Sunday, July 23, 2023

[New post] Beginner’s Choice: Traditional Thai Desserts

Beginner's Choice: Traditional Thai Desserts

chayohome2020

Jul 23

Chart, my brother, has been asking me to write an article on Thai desserts. Actually, I think he wants me to learn to make Thai desserts. He presented me with a beautiful book with recipes from the Heart of Thailand last Christmas, which had dessert recipes. I haven't been able to try any of the recipes yet. But on a recent trip to Bangkok, I made it a point to look for traditional Thai desserts. I had to look for kanom bueang (crispy Thai pancakes) for him, as it's one of his favourite desserts.

Kanom bueang (sweet yellow filling and savoury orange filling)

He sent me a video on how to make kanom krok (coconut-rice pancakes). I remember buying freshly-made ones from a street vendor near my grandmother's house in Bangkok when I was a child. I just discovered that the pans/skillets for making kanom krok are available online. They are pans with round moulds for the kanom krok batter to be poured into and cooked over a fire.

Kanom krok (original on the left and riceberry on the right)

I am a fan of kanom krok. They are usually white and are made of thick coconut milk, sugar, rice flour, tapioca flour, jasmine rice, shredded fresh coconut and a bit of salt. There are now dark purple kanom krok made from riceberry (black jasmine rice). I prefer the savoury version to the sweet version. I will put learning to make kanom krok on my to-do list.

My mother found kanom tung tak at a foodcourt in Fashion Island Mall. She was quite excited over her find as kanom tung tak is a not so commonly found in malls. A gentleman by the name Loh explained that kanom tung tak was originally a simple snack made with rice flour with freshly grated coconut filling, sprinkled with sugar and sesame seeds. These days the fillings are more varied, and can include taro, foithong, corn and pandan custard. (Foithong is a dessert made from egg yolk and sugar and looks like golden threads.) Kanom tung tak is similar to crepe, but is crispier and lighter, but it is not meant to be as crispy as kanom bueang. The filling of of kanom tung tak is more substantial then that of kanom bueang.

All said and done, my favourite Thai dessert is still coconut ice cream. My brother received an ice cream maker for his birthday a few years ago. He makes good coconut ice cream. It's a nice dessert for family gatherings or a gathering of friends. Coconut ice cream is usually served with toppings of peanut and jackfruit. There used to be coconut ice cream shops in Bangkok that served only coconut ice cream. I don't know if they still exist.