Here is a wonderful spicy Nam Tok recipe; you may as well go for it! A crispy fried fish dressed with plenty of fresh herbs, plenty of chilies than some lime juice, and fragrant ground roasted rice as a textural binder. It is an unpretentious dish, that is just about what is around and what is available; there is some sort of truth about it, which makes it so wonderful.
If you are trying your first Issan style recipe then this is the one to go for. It is not complicated to prepare and will show off beautifully the hearty and rustic flavors of Issan.
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Ingredients
- snakehead fish (ปลาช่อน) medium size about 300g (can be substituted with any firm white flesh fish)
- neutral tasting cooking oil (น้ำมันพืช)
Dressing
- 1/3 cup water or stock (น้ำเปล่าหรือน้ำสต๊อก)
- 1 1/2 tablespoon ground roasted glutinous rice (khao khua) (ข้าวคั่ว)
- 1 1/2 tablespoon ground dried chili (พริกป่น)
- 2 tablespoon lime juice (น้ำมะนาว)
- 2 tablespoon fish sauce (น้ำปลา)
- 1 teaspoon granulated sugar (น้ำตาลทราย)
- 1/3 cup spring onion (ต้นหอม) both green and white parts (about 2 stalks), finely chopped
- 1/3 cup coriander leaves (ใบผักชี) roughly chopped
- 1/3 cup mint leaves (ใบสะระแหน่) hand torn into halves.
- 1/3 cup lemongrass (ตะไคร้) (about 1 1/2 stalks), very finely chopped
- 4-5 shallots (หอมแดง) about 1/3 cup roughly chopped
- 3-5 kaffir lime leaves (ใบมะกรูด) thinly chopped
Garnish
- lettuce leaves (ผักกาดหอม) Mint leaves, fried dried bird’s eye chilies
Instructions
- Clean the fish. Remove the backbone and back fins. Score the body with diagonal cuts to allow even cooking.
ปลาช่อนให้แม่ค้าที่ตลาดทำความสะอาดให้เรียบร้อย - Deep-fry the fish on medium heat until golden and crispy from the outside. Set aside. If the fish is too large to be submerged in the oil, you can use a spatula to wash the exposed areas with hot oil. Be very careful. Hot oil is extremely dangerous!
ทอดโดยใช้น้ำมันให้ท่วมตัวปลา - On low heat fry a handful of dried bird’s eye chilies for decoration
ทอดพริกแห้งในน้ำมัน โดยใช้ไฟอ่อนจนพริกแห้งออกสีเงา ๆ - In a mixing bowl mix all the dressing ingredients in the order they are listed here.
ผสมเครื่องน้ำตก ประกอบด้วย น้ำเปล่า น้ำมะนาว น้ำปลา น้ำตาลทราย พริกป่น ข้าวคั่ว ผักชี ต้นหอม ใบสะระแหน่ตะไคร้ ใบมะกรูด และ หอมแดง เข้าด้วยกัน - Arrange lettuce leaves on a large serving plate. Place the deep-fried fish on top and pour the herbs dressing mixture over the fish.
- Decorate with fresh mint leaves and fried dried bird’s eye chilies.
วางปลาบนจาน และ ราดเครื่องน้ำตกทั้งหมดลงไป ตบแต่งด้วยพริกแห้งทอด และ ใบสะระแหน่ เป็นอันเสร็จ - Serve with hot sticky rice.
Rice Seasoned with Young Tamarind Relish, Sweetened Fish and Pickled Morning Glory (ข้าวคลุกน้ำพริกมะขามอ่อน ผักบุ้งดอง ปลาแห้งผัดหวาน และ ปลาดุกย่าง; Khaao Khlook Naam Phrik Makhaam Aawn Phakboong Daawng Bplaa Haaeng Phat Waan Lae Bplaa Dook Yaang)
Seasoned rice dishes have been a staple of rice-consuming societies almost since the first grains were cultivated. Adapted according to local resources, traditions and individual preferences, seasoned rice dishes are relished and savored across all walks of life. Within Siamese society, these dishes offer insight into the flavor instincts and eating habits across all demographics, revealing which food items were locally available and valued.
In this delicious seasoned rice recipe from the kitchens of the daughter of King Chulalongkorn, Princess Yaovabha Bongsanid (พระเจ้าบรมวงศ์เธอ พระองค์เจ้าเยาวภาพงศ์สนิท) (1884-1934), the Princess uses a variety of common preserved and inexpensive ingredients, clearly drawing inspiration from the cuisine of the Central Plains with nods to the rural and coastal living atmosphere.
Thai Fried Fish Recipe
Southern Thai Style Deep Fried Fish with Fresh Turmeric
(bplaa saai daaeng thaawt khamin)
สูตรทำปลาทรายแดงทอดขมิ้น สูตรปักษ์ใต้
If you are a fish lover, than you know that there are only few things in life that taste better than absolutely fresh fish, deep-fried to perfection with a crispy skin that brakes open to reveal the irresistible, steamy, firm white flesh.
Thai fried fish recipe originated from fishing communities of the south of Thailand, were fishes are being cooked as it arrive almost directly from the fishing boats.
An Ancient Siamese Recipe for Tom Yum Soup (First Published in 1890). Sour Spicy Tom Yum Soup with Snakehead Fish, Roasted Chili Jam and Green Mango (Dtohm Yam Bplaa Chaawn, ต้มยำปลาช่อนแบบโบราณ อย่างหม่อมซ่มจีน ราชานุประพันธุ์ ร.ศ.๑๐๙)
Tom yum soup from the late 19th-century Siam to present days. Including a step-by-step recreation of tom yum soup with snakehead fish (dtohm yam bplaa chaawn, ตัมยำปลาช่อน) as recorded by Maawm Sohm Jeen (Raa Chaa Noopraphan) (หม่อมซ่มจีน, ราชานุประพันธุ์) in her book “Tam Raa Gap Khao” (ตำรากับเข้า), published in 1890 (2433 BE, 109RE).
Fish Koi Recipe (Koi Pla)Vientiane Style Fish and Herbs Salad(gaawy bplaa nin vientiane ; ก้อยปลานิลเวียงจันทน์)
In 1833 Prince Mongkut, who later became King Rama IV, found a square stone inscription, known today as “The Ramkhamheang’s Inscription”, believed to be written 541 years earlier, in 1292, by King Ramkhamheang – the third king of The Sukhothai Dynasty (1279-1298).
In this inscription King Ramkhamheang tells the story of the Sukhothai regime; He includes details of the systems of law and describes how he ruled the people wisely, in a kind and personal, like father and son manner. King Ramkhamheang – (who was an outstanding warrior, statesman, scholar and diplomat who expanded his control from the Khmer kingdom of Angkor in the east, through much of what is today central and southern Thailand, to northern parts of Laos and Burma) – gives a picture of his kingdom as idyllic and free of constrains.
I love this straightforward grilled Thai fish curry in banana leaves because it packs a punch with its aromatic curry mixture that embrace the white and tender fish meat with great flavors. It is a great addition for any Thai meal and very easy to prepare.
Snakehead fish, traditionally caught from irrigation ditches or flooded rice fields, benefits from the aromatic curry paste because it helps to eliminate unpleasant odors which wild caught fishes might acquire from their muddy habitat. Nowadays though, it is commercially farmed and one can safely cook it in various ways with no risk of those undesirable odors.
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