Prawn Paste Relish

EVERY FAMILY HAS a recipe for this particular Nam Prik, or relish. Its flavours, textures and ingredients are elemental and its taste is quintessentially Thai. There is an interplay of sour, salty and hot and the pungency of roasted kapi that is excellent eaten with crisp raw vegetables such as cucumbers and green beans. There are myriad variations on this Nam Prik — you can add grilled prawns or finely shredded green mango, for example. Thai food is very adaptable and new dis