Name: David Thompson: Pineapple and dried prawns with kanom jin noodles (Kanom jin sao nahm)
Yield: 4
Ingredients: 1 cup coconut cream; Good pinch of salt; 600 gm fresh kanom jin noodles or 500gm dried kanom jin noodles; 2 cups finely chopped pineapple; 1 cup shredded young ginger; 1 cup shredded green mango, from about 1 small green mango; 2-3 tbsp sliced garlic (young, new-season garlic is best); ½ cup coarsely ground dried prawns; 5 or so bird’s eye chillies (scuds), chopped (more or less, to taste); Dash of fish sauce; Dressing; 1 cup white sugar; 1 tsp salt; 4 tbsp fish sauce; 5-6 bird’s eye chillies (scuds), pounded or finely sliced; Squeeze of lime juice

“This is a clean, refreshing dish that was originally devised about 150 years ago, to be offered to monks in the hot season. However, it is now served in markets throughout Thailand year-round, especially during hot weather. It is particularly popular where pineapples are grown, around Phetchaburi and a little further south. All the ingredients are served at room temperature and a spoonful of each item – as much or as little as desired – is sprinkled over the noodles. Some stalls offer variations such as tart, green hog apples (makrok) or sour cucumbers (madan) in place of the green mango, according to the season and the region. Some fancy cooks will even add some sour snakeskin pears (salak). I have come across old recipes that propose pomelo too, but I have never seen this on the streets.”

Ingredients

1 cup coconut cream

Good pinch of salt

600 gm fresh kanom jin noodles or 500gm dried kanom jin noodles

2 cups finely chopped pineapple

1 cup shredded young ginger

1 cup shredded green mango, from about 1 small green mango

2-3 tbsp sliced garlic (young, new-season garlic is best)

½ cup coarsely ground dried prawns

5 or so bird’s eye chillies (scuds), chopped (more or less, to taste)

Dash of fish sauce

Dressing

1 cup white sugar

1 tsp salt

4 tbsp fish sauce

5-6 bird’s eye chillies (scuds), pounded or finely sliced

Squeeze of lime juice

Method

Main

1.First make the dressing by simmering the sugar with 1 cup of water, the salt, fish sauce and scuds for a few minutes until slightly reduced. Remove from the heat and add the lime juice. As it cools, the dressing will thicken a little. It should taste quite sweet and salty and just a little tart and spicy. Allow to cool completely.

2.Simmer the coconut cream with a good pinch of salt until slightly thickened but not separated. Put to the side to cool.

3.To serve, wrap each skein of noodles around the fingertips to form a scroll and place in a bowl, allowing two skeins per person. Top with the pineapple, ginger, green mango and sliced garlic. Spoon over the dressing and sprinkle with the ground dried prawns and chillies. Drizzle over a dash of fish sauce.

4. To finish, spoon over the simmered coconut cream.

Note This recipe is from Thai Street Food by David Thompson, published by Penguin Lantern ($100, hbk), and appeared in the November 2009 issue of Australian Gourmet Traveller. The specialty ingredients used in these recipes are available from Asian supermarkets and Asian greengrocers. David Thompson’s recipes are reproduced here without Gourmet Traveller style changes.
Notes

David Thompson

Ingredients

Method

Main

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