Nam phrik
Encyclopedia
Nam phrik generally pronounced "Nam phik", is a generic term that may refer to any of the types of more or less thick spicy
, often chili
based, hot sauce
s typical of Thai cuisine. The main ingredients of Nam phrik are fresh or dry chilies, garlic
, shallot
s, fish sauce
, lime juice
and/or some kind of fish
or shrimp paste
. In the traditional way of preparing the sauce, the ingredients are pounded together in a mortar
. Salt
is added to taste.
Nam phrik is normally served on very small plates placed by the main dish as a condiment
or dip
for bland preparations, like raw or boiled greens
, fish, poultry and meats. Depending from the type, the region and the family that prepares it Nam phrik may vary in texture from a liquid to a paste and to an almost dry, granulous or powdery consistence.
, green mango
, galangal
, lemongrass and/or mushroom
s. The fish paste may be made in a variety of ways, by mincing dried, boiled or salted fish, fish roe, or may be replaced by tomato and minced pork. In Isan
Pla ra
, giving an intense flavor, is often used. Some types of Nam phrik may be sweetened with sugar
. Among the most widespread varieties, the following deserve mention:
Spice
A spice is a dried seed, fruit, root, bark, or vegetative substance used in nutritionally insignificant quantities as a food additive for flavor, color, or as a preservative that kills harmful bacteria or prevents their growth. It may be used to flavour a dish or to hide other flavours...
, often chili
Chili
-Food:* Chili pepper, the spicy fruit of plants in the genus Capsicum* Chili powder, dried, ground red chili peppers, sometimes with cumin and other spices* Chili con carne, often referred to simply as "chili" a stew-like dish...
based, hot sauce
Hot sauce
Hot sauce, chili sauce or pepper sauce refers to any spicy sauce made from chili peppers and other ingredients.-Ingredients:There are many recipes for hot sauces - the common ingredient being any kind of peppers. A group of chemicals called capsaicinoids are responsible for the heat in chili peppers...
s typical of Thai cuisine. The main ingredients of Nam phrik are fresh or dry chilies, garlic
Garlic
Allium sativum, commonly known as garlic, is a species in the onion genus, Allium. Its close relatives include the onion, shallot, leek, chive, and rakkyo. Dating back over 6,000 years, garlic is native to central Asia, and has long been a staple in the Mediterranean region, as well as a frequent...
, shallot
Shallot
The shallot is the botanical variety of Allium cepa to which the multiplier onion also belongs. It was formerly classified as the species A. ascalonicum, a name now considered a synonym of the correct name...
s, fish sauce
Fish sauce
Fish sauce is a condiment that is derived from fish that have been allowed to ferment. It is an essential ingredient in many curries and sauces. Fish sauce is a staple ingredient in numerous cultures in Southeast Asia and the coastal regions of East Asia, and features heavily in Thai and Vietnamese...
, lime juice
Lime (fruit)
Lime is a term referring to a number of different citrus fruits, both species and hybrids, which are typically round, green to yellow in color, 3–6 cm in diameter, and containing sour and acidic pulp. Limes are a good source of vitamin C. Limes are often used to accent the flavors of foods and...
and/or some kind of fish
Fish paste
-Fermented products:* Ngapi: a fish paste used in the Cuisine of Burma* Petis Ikan: a salty dark fish paste used in the Cuisine of Indonesia, mostly Madurese....
or shrimp paste
Shrimp paste
Shrimp paste or shrimp sauce, is a common ingredient used in Southeast Asian and Southern Chinese cuisine. It is known as terasi in Indonesian, ngapi in Burmese, kapi in Thai, Khmer and Lao language, belacan in Malay, mắm ruốc, mắm tép and mắm tôm in...
. In the traditional way of preparing the sauce, the ingredients are pounded together in a mortar
Mortar and pestle
A mortar and pestle is a tool used to crush, grind, and mix solid substances . The pestle is a heavy bat-shaped object, the end of which is used for crushing and grinding. The mortar is a bowl, typically made of hard wood, ceramic or stone...
. Salt
Salt
In chemistry, salts are ionic compounds that result from the neutralization reaction of an acid and a base. They are composed of cations and anions so that the product is electrically neutral...
is added to taste.
Nam phrik is normally served on very small plates placed by the main dish as a condiment
Condiment
A condiment is an edible substance, such as sauce or seasoning, added to food to impart a particular flavor, enhance its flavor, or in some cultures, to complement the dish. Many condiments are available packaged in single-serving sachets , like mustard or ketchup, particularly when supplied with...
or dip
DIP
Dip may refer to:* The Dip, in the 1988 film Who Framed Roger Rabbit, a substance which kills animated characters* Dip , an evil demonic dog that drinks people's blood* Dip , a partner dance move...
for bland preparations, like raw or boiled greens
Boiled greens
Boiled greens are leaves cooked for food. They are part of many cuisines, and may be the leaves of common cultivated vegetables, such as spinach, fennel, mustard, or turnip, or the leaves of wild plants such as dandelion, wild radish, and purple amaranth....
, fish, poultry and meats. Depending from the type, the region and the family that prepares it Nam phrik may vary in texture from a liquid to a paste and to an almost dry, granulous or powdery consistence.
Selected types
There are many different variants of Nam phrik, according to the ingredients, the preparation and the region. Some may include tamarindTamarind
Tamarind is a tree in the family Fabaceae. The genus Tamarindus is monotypic .-Origin:...
, green mango
Mangifera indica
Mangifera indica is a species of mango in the Anacardiaceae family. It is found in the wild in India and cultivated varieties have been introduced to other warm regions of the world...
, galangal
Galangal
Galangal is a rhizome of plants of the genus Alpinia or Kaempferia in the ginger family Zingiberaceae, with culinary and medicinal uses originated from Indonesia...
, lemongrass and/or mushroom
Mushroom
A mushroom is the fleshy, spore-bearing fruiting body of a fungus, typically produced above ground on soil or on its food source. The standard for the name "mushroom" is the cultivated white button mushroom, Agaricus bisporus; hence the word "mushroom" is most often applied to those fungi that...
s. The fish paste may be made in a variety of ways, by mincing dried, boiled or salted fish, fish roe, or may be replaced by tomato and minced pork. In Isan
Isan
Isan is the northeastern region of Thailand. It is located on the Khorat Plateau, bordered by the Mekong River to the north and east, by Cambodia to the southeast and the Prachinburi mountains south of Nakhon Ratchasima...
Pla ra
Pla ra
Pla ra is fermented fish sauce, popular in Northeastern Thai cuisine.It is made by pickling several varieties of fish, mainly Snakehead Murrel . The fish is cleaned and cut into pieces, after which it is mixed with salt and rice bran...
, giving an intense flavor, is often used. Some types of Nam phrik may be sweetened with sugar
Sugar
Sugar is a class of edible crystalline carbohydrates, mainly sucrose, lactose, and fructose, characterized by a sweet flavor.Sucrose in its refined form primarily comes from sugar cane and sugar beet...
. Among the most widespread varieties, the following deserve mention:
- Nam phrik kapi is one of the most widespread varieties and is typical of Central ThailandCentral ThailandCentral Thailand is a region of Thailand, covering the broad alluvial plain of the Chao Phraya River. It is separated from North-East Thailand by the Phetchabun mountain range, and another mountain range separates it from Myanmar to the west. In the north it gently changes into the more hilly...
. It is often eaten with Pla thu and vegetables, among other dishes. - Nam phrik ong , a traditional specialty of Northern ThailandNorthern ThailandThailand's northern region is geographically characterised by multiple mountain ranges which continue from the Shan Hills in bordering Myanmar and Laos, and the river valleys which cut through them...
with minced pork. - Nam phrik phao . Sweetened with sugar with, among other ingredients, roasted chilies and tamarind.
- Nam phrik num , a thick northern specialty based on roasted green chilies, onion and garlic, usually eaten along with vegetables, pork cracklings and sticky rice
- Nam phrik pla salat pon (น้ำพริกปลาสลาดป่น), also known as Phrik pla salat pon, is a variety of Nam phrik with powdered roasted dry Pla salat (Notopterus notopterusNotopterus notopterusThe Bronze Featherback or Notopterus notopterus is a fish in family Notopteridae found in India, Bangladesh, Pakistan and other regions of Asia. It is the only member of its genus.This fish appears in a stamp of the Kingdom of Laos.-Uses:...
). All main ingredients (the dry fish, red dry chili and garlic) are previously roasted until crunchy. Shrimp paste and sugar are also added and the mixture is pounded in a mortarMortar and pestleA mortar and pestle is a tool used to crush, grind, and mix solid substances . The pestle is a heavy bat-shaped object, the end of which is used for crushing and grinding. The mortar is a bowl, typically made of hard wood, ceramic or stone...
. It is eaten along with raw vegetables and is popular in KhoratKhoratKhorat can refer to*the informal name of Nakhon Ratchasima town or Nakhon Ratchasima Province*the Khorat Sub-district in Sung Noen District of Nakhon Ratchasima Province...
. - Nam phrik pla ching chang , a Nam phrik type based on small local anchovies (StolephorusStolephorusStolephorus is a genus of fish in the Engraulidae family.-Species:It currently contains 20 species:* Stolephorus advenus Wongratana, 1987 * Stolephorus andhraensis Babu Rao, 1966...
) popular in PhuketPhuket ProvincePhuket , formerly known as Thalang and, in Western sources, Junk Ceylon , is one of the southern provinces of Thailand...
. - Nam phrik pla yang . Its main ingredient is minced grilled fish, usually Pla Chon, mixed with onion, garlic, powdered chili, tamarindTamarindTamarind is a tree in the family Fabaceae. The genus Tamarindus is monotypic .-Origin:...
, shrimp paste, fish sauce and sugar. - Nam phrik pla ra , with Pla raPla raPla ra is fermented fish sauce, popular in Northeastern Thai cuisine.It is made by pickling several varieties of fish, mainly Snakehead Murrel . The fish is cleaned and cut into pieces, after which it is mixed with salt and rice bran...
as one of the main ingredients. Like in most types of Nam phrik, a little water is used if the mixture becomes too thick.
See also
- List of Thai dishes
- List of Thai ingredients
- Nam chim
- Sriracha sauce