Nam Prik

nam prik the most popular sauce in Thailand, without which Thai food would be very different. (Since chilli peppers are an essential ingredient, it is clear that Thai food was in fact very different before the chilli arrived in SE Asia from the New World.)

Nam prik is on the table at every Thai meal, but exists in many versions. The essential features are, apart from chopped dried red chilli peppers (including their seeds), lime juice, Thai fish sauce (nam pla), garlic, and a little sugar. Chopped dried shrimps are often added, and so are the smallest of all aubergines (makeua puong—pea sized).