Isan (North-eastern Thai) food – Thailand’s answer to BBQ

After a very active morning of visiting the temples, Wat Arun and Wat Pho, Tee took me to a very popular Isan restaurant in the streets near the river, on the opposite side of the water from Wat Arun. On the side of a busy street stood a restaurant packed to bursting point, that luckily had one table for two available – we were in luck! Tee set to work ordering our food from a little ‘check-list’ menu, much like the ones you see in Chinese Dim Sum restaurants in England.

In five minutes all our food had arrived! She had ordered brilliantly. We enjoyed a very traditional Isan meal. Tee had chosen grilled Pork, Catfish and Chicken to go with a Salty Crab Som Tam (or green papaya salad). In addition we had a pork salad with mint and Thai basil and a Bamboo salad. Sticky rice and fresh vegetables were served alongside with a different dipping sauce to go with each meat.

Grilled Chicken and Catfish

Grilled Pork

Som Tam with Salty Crabs

Pork salad with Thai Sweet Basil and Mint

Bamboo Sald

Everything was fantastic. The meats had a wonderful smokiness imparted by the grilling cooking method, and the hot, sour, sweet, salty Som Tam worked with the smoky meat perfectly. Tee also explained the dipping sauces that went with each meat – Ground chilli dipping sauce went with the pork, the hot and sour sauce went with the catfish and the sweet chilli sauce went with the chicken. As a Brit though, I went off piste and used the hot and sour sauce on everything!! A very un-Thai way of doing things…

If you have the chance, I urge you this summer to try and add some Isan magic to your back garden BBQs. Crack open a Singha, through some lamb steaks/ chops on (seasoned with soy sauce and garlic) and make a delicious Som Tam salad to accompany it (see http://www.bluedragon.com/recipes/green-papaya-salad-som-tam.aspx). You’ll be blown away at how good it tastes!

Happy Cooking!

HJ