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Khao Chae, rice in ice
water, an authentic summer dish
available only from March to May, many
shops now sell Khao Chae all year.
However, summer is still the most
popular season for Khao Chae. The cool
fragrance of the soaked rice water,
combined with the sweet and salty flavor
of the side dish, aids in dissipating
heat and increasing freshness.
Khao Chae was
originally a Mon Songkran food that was
windspread into the royal court by
officials of Mon descent and then
returned to the villagers when the
palace was converted to Phetchaburi
Province, causing Khao Khae in Thailand
to be divided into Royal Palace Khao
Chae, Khao Chae Mueang Phet, and Khao
Chae Mon.
The Khao Chae set is
divided into two parts: rice and side
dishes. To make it look nice, the rice
must be old from the previous year. It
will be undercooked than usual and
polished in water several times by hand
until the rice grains are shiny and
beautiful. The soaked water is made from
fragrant seasonal flowers such as
jasmine, rose, chomnard, and ylang-ylang
and smoked with a scent candle, then
sprinkled with patchouli for cooling,
currently, ice is being used.
Each recipe
calls for a different Khao Chae side
dish. The only things that are still
popular today are shrimp paste balls,
stuffed shallots, and sweet fried
radish, stir-fried sweet fish, stuffed
bell peppers, and fresh vegetables such
as raw mangoes, finger roots, cucumbers,
fresh peppers, and spring
onions.
When eating Khao Chae, the
side dish and rice are scooped
separately, beginning with the salty and
fishy ingredients, such as stuffed bell
peppers and fried shrimp paste balls,
then begin eating sweet ingredients.
Meanwhile, fresh vegetables can be eaten
alongside to cut the greasy flavor and
add flavor.
เรื่องและภาพประกอบ : รัชนก ทองขาวขำ