Spicy Salad of Grilled Tiger Prawns, Mackerel, Lemongrass and Aromatics with Infused Fermented Fish Innards Dressing (ไตปลาทรงเครื่อง ; dtai bpla sohng khreuuang)

By: Hanuman, Thaan Khun and Chef Thapakorn Lertviriyavit (Gorn)
🔊 Listen to the Thai name pronunciation
ไตปลาทรงเครื่อง ; Spicy Salad of Grilled Tiger Prawns, Mackerels, Lemon Grass and Aromatics with Infused Fermented Fish Innards Dressing

Umami power
If we could strip away the spices, the seasonings, the vegetables and the herbs from savory dishes we could uncover their naked flavor profile core. There, we would encounter a strong savory-umami, sometimes coupled with other basic elements of smoke and fat. This flavor core is, for us humans, the sought-after taste of protein; our first sip of mother’s milk, and the primal experience of burned game meat on the fire.

One could argue that the entire evolution of the culinary arts – across nations and territories – is built on our exploration of this essence, in wrapping and amplifying this dense mass of umami flavor; in creating layers upon layers, and inventing complex dishes with compelling flavor profiles by using dry spices, vegetables, fruits and herbs.

Umami is everywhere. It is not a rare taste in nature, and it is abundant in cooked and cured meat, mushrooms, seaweed and even tomatoes.

Today we would like to highlight a powerhouse for umami creation: the fermentation process. We will focus on fermented fish innards from southern Thailand (dtai bpla ไตปลา), one of about a dozen fermented products used in the country. We will show you how chefs for the capital’s elite, as early as or, before the reign of King Phra Phutthaloetla Naphalai (Rama II, 1767-1824), harnessed its wild nature and created a dish similar to what we present today – a salad with infused fermented fish innards dressing.

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Fish product fermentation in Thailand
For thousands of years, preserved fish products and related condiments were used across Europe and Asia. The Romans used fermented fish innards to make their prized garum – more valuable than gold – as well as their own version of fish sauce called liquame. As time passed, fermented fish products have mostly disappeared from standard European cuisine, but they are still widely used in Asia. The fermentation technique is very simple; it is believed to have developed in the rice-cultivating communities of southeastern China, where the three ingredients required to produce it – namely freshwater fish, salt and rice – were found in abundance.

The technique was further adapted in the coastal areas using saltwater fish and a slightly different process of simply salting and fermenting small fish, using salt alone, or salting and drying larger fish.

Fermented fish and its products were used primarily as dipping condiments to add desired flavor to rice and vegetables. Just a tiny amount was enough to season plain-cooked rice and, even used sparingly, helped ensure that an individual consumed enough rice and vegetables to maintain good health.

ไตปลาทรงเครื่อง ; Spicy Salad of Grilled Tiger Prawns, Mackerel, Lemongrass and Aromatics with Infused Fermented Fish Innards Dressing
Fermented fish innards, dtai bplaa (ไตปลา)

Main types of fermented fish products in Thailand
The following is a rough outline of the three main methods used to produce fermented fish products in Thailand. It is presented here as a guideline only.

Fermentation using Fish with Salt and Rice
This process involves fish, salt and rice, either the rice husks, ground roasted rice or cooked rice. The rice contributes bacteria and yeasts that are responsible for starting the fermentation process together with the fish enzymes.

  • Bplaa raa ram (ปลาร้ารำ) – Fish, salt, rice husk.
  • Bplaa raa khaao khuaa (ปลาร้าข้าวคั่ว) – Fish, salt, roasted rice powder.
  • Bplaa sohm (ปลาส้ม) – Fish, salt, cooked rice.
  • Bplaa jaawm (ปลาจ่อม) – Fish, salt, garlic, and roasted rice powder.
  • Sohm fak or naaem bplaa (ส้มฟัก, แหนมปลา) – Fish, salt, cooked rice, garlic.

Fermentation using Fish and Salt
Popular along the coasts of Thailand; using small fish, or fish innards with salt, which allow the powerful enzymes to act as the main flavor modifier through the process of digesting the fish proteins and the release of chemicals and amino acids. The salt is added at precise times to prevent spoilage before the enzymes start to work. In this category we can find:

  • Fish sauce, nam bplaa (น้ำปลา) – Fish and salt.
  • Fermented fish innards, dtai bplaa (ไตปลา) – Fish innards and salt.
  • Naam buu duu (น้ำบูดู) – Fish, salt, and brown sugar.

Fermentation using Fish with Salt and Fruits
Fruits such as pineapple that contain strong enzymes are mostly used for fermentation in certain parts of the northeast (Issan), especially in Ubon Ratchathani Province.

  • Khem bak nat or maak nat (เค็มบักนัด หมากนัด) – Fish, salt pineapple.

Fermented Fish Innards Salad
Fermented fish innards (dtai bplaa, ไตปลา or phoong bplaa, พุงปลา) are usually associated with a curry dish that is almost emblematic of the fiery hot Southern Thai food.

In ancient days, however, fermented fish innards were used to prepare an extremely spicy and very tangy condiment with a sharp, pointed flavor profile, and an aggressive umami fist. This condiment was served with rice and variety of vegetables, young leaves and herbs.

The dipping sauce made its way into the kitchens of the royal court as early as the Ayutthaya period (1351 to 1767 AD), via nobles who were stationed by central governance in peripheral and strategic settlements in the south.

This is yet another example of a peasant food adopted for royals and nobility; other dishes include rice soaked in cold perfumed water (khaao chaae, ข้าวแช่), lon relish of fermented fish cooked in coconut cream (bplaa raa lohn nai gala, ปลาร้าหลนในกะลา), spicy fermented fish innards curry (gaaeng dtai bplaa, แกงไตปลา) and sour yellow curry (gaaeng leuuang, แกงเหลือง), among others.

The royal cooks applied their considerable skill and innovation to mellowing the pungent odor of dtai pla, and bringing its intense umami personality down to a slightly more sedate level that would be acceptable, desirable and palatable to high society.

Dtai bpla sohng khreuuang (ไตปลาทรงเครื่อง) was the fruit of their creation: a salad rich in ingredients such as large and sweet grilled river prawns, and a blend of aromatics. It was served, according to the southern Thai cuisine tradition, accompanied by an assortment of young leaves, vegetables and herbs commonly referred to as phak naw (ผักเหนาะ), phak jim (ผักจิ้ม) or phak glaaem (ผักแกล้ม).

ไตปลาทรงเครื่อง ; Spicy Salad of Grilled Tiger Prawns, Mackerel, Lemongrass and Aromatics with Infused Fermented Fish Innards Dressing
The young leaves of the Guttiferae tree (cha muaang, ชะมวง)

And for those members of the court who were unable to acquire a taste for the salad dressing, the same salad – without the fermented fish innards – was presented under the somewhat humorous name “pretending fish innards salad” (saaeng waa, แสร้งว่า or saaeng waa dtai bplaa, แสร้งว่าไตปลา). Saaeng waa salad was one of King Rama II’s assumed favorite dishes, and the king mentions it in his poetry, where he describes the incomparable dishes and arrangements at the hands of his queen.

Our version of dtai bpla sohng khreuuang (ไตปลาทรงเครื่อง)
To mellow the aggressiveness of the fermented fish innards, as well as to ensure its hygiene, we cooked this with loads of aromatics.

We started by expanding the umami core with an additional layer of savoriness and smokiness, char-roasting smoked dry fish and dry long chilies.

ไตปลาทรงเครื่อง ; Spicy Salad of Grilled Tiger Prawns, Mackerel, Lemongrass and Aromatics with Infused Fermented Fish Innards Dressing

To this, we added lemongrass, kaffir lime leaves, pandan leaves, coriander roots, fingerroot (krachai) and galangal, cooking until each element released its aromas, and together helped to counter the fishy odor of the fermented fish innards. The liquids were then strained, and the intact bits of the fermented fish innards were collected. This was the base of our salad dressing.

ไตปลาทรงเครื่อง ; Spicy Salad of Grilled Tiger Prawns, Mackerel, Lemongrass and Aromatics with Infused Fermented Fish Innards Dressing

The dressing was made by seasoning this base with tamarind paste, kaffir lime juice, lime juice, palm sugar and some fish sauce, introducing a soft, aromatic citrusy fragrance and a quiet layer of sweetness that helps blend the dressing with the salad ingredients.

As our main ingredients we chose to use sweet large river prawns and steamed mackerel, both grilled over charcoal to which grated coconut was added to sweeten the smokiness.

ไตปลาทรงเครื่อง ; Spicy Salad of Grilled Tiger Prawns, Mackerel, Lemongrass and Aromatics with Infused Fermented Fish Innards Dressing

The smoked grilled prawns and mackerel meat were then combined with thinly chopped lemongrass, julienned young ginger and sliced shallots. Fresh chilies, of different varieties and cut to offer varying angles of spiciness, aroma and color, were also added, as were coriander leaves, kaffir lime zest and kaffir leaves.

We served it alongside fresh and crunchy small eggplants, sour young tree leaves, banana blossom, cucumber, stink beans, yardlong beans and rose apple.

ไตปลาทรงเครื่อง ; Spicy Salad of Grilled Tiger Prawns, Mackerel, Lemongrass and Aromatics with Infused Fermented Fish Innards Dressing

The resulting salad presents a thoughtful flavor layering over a savory, salty and somewhat smoky core of fermented fish innards dressing, resulting in a feast that is delicious, nutritious and healthy.

Make your own fermented fish innards
Select either freshwater or saltwater fish: each fish will result in a different product, so we recommend that you experiment. Mackerel innards are a good choice because they contain aggressive enzymes, and they are also popular in Thailand, along with snakehead fish (bplaa chaawn, ปลาช่อน), threadfin bream (bplaa saai, ปลาทราย), Indian mackerel (bplaa lang, ปลาลัง) or silver sillago (bplaa hetL kho:hn, ปลาเห็ดโคน).

Using everything except the bile sacs, scrap and discard the slurry and undigested food from the intestine, leaving the swim bladder, liver, stomach, heart and gonads intact.

Wash this several times in salted water, until all blood is removed and there is no fishy smell. Place the fish innards in a bowl, and sprinkle a generous amount of coarse sea salt on the top, leaving it in the sun for a few hours to boost the process.

Then, place the entire batch in a glass jar, and leave it to ferment for 15-30 days.  When the mixture is ready, it will separate into two layers; with the chunks at the bottom, and brown muddy fluids on top.

Spicy Salad of Grilled Tiger Prawns, Mackerel, Lemongrass and Aromatics with Infused Fermented Fish Innards Dressing
Hanuman and Chef Thapakorn Lertviriyavit (Gorn)
This salad presents a thoughtful flavor layering over a savory, salty and somewhat smoky core of fermented fish innards dressing, resulting in a feast that is delicious, nutritious and healthy.
5 from 1 vote

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Prep Time 1 hour
Cook Time 55 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 55 minutes
Course Salad
Cuisine Thai
Servings 5

Ingredients
  

  • 5 tiger prawn (กุ้งกุลาดำ) 1/2 cup of meat
  • 2 steamed mackerel (ปลาทูนึ่ง) 1/2 cup of meat
  • 1 cup lemongrass (ตะไคร้) thinly sliced
  • 1/4 cup young ginger (ขิงอ่อน) juliennes
  • 1 cup shallots (หอมแดง) sliced
  • 1 tablespoon kaffir lime zest (ผิวมะกรูด)
  • 2 tablespoons fresh bird’s eye chili (kee noo suan) (พริกขี้หนูสวนสด) bruised
  • 3 tablespoons fresh red and green Thai bird’s eye chilies (phrik kee noo) (พริกขี้หนูแดง และ เขียว) thinly sliced
  • 2 tablespoons fresh Karen chili (phrik gariang) (พริกกะเหรี่ยง) thinly sliced
  • 1 tablespoon fresh yellow chili (phrik leuang) (พริกเหลือง) thick-sliced
  • 1 tablespoon fresh red long chili (phrik chee fa) (พริกชี้ฟ้าแดง) thick-sliced
  • 1/3 cup coriander leaves (ใบผักชี)
  • 1 tablespoon fresh red long chili (phrik chee fa) (พริกชี้ฟ้าแดง) hair-thin julienned
  • fresh yellow chili (phrik leuang) (พริกเหลือง) hair-thin julienned
  • 2 tablespoons kaffir lime leaves (ใบมะกรูด) hair-thin julienned

Fermented fish innards base

  • 1 1/2 cups fermented fish innards (ไตปลา) about 400ml
  • 7 dried red long chili (phrik chee fa) (พริกชี้ฟ้าแห้ง)
  • 2 smoke-dried fish (all varieties) (ปลาย่างรมควัน) about 1 cup
  • 1/2 cup water (น้ำเปล่า)
  • 1/2 cup shallots (หอมแดง) bruised
  • 5 lemongrass (ตะไคร้)
  • 1 cup galangal (ข่า)
  • 1 cup fingerroot (krachai) (กระชาย) Krachai
  • 7-8 coriander roots (รากผักชี)
  • 1/2 cup kaffir lime leaves (ใบมะกรูด)
  • 2 pandan leaves (ใบเตย)
  • 1/4 cup fresh bird’s eye chili (kee noo suan) (พริกขี้หนูสวนสด)
  • charcoal and dried grated coconut (กากมะพร้าว) leftovers from coconut cream extraction for smoking

Fermented fish innards dressing

  • 6 tablespoons fermented fish innards base (น้ำไตปลาปรูงรส (ต้มสุก))
  • 1 teaspoon palm sugar (น้ำตาลมะพร้าว)
  • 2 tablespoons fish sauce (น้ำปลา)
  • 1/2 tablespoon tamarind paste (น้ำมะขามเปียก)
  • 2 tablespoons lime juice (น้ำมะนาว)
  • 2 1/2 tablespoons kaffir lime juice (น้ำมะกรูด)

Serve with

  • fresh vegetables (ผักสด) young Hog plum tree leaves (magaawk paa มะกอกป่า), young guttiferae tree leaves (cha muaang, ชะมวง), banana blossom, cucumber, stink beans, yardlong beans and rose apple.

Instructions
 

Prepare the fermented fish innards base

  • The raw untreated fermented fish innards in the jar.
  • The complete set of ingredients used to prepare the base: lemongrass, kaffir lime leaves, pandan leaves, coriander roots, fingerroot (krachai), galangal, dry long chilies and smoked dry fish.
  • In a cooking pot, char-roast the dry long chilies and smoked dry fish (which was crumbled beforehand).
  • Add the rest of the aromatics.
  • Add the raw fermented fish innards and dilute with water if necessary.
  • Boil it hard until there is no foul odor.
    Make sure that your kitchen is well ventilated or do it outdoors.
  • Strain the liquids, and collect from the mixture any remaining solid chunks of fish innards.
    Let the mixture cool, and keep it in the fridge for future use.

Prepare the fermented fish innards salad dressing

  • Place about six tablespoons of the base in a mixing bowl.
    Season with palm sugar.
  • Add fish sauce.
  • Add tamarind paste, squeeze the juice of the lime and kaffir lime, adjusting to your taste.

Grill and smoke the river prawns and mackerels

  • Set up a charcoal grill.
  • Toss grated coconut over the hot charcoals.
  • Grill the unpeeled river prawns.
  • Grill the steamed mackerel until it becomes slightly golden, adding grated coconut to the charcoals as needed to maintain a good flow of smoke.

Prepare the salad ingredients

  • Peel the prawns and crumble the mackerel meat into large chunks, removing the skin and bones.
  • This is our selection of fresh chili: Yellow chilies, long red chili, two types of bird’s eye chilies and Karen chilies. You can use any combination you prefer, or what is available.
  • This is the set of aromatics that will go into the salad: shallots, lemongrass, young ginger, kaffir lime leaves, kaffir lime and lime.

Assemble the salad

  • In a mixing bowl, place the mackerel meat and the river prawns, roughly cut into large chunks.
  • Add thinly sliced lemongrass.
  • Add julienned young ginger.
  • Add sliced shallots.
  • Add kaffir lime zest.
  • Add bird’s eye chilies bruised in a pestle and mortar.
  • Add a second type of bird’s eye chilies, along with Karen chilies, both thinly sliced.
  • Mix everything with a light touch, being careful not to break the fish chunks.
  • Add thick-sliced yellow chilies and red long chilies.
  • Prepare the side vegetables, soaking in cold water to let them rest and stay fresh and crunchy until serving.
  • Peel the stink beans.
  • Pick the young leaves of the Hog plum tree.
  • Pick the young leaves of the Guttiferae tree (cha muaang, ชะมวง).
  • Pick the coriander leaves, and soak in cold water.
  • Arrange the side vegetables on a serving plate.
  • Season the salad with the dressing, place it in a serving dish, and sprinkle with coriander leaves, juliennes of kaffir lime leaves and garnish with juliennes of red and yellow chili peppers.
    Serve with the fresh vegetables and leaves.
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