In this cooking lesson we are preparing one of the Thai versions of a worldwide popular starter and snack: Popiah, which is the name for spring rolls in Singapore, Malaysia, Taiwan and Thailand.
Spring rolls are rolled and filled appetizers which come in a large variety. Its origins are from China. The Chinese chūn juǎn (春卷) literally translated means “spring roll” and comes from a pancake filled with fresh spring vegetables.
The popiah we are preparing in this cooking class is the fried one, the most common variety in Thailand. If our cooking students are interested, we teach as well the tiny snack variety shown in the picture. Other varieties of Popiah are “Salad Rolls”. This is often the choice or our more health oriented vegetarian students. The difference to the spring rolls described here is merely that it’s rolled in a different pastry and not deep fried. This way to prepare spring rolls is more common in Vietnam, which is the reason that the pastry used is called “Vietnamese spring roll pastry”. It actually is just rice paper.
For now have fun with the popiah cooking class.
Originally of Lao origin (Tam Som), Som Tam (Green Papaya Salad) is now a recognized Thai dish which made it into the “World’s 50 most delicious dishes” published by CNN Go in 2011. It was introduced to central Thailand by people from Laos and Isan (Thai province bordering Laos) moving to Bangkok in the search for work. It is now prepared in many variations all over SE-Asia and in the western world, where it is mostly known under its Thai name “Som Tam”. The reversal of the Lao name means exactly the same like in Laos: “pounded sour”. It is appealing to the 5 main tastes of the Thai cuisine which are: Sour from the lime, spicy from the chillies, umami (pleasant savory), salty and sweet from the palm sugar. The green papaya itself is not sweet at all and has a slightly tangy flavor and a firm and crispy texture.
There are variations of pounded salads which do not necessarily contain papaya. It can be prepared as well with fruits for a more sweet taste. These salads are called Tam Pohlamay e.g. and we will show them to you in another cooking lesson.
The following recipe is not the Yellow Curry แกงกะหรี่ (gaeng kari) commonly found under the label Yellow Curry in Thai restaurants in the west, but แกงเหลือง (kaeng lueang), literally translated “Yellow Curry”. This Thai dish is also known as gaeng som and belongs to the Southern Thai Cuisine. It is lighter in color than the gaeng kari and more sharp and spicy in taste.
Like most other curries in Thai cuisine it can be prepared with different main ingredients. The recipe below is the vegetarian variety with Tofu. In our cooking courses you can choose which main ingredient to go with the Curry.
