Nam Prik Num Recipes

NAM PRIK NUM

Steps:

• Heat a dry cast-iron skillet over high heat until hot. Add chilies and reduce heat to moderately high. Dry-fry chilies, pressing down gently on chilies and turning with tongs, until blackened on all sides, 8 to 10 minutes, and transfer to a cutting board. Add shallots and garlic and reduce heat to moderately high. Dry-fry shallots and garlic, turning once, until softened and blackened, 8 to 10 minutes. Transfer shallots and garlic to a bowl to cool slightly. Dry-fry tomatoes in same manner.
• Wearing rubber gloves, cut off stem ends of chilies. Slice chilies lengthwise, discarding seeds (unless you want a very hot salsa). Finely chop chilies, shallots, and garlic and transfer to a ceramic or glass bowl. Discard tomato stems and skins. Finely chop tomatoes and add with any juices to chili mixture.
• Add coriander to taste, fish sauce, and lime juice and stir until combined (salsa will be chunky and a little soupy). Alternatively, all ingredients may be chopped together in a food processor, but the salsa has a more traditional coarse texture when chopped by hand. Let salsa stand, covered, 30 minutes to blend and mellow flavors. Salsa keeps, covered and chilled, 5 days.
• Serve salsa at room temperature with rice, cucumbers, and lettuce leaves for scooping.

NAM PRIK

Steps:

• Combine all the ingredients and stir; make sure the sugar dissolves.
• Taste and adjust the seasonings as necessary (I often add more nam pla). Let rest for a few minutes before serving or cover and refrigerate for about a day (return to room temperature before using).

NAM PRIK NUM

Steps:

• Heat the broiler.
• Place peppers, and whole garlic on a silicone or parchment-lined baking sheet.
• Broil 8 minutes, until garlic is beginning to blacken and peppers are soft.
• Transfer bell and banana peppers to a bowl and cover for 3 minutes.
• Peel and transfer all the peppers, along with accumulated juices and roasted garlic, to food processor.
• Add remaining ingredients and pulse until chopped and well combined.
• Transfer to a non-metallic container or serving bowl and let stand at room temperature until the flavors are melded, at least 30 minutes, or can 20 minutes in a waterbath.

NAM PRIK NAM PLA (TRADITIONAL THAI SAUCE)

Steps:

• Combine all ingredients in a bowl and mix until thoroughly blended.
• Store in airtight container up to two weeks.
• Serve with Thai Fried rice, grilled meats and satays, noodle soups or even with plain Jasmine rice.