu into golden, crispy nuggets with a satisfying crunch on the outside and creamy texture inside. It’s a technique that’ll change how you think about tofu forever.
The pak choi (bok choy) adds that fresh, slightly peppery green element that balances the richness of the mushrooms and tofu. Eva shows you how to cook it so it stays crisp-tender rather than wilting into mush – a key technique for any Asian vegetable dish. This is plant-based cooking at its absolute best, proving that vegetables can be just as satisfying and flavourful as any meat dish.
Asian Cucumber Salad – Simple Ingredients, Bold Flavours
Next up in Eva Pau’s Asian Kitchen Season 1 Episode 4, Eva proves that sometimes the simplest ingredients create the most memorable dishes with her Asian Cucumber Salad. You might be thinking, “It’s just cucumber, how exciting can it be?” Trust me, Eva’s about to blow your mind.
The magic in this Eva Pau’s Asian Kitchen recipe is all about technique and that bold, zesty dressing. Eva shows you how to prepare the cucumber – maybe smashing it for better flavour absorption, maybe slicing it just right – and then how to create a dressing that’s perfectly balanced between sour, sweet, salty, and spicy.
This isn’t your typical Western cucumber salad with cream and dill. This is punchy, refreshing, and incredibly addictive. It’s the kind of side dish that wakes up your palate and complements richer main courses perfectly. Plus, it comes together in minutes, making it ideal for those nights when you need something fresh and exciting without much effort.
What I love about this segment is how Eva demonstrates that Asian cooking isn’t always complex – sometimes it’s about taking simple, fresh ingredients and treating them with respect and the right seasonings. This cucumber salad is proof that you don’t need exotic ingredients to create authentic Asian flavours.
Thai Green Papaya Salad with Prawns – A Taste of Thailand
Now we’re really getting into exciting territory. Eva Pau’s Asian Kitchen Episode 4 takes us to Thailand with Thai Green Papaya Salad with Prawns (known as Som Tam in Thai). If you’ve never worked with green papaya before, Eva’s about to introduce you to one of Southeast Asia’s most beloved ingredients.
Green papaya isn’t sweet like the ripe fruit you’re used to – it’s firm, crunchy, and has a subtle flavour that acts as the perfect canvas for that incredible Thai dressing. Eva demonstrates how to prepare the papaya (traditionally it’s shredded into long, thin strips) and then how to create that signature dressing that’s tangy, spicy, sweet, and savoury all at once.
The prawns add protein and a touch of luxury to this Eva Pau’s Asian Kitchen dish, but the real star is that flavour-packed dressing with lime juice, fish sauce, palm sugar, and chili. It’s bright, it’s bold, and it perfectly captures the essence of Thai cooking: balancing all those different flavour profiles into perfect harmony.
Eva also introduces you to some of the fresh herbs that make Thai salads so special – perhaps some fresh Thai basil, maybe some coriander (cilantro), and those other aromatic touches that transport you straight to a Bangkok street food stall. This is the kind of dish that makes you understand why Thai cuisine is loved worldwide.
Vietnamese Summer Rolls – Fresh, Light, and Beautiful
Eva Pau’s Asian Kitchen Episode 4 wraps up (pun intended!) with one of Vietnam’s most iconic dishes: Vietnamese Summer Rolls. These translucent rice paper rolls filled with fresh herbs, vegetables, and prawns are the epitome of healthy, delicious Asian cooking.
What makes this segment of Eva Pau’s Asian Kitchen so wonderful is how Eva highlights the herbs that make Vietnamese cuisine unique. Thai basil with its distinctive anise flavour, perilla leaves (also called shiso) with their complex minty-cinnamon notes, and even edible flowers that make these rolls not just delicious but genuinely beautiful.
Eva walks you through the slightly tricky process of working with rice paper wrappers – how to soften them without making them too sticky, how to arrange your fillings for the prettiest presentation, and most importantly, how to roll them tightly so they don’t fall apart. It’s one of those techniques that takes a bit of practice, but Eva’s patient guidance makes it totally achievable.
And let’s not forget the dipping sauce! Eva shows you how to make that essential accompaniment – maybe a peanut sauce, maybe a nuoc cham (Vietnamese dipping sauce) – that turns these fresh rolls into something truly special. This is interactive, fun cooking that’s perfect for getting the whole family involved.
What You’ll Master in Eva Pau’s Asian Kitchen Episode 4
By the end of this vegetables and herbs episode, you’ll have four stunning dishes:
Crispy Tofu with Mixed Asian Mushrooms and Pak Choi: A masterclass in texture and umami that proves vegetarian dishes can be utterly satisfying
Asian Cucumber Salad: Simple, bold, and refreshing – the perfect example of how technique and seasoning transform humble ingredients
Thai Green Papaya Salad with Prawns: Vibrant Thai flavours in a crunchy, tangy salad that’s become a global favourite
Vietnamese Summer Rolls: Fresh, healthy, and beautiful rolls that showcase the best of Vietnamese herbs and vegetables
More importantly, you’ll gain confidence working with Asian vegetables and herbs that might have seemed intimidating before. Eva demystifies these ingredients and shows you they’re not exotic mysteries – they’re delicious, accessible additions to your cooking repertoire.
Why This Episode of Eva Pau’s Asian Kitchen Opens New Doors
Whether you’re watching Eva Pau’s Asian Kitchen on RTE One, Prime Video, SBS, BBC, or Disney, Episode 4 is your gateway to a whole new world of ingredients. Eva’s enthusiasm for these vegetables and herbs is infectious, and her practical guidance means you’ll actually use them rather than letting them languish in your fridge.
Understanding Asian vegetables and herbs is like getting a passport to authentic Asian cooking. Suddenly, dishes that tasted “almost right” at home will taste genuinely authentic. That’s the power of using the right fresh ingredients, and Eva’s here to show you exactly how.
Ready to Explore Asian Vegetables and Herbs?
Eva Pau’s Asian Kitchen Episode 4 is waiting to introduce you to ingredients that’ll change your cooking forever. From earthy mushrooms to fragrant herbs, from crunchy papaya to delicate rice paper, Eva’s got a whole garden of Asian delights to share.
So head to your local Asian grocer (or well-stocked supermarket), tune into Eva Pau’s Asian Kitchen on your favourite platform, and get ready to discover why fresh Asian vegetables and herbs are the secret to truly authentic, vibrant Asian cooking.
Your culinary adventure into Asian produce starts here with Eva Pau’s Asian Kitchen!
