Celebrating the Art of Siamese Culinary Wisdom and Thai Cuisine
Snakehead Fish Curry with Pickled Madan (แกงปลาช่อนมะดันดอง; gaaeng bplaa chaawn ma dan daawng)
Snakehead Fish Curry with Pickled Madan incorporates the fish tail into its curry paste and balances pickled sour cucumber with kaffir lime. From Maawm Ying Soophaa, 1949.
c1889 Garee Curry with Shrimp and Cucumber (แกงกะหรี่กุ้งกับแตงกวา; gaaeng garee goong gap dtaaeng gwaa)
In this old-fashioned coconut-based curry, orangey shrimp and bright green cucumber shine in a golden haze of curry powder, caressed by the light breeze of Indian flare. Cucumbers are used in traditional Ayurvedic medicine as a coolant, to offset internal heat and to resolve fevers. Thus, like a refreshing oasis in the middle of a shimmering desert, the cucumber counterbalances the chili’s internal heat energy and mellows the fragrant, earthy undertones of the spice blend in the dish.
Fiery Red Collared Dove Curry with Two Basils (แกงเผ็ดนกเขาไฟ; gaaeng phet nohk khao fai)
Gaaeng phet nohk khao fai: red collared dove curry with carcass pounded into steamed meatballs, finished with two basils. Jeeb Bunnag, 1933.
c1889 Faux Rhino Skin Salad (ยำโขนงเนื้อเทียม หรือ ยำหนังหมู ; yam kho:h nohng neuua thiiam reuu yam nang muu)
This old-fashioned Siamese pork skin salad is adapted from an 1889 rhino skin salad recipe. It features thin glossy slices of cooked pork skin, simmered in rich coconut cream, and mixed with dried shrimp, roasted coconut, sour fruits; it is seasoned with chili jam-based dressing.
The Contrasting Histories of Gaaeng Rawaaeng (แกงระแวง) - Turmeric-Infused Coconut-Based Thick Curry of Braised Duck and Lemongrass
Gaeng rawang (แกงระแวง) is a curry bearing an unusual name and contradictory accounts regarding its appearance, lineage and origins. When I cook this dish, it is a rich and thick coconut-based curry made with a paste of fresh chilies, aromatics, spices and generous amounts of fresh turmeric, which adds warmth and gives the green chili color a slightly earthier, muted tone that resonates beautifully with the duck meat.
The duck meat is prepared separately and slow-braised in coconut cream before being cooked in the curry. This slow-braising process allows the coconut cream and duck’s fattiness to melt together, resulting in moist and flavorful meat with a hint of sweetness. The curry itself is seasoned to a salty and slightly sweet flavor profile.
Fried Kaffir Lime Chili Relish (น้ำพริกมะกรูดผัด ; naam phrik magruut phat)
Golden Baked Coconut and Mung Bean Custard (ขนมกุมภแกงถั่ว; khanohm pha goom gaaeng thuaa)
Khanohm goom gaaeng thuaa, a baked coconut and mung bean confection using top-heat charcoal baking, from Jeeb Bunnag's 1933 manuscript.
bplaa naaem (ปลาแนม) - A Siamese aristocratic small plate snack
Grilled beef and mangosteen (or grape) salad with mint dressing, by Princess Jongjittanom Dissakul (ยำเนื้อย่างกับมังคุดหรือองุ่น; yam neuua yaang gap mangkhoot reuu angoon)
This grilled beef salad with luscious mangosteen (or grapes) is seasoned with a crisp, cooling dressing of fermented shrimp paste and mint. The mangosteen’s tropical character – a flavor redolent of many other fruits – dominates its fruity essence and is a perfect complement to both the grilled meat and the lingering, sour-salty-sweet, minty dressing. Furthermore, citrusy notes of thinly sliced lemongrass and kaffir lime leaves, coupled with richness of thickened coconut cream, unite the caramelized, meaty elements with the dish’s fruity spectrum.
Grilled Pork Blood Sausage (ไส้กรอกเลือดสุกร; sai graawk leuuat soo gaawn)
Sai graawk leuuat soo gaawn, pork blood sausage with calico plant, grilled over coconut husk. From Jeeb Bunnag, 1933, Rama II court.
ปลาร้าผัดทรงเครื่องสูตรสายเยาวภา
ถ้าจะพูดถึงวัฒนธรรมอาหารที่ยั่งยืนผ่านยุคผ่านสมัยยาวนานต่อเนื่องกันมาจนปัจจุบันสำหรับคนไทย เห็นจะไม่พ้น "ปลาร้า" ไปได้ หลักฐานทางประวัติศาสตร์มากมายชี้ชัดว่า วัฒนธรรมปลาร้าเป็นวัฒนธรรมร่วมของผู้คนในดินแดนอุษาคเนย์เป็นอาหารของชนในวัฒนธรรม มอญ-เขมร หรือในดินแดนสุวรรณภูมิแห่งนี้ ม.ร.ว.คึกฤทธิ์ ปราโมช ซึ่งเป็นปราชญ์ทางด้านอาหารผู้หนึ่งถึงกับกล่าวไว้ว่า ปลาร้าเป็นวัฒนธรรมอาหารของมอญตั้งแต่สมัยทวารวดี ทวารวดีไปถึงที่ไหนก็จะมีปลาร้าไปถึงที่นั่น คงเช่นเดียวกับวัฒนธรรมของขอมล่ะกระมัง อิทธิพลขอมไปถึงทีไหนก็มีปลาร้าไปถึงที่นั่น และสำหรับคนไทยปัจจุบันแถบภาคเหนือและอีสาน ซึ่งสืบสานอยู่ในกลุ่มชาติพันธุ์ไท-ลาว มาแต่เดิม รวมทั้งคนไทยในภาคกลางที่ความจริงก็คือกลุ่มคนจากทางลาวจากการถูกกวาดต้อนมาครั้งสงครามสมัยก่อน หรือจะมีเชื้อสายคนพื้นถิ่นดั้งเดิมมาแต่ครั้งอู่ทอง อยุธยาก็เถอะ ก็นับเนื่องเป็นคนสืบสายวัฒนธรรมทวารวดีอยู่ดีนั่นแหละ จึงไม่แปลกที่คนในภูมิภาคที่กล่าวมานี้จะคุ้นเคยกับปลาร้ามานาน และด้วยภูมิภาคที่ราบลุ่มแม่น้ำ และการตั้งถิ่นฐานของคนสมัยก่อนต้องอิงอยู่กับแหล่งน้ำธรรมชาติ สัตว์น้ำจึงเป็นอาหารหลัก วัฒนธรรมปลาร้าจึงเป็นวัฒนธรรมที่อยู่ร่วมและยั่งยืนนานมาเป็นพัน ๆ ปี
c1933 An Auspicious fish ball curry with two basils (แกงเผ็ดปลาเล็กปลาน้อย; gaaeng phet bplaa lek bplaa naawy)
Typically, in Central-style curries, different types of basil are not used together. In higher cuisine, it is an unstated – but understood – practice to avoid blending the definitive scents of various basils. A curry’s final herbal identity is intended to remain definitively with its basil: the citrus notes of holy basil; the spicy-woody and pungent flavor of tree basil; the tart fragrance of lemon basil; or the cooling anise sensation of Thai basil.
c1908 Haaw Mohk steamed savory curried cakes featuring crab meat, chicken, and pork (ห่อหมกทรงเครื่อง อย่างท่านผู้หญิงเปลี่ยน ภาสกรวงศ์ แม่ครัวหัวป่าก์ พ.ศ. 2451 ; haaw mohk sohng khreuuang)
This festive and rich recipe is for a coconut-based haaw mohk featuring chicken, crab and pork meats. This recipe was chosen from the various versions available at the time by Lady Plean Passakornrawong, for inclusion in her epic cookbook Maae Khruaa Huaa Bpaa (MKHP) (ท่านผู้หญิงเปลี่ยน ภาสกรวงศ์ตำราแม่ครัวหัวป่าก์).
The Ambassador’s House Style Noodle Soup (หมี่น้ำบ้านราชทูต; Mee Naam Baan Raat Thuut)
This soup dish features crispy rice vermicelli noodles, a chicken broth that has a three-flavor profile infused with the aroma of bitter orange, and a plethora of other ingredients such as crispy fried tofu, chicken, pork, crab and pickled garlic.
In Thai, the phrase mee naam baan raat thuut refers to a rice vermicelli noodle soup in the style of the Ambassador’s house. The dish was not new when it appeared in the 1956 book Snacks, Tea Nibbles, Hors D’oeuvres and Drinking Food (ตำราอาหารว่าง - เครื่องน้ำชา และ เครื่องเคี้ยว หรือ กับแกล้ม) by Jeeb Bunnag (จีบ บุนนาค), as noodle dishes were often the preferred ingredient for light meals or snacks. In Grandparents Recipes: 100 Years Old Recipes (จานอร่อยจากปู่ย่า สูตรโบราณ 100 ปี), a volume printed in 2014 that highlights recipes from the kitchens of fifteen prominent families, a similar version of the dish is referred to as mee naam baan bpaak naai leert (หมี่น้ำบ้านปาร์คนายเลิศ) and is associated with Nai Lert.
Perfumed Muslim-style Curry of Fresh Chilies with Beef (แกงเขียวหวานเนื้อทรงเครื่อง; Gaaeng Khiaao Waan Neuua Sohng Khreuuang)
The Indian and Muslim cuisines present distinct approaches to using dried spices in curries, both of which influence Siamese cuisine in different ways. Indian-inspired Siamese curries spotlight chilies for their vibrant color, fragrance, flavor and heat, while spices like cumin and coriander play a supporting role. The spices complement and temper the chilies’ intensity, creating a rounded, multi-layered flavor profile; nonetheless, the chilies remain the star ingredient, gently complemented by the spices.
Conversely, Muslim-influenced curries, such as massaman curry, prioritize spices over chilies. Spices like cardamom, nutmeg and mace take center stage, while the chilies provide subtle background heat rather than being the primary flavor. In these curries, the focus is on the rich, warm and complex aromas created by the blend of spices, which is a defining characteristic of many Muslim dishes.
Moreover, Siamese cuisine favors using rehydrated dried chilies in curries for their depth; this depth is highly appreciated, along with the complexity, and comparatively milder heat of the rehydrated dried chilies. As well, the harsh grassy notes of fresh chilies are not favored; they’re referred to in Thai as “green rank” or “men khiaao (เหม็นเขียว)”. Muslim curries often use fresh green chilies, tempering their vibrant, grassy taste with dry spices and thus shifting the flavor from bright and fresh to more subdued and earthy tones, resulting in a dish that is perceived to be layered, despite the burst of fresh chilies.
Chinese Water Chestnut Salad (ยำแห้วจีน; yam haaeo jeen)
Chinese Water Chestnut Salad combining crisp water chestnuts with seafood and pork in a salty-sweet-sour dressing. From Jeeb Bunnag's 1933 cookbook.
c1920 Sarama Shrimp Curry with White Eggplants and Lotus Stems (แกงสะระหม่ากุ้งกับมะเขือขาว และ สายบัว พ.ศ. 2463; gaaeng saramaa goong gap makheuua khaao reuu saai buaa)
A dish of complex flavors and an aromatic brightness, this Sarama curry features shrimp and the smaller Thai white eggplant, or crunchy lotus stems, in a golden, salty leading broth with clear tangy-sweet notes. The broth is silky and combines the nutty richness of coconut cream with the subtle sweetness of butter, cooked with a blend of dry spices that include coriander, cumin and turmeric. This spice blend evokes the penetrating aroma of curry powder, reflecting Muslim culinary influences.
Unlike spicy gaaeng phet (แกงเผ็ด) curries, which typically deploy dried chilies in the paste, Sarama curry contains fresh chilies. A mix of both red and yellow chili varieties are utilized, fusing the vibrant, fruity piquancy of the fresh chilies with the warm, earthy aromas of the spices. The red chilies contribute a ripe tropical fruitiness while the yellow offer citrusy and floral notes, creating a light yet layered curry with nuanced heat and depth of flavor.
Pork liver and firm pork fat fried in batter (มันสลับตับสุกร; man salap dtap soogaawn)
Shrimp Ball Soup (แกงลูกชิ้นกุ้ง; gaaeng luuk chin goong)
Gaaeng luuk chin goong, shrimp balls pounded and slapped for springy texture in clear broth with garland chrysanthemum. Jeeb Bunnag, 1933.
Beef-Stuffed Potato Croquettes (มันสอดไส้; man saawt sai)
Man saawt sai, mashed potato shells encasing a minced-beef filling pounded with ginger, turmeric and coriander, fried golden. Jeeb Bunnag, 1933.
(c1941) Heavenly Clear Soup (แกงจืดสวรรค์; gaaeng jeuut saawan)
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