Category Archives: Food Analysis

Thailand Food Exploration: Kra Pao Kai/Moo Kai Dow

Our Thai host ordered a very enticing-looking dish for dinner recently, and the next day, we followed suit.

kra pao kai kai dow

Kra pao kai (pictured) or kra pao moo (if pork) translates as chicken (kai) stir-fried with holy basil. The kai dow on the end means fried egg, a popular addition to the dish, but you can leave it off when ordering if you don’t fancy it. The egg aside, it is a light, clean-tasting dish, inexpensive and seemingly very common.

Thailand Food Exploration: Nang Let

The same small restaurant that serves the gaeng jued tam luang also sells packets of Thai sweets. This includes nang let, a delicious crispy snack.

nang let

They are made from cooked sticky rice that has been formed into patties, dried, fried and topped with a swirl of palm sugar caramel. A sprinkle of black sesame seeds is mixed in with the rice, which adds a subtle nutty flavour.

Thailand Food Exploration: Khanom Krok

On a previous visit to Thailand nearly 5 years ago, while out with our hosts we suddenly screeched to the side of the road and shortly afterwards were the proud owners of a box of khanom krok. Hot, crispy, soft and coconutty, the little half-spheres were sublimely delicious.

khanom krok cooking

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