Fat Horse – A Thai appetizer with an amusing name: (ม้าอ้วน ; maa uaan)

By: Hanuman, Thaan Khun and Chef Thapakorn Lertviriyavit (Gorn)
🔊 Listen to the Thai name pronunciation
Fat Horse - A Thai appetizer with an amusing name: (ม้าอ้วน ; maa uaan)

The names of Thai dishes usually communicate their main ingredient, their cooking technique or, at times, their origin. Yet, a large element in the charm of Thai cuisine are dishes bestowed with unusual – sometimes downright poetic names – such as “crystal dragon” (mang gaawn khaap gaaeo, มังกรคาบแก้ว), “galloping horse” (maa haaw, ม้าฮ่อ) and “fat horse” (maa uaan, ม้าอ้วน).

Early Siamese literature was produced, patronized and supported, as well as controlled and consumed, by the aristocracy; it reflected the life of the court elites. In contrast, Sunthorn Phu, the “poet of the people”, was the first classical Thai author who was not a member of the nobility. His humble origins and his use of popular language and simple forms of verse appealed to a wider audience.

Sunthorn Phu
Sunthorn Phu
Thai Human Imagery Museum,
Nakhon Pathom

Sunthorn Phu was born in 1786, in the days of the early Rattanakosin era, and 19 years after the destruction of the capital Ayutthaya by the Burmese army in 1767. It was also a mere four years after King Phra Phutthayotfa Chulalok (Rama I) of Chakri Dynasty came to power in 1782, bringing to an end a chaotic period of power struggles and revolutions in which Siamese, Burmese, provincial warlords and Chinese merchants, along with missionaries and soldiers, were fighting for dominance.

this content is locked

Unlock exclusive content!

Log in now or become a valued subscriber 

Login

Forgot password? 

Incorrect username or password.

New account

Incorrect username or password.

As child from a broken family, Sunthorn was famous for his unstable temperament; some said he was a drunk, a vagrant, and a womanizer who spent quite a lot of time behind bars. And, indeed, it was in jail that he began to write his epic work, Phra Abhai Mani – a colossus that spans across 94 books, totaling about 30,000 lines of verse.

As a poet, Sunthorn  spent much of his life under royal patronage, living to witness the reigns of four Kings. Respected by King Rama II, who commissioned literature, Sunthorn was disliked by Rama III; the resentment was generated by Sunthorn’s criticism of Rama III’s early poetry while the King was still a prince.  Meanwhile, Rama IV appointed Sunthorn as a Poet Laureate, a position maintained until Sunthorn’s death in 1855.

Maa uaan is first mentioned in Sunthorn Phu’s “Phra Abhai Mani”, which suggests that the dish enjoyed a certain amount of renown before emerging in print.  Due to the popular “market-like” nature of Sunthorn’s writing, we can safely assume that maa uaan was a dish consumed by commoners. But, since the dish is not typically Thai, it could also be that it was served in only during special occasions or ceremonies.

Maa ouan is a dish with clear Chinese characteristics. It resembles the filling of khanohm jeep dumplings (ขนมจีบ), the crab and pork meat fillings of haawy jaaw (ฮ่อยจ๊อ), or the shrimp and pork meat mix of haae geun (แฮ่กึน).

Sunthorn Phu also takes the time to note other dishes that are clearly of Chinese origin, such as steamed duck (bpet neung, เป็ดนึ่ง) and barbecued suckling pig (สุกรหัน). King Rama II, who respected Sunthorn Phu’s work, also refers to some favorite royal dishes of clear Chinese origin in his culinary poetry Gaap Heh Chohm Khreuuang Khaao Waan (กาพย์เห่ชมเครื่องคาว – หวาน), recited or sung during the procession of the royal barge. Those dishes included sohm choon, a lychee dish, as well as boiled pork spleen (dtohm dtap lek, ต้มตับเหล็ก), steamed bird’s nests (rang nohk neung, รังนกนึ่ง), and persimmons (luuk phlap, ลูกพลับ).

We will demonstrate today’s maa uaan recipe as recorded in Lady Plean Passakornrawong’s 1908 book, “Maae Khruaa Huaa Bpaa” (แม่ครัวหัวป่าก์). Minced pork and shrimp meat are seasoned with garlic, coriander roots, white peppercorns and salt, then mixed with duck egg and a bit of coconut cream, placed in small ceramic cups (thuay dta lai, ถ้วยตะไล), and steamed. It can be served either as a starter, an hors d’oeuvres, or even as a side dish to curries.

A slightly different version appears in Lady Gleep Mahithaawn’s book, “Recipes for Teaching Children and Grandchildren” (หนังสือกับข้าวสอนลูกหลาน), printed for her 72nd birthday celebration on January 7, 1949.

Lady Gleep Mahithaawn writes that minced chicken meat can be used; she also adds crushed roasted peanuts, and lengthwise-sliced pickled garlic.

Thai Appetizer – Fat Horse (maa uaan) Recipe
Hanuman and Chef Thapakorn Lertviriyavit (Gorn)
Maa ouan is an appetizer with clear Chinese characteristics. It resembles the filling of khanohm jeep dumplings (ขนมจีบ), the crab and pork meat fillings of haawy jaaw (ฮ่อยจ๊อ), or the shrimp and pork meat mix of haae geun (แฮ่กึน). Minced pork and shrimp meat are seasoned with garlic, coriander roots, white peppercorns and salt, then mixed with duck egg and a bit of coconut cream, placed in small ceramic cups (thuay dta lai, ถ้วยตะไล), and steamed. It can be served either as a starter, an hors d’oeuvres, or even as a side dish to curries.
No ratings yet

Add your own recipe notes

You must be a member to use this feature

Add to Collection Add to Shopping List
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Course Appetizer
Cuisine Thai
Servings 15

Ingredients
  

  • 3/4 cup pork meat (เนื้อหมู) minced
  • 1/2 cup minced shrimp meat (เนื้อกุ้งสับ) minced
  • 2 tablespoons shrimp tomalley (มันกุ้ง)
  • 4 tablespoons firm pork fat (มันหมูแข็ง) uncooked
  • 2 tablespoons coriander roots (รากผักชี)
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons Thai garlic (กระเทียมไทย)
  • 2 teaspoons white peppercorns (พริกไทย) (S1)
  • 1 1/2 teaspoon sea salt (เกลือทะเล)
  • 1 duck egg (ไข่เป็ด)
  • 2 duck egg yolk (ไข่แดงของไข่เป็ด)
  • 2 tablespoons coconut cream (หัวกะทิ)

top with

Instructions
 

  • In a pestle and mortar, pound together coriander roots, garlic, white peppercorns and salt. Set aside.
  • Boil thin slices of pork fat until cooked. Strain, and cool to room temperature.
  • Slice the pork fat into small cubes. Set aside.
  • Place in a mixing bowl the minced shrimp meat, minced pork meat, the pork fat cubes, duck eggs and the garlic-coriander-white pepper paste.
  • Mix well.
  • Add coconut cream.
  • Knead the mixture thoroughly, throwing the mixture into the bowl a few times to help condense the texture of the meats.
  • Place small ceramic cups (thuay dta lai, ถ้วยตะไล) on a steaming tray.
  • Spoon the meat filling into each cup, leaving a 0.5 cm gap from the rim.
  • Steam the cups for about 5 minutes.
  • Mix the shrimp tomalley with the duck egg yolks.
  • Drizzle the yolks, filling each cup completely.
  • Steam for additional 2 minutes.
  • Decorate with coriander leaves and julienned fresh red chili pepper. Serve.
Tried this recipe?We’d love to see it – tag it #THAIFOODMASTER on Instagram! Please leave a comment to let us know how it was!

Get Access – Join Thaifoodmaster Today

Practical and kitchen-tested recipes with a mix of theory, history, psychology, and Siamese culture tidbits.

  • Get access to everything right away. Unlock more than 50 Masterclasses, over 250 recipes and Articles

    Access to Thaifoodmaster’s constantly growing library of prime professional classes, articles, recipes and videos on Siamese culinary topics, available nowhere else in English.

  • GET EXTRA - New Monthly Masterclasses and Recipes

    Gain access to NEW MONTHLY masterclasses as they become available. 

  • 1-1 support from Hanuman

    1-1 support from Hanuman to help you achieve your professional Thai culinary goals

  • Live Q&A Sessions

    The opportunity to join a monthly live two-hour videoconference where I can answer your questions.

  • Great Value!

    one year access for the price of 3 days in-person training.

You will get everything you need to:

  • To Get inspired

    When you design or build a new menu for an event or restaurant or even prepare for dinner with friends.

  • To Satisfy your curiosity.

    Finally !

  • To Master Your Craft

    Master your Thai cooking skills and expand your repertoire.

It is truly brilliant with a revolutionary approach introducing aspects and concepts never broached by cookbooks.
Ian Westcott
Ian Westcott
Sourcing Wines for Discerning Private Clients
0 0 votes
Article Rating
Subscribe
Notify of

Previous:

Next:

0
Would love your thoughts, please comment.x
()
x
Get a Free copy of my eBook "49 Classic Thai Stir Fry Dishes"

Subscribe to our newsletter that will keep you up to date with stories and events taking place at Thaifoodmaster!