Love Destiny spices things up with Kuay Tiew Bok, a rare Thai dish worth slurping about

In the latest episode of the Thai drama series Phrom Likhit, or Love Destiny, a unique, ancient Thai dish, Kuay Tiew Bok, is prominently featured. The dish, more commonly known as Kuay Tiew Lui Suan, is a challenge to find in restaurants and has piqued the interest of many viewers.

Kuay Tiew Bok, much like Kuay Tiew Lui Suan, is a versatile dish boasting an assortment of meat types to suit personal preferences. It can be enjoyed with fresh vegetables wrapped in small parcels, making it an ideal snack or a substantial meal due to its health benefits, including its low-fat content. The dish is served with a seafood dipping sauce, which varies in taste depending on individual family recipes.

Noodles were likely introduced to Thailand around the time of King Narai when the nation had extensive contact with foreigners, particularly the Chinese. The Chinese brought noodles to Thailand, initially consumed on boats and cooked in a soup with pork, vegetables, and various seasonings for flavour.

This was a novelty for the Thais at the time, who subsequently adapted it into other dishes, leading to the widespread popularity of noodle dishes. The origin of Kuay Tiew Bok is unclear, but it is believed to have been developed in central Thailand due to its similar consumption style to various Mieng dishes, accompanied by fresh vegetables and various meats.

Typically, the vegetables consumed with this dish include Chinese cabbage, cabbage, Thai basil, Pennywort, and cucumber, among others, according to personal preference. The indispensable element of the dish, however, is the dipping sauce, reported KhaoSod.

The preparation method involves briefly blanching the noodles and not overcooking them. The dish is plated by first layering Chinese cabbage on the plate, followed by the blanched noodles. Various vegetables are added, along with shrimp, chicken, peanuts, and fried garlic sprinkled on top.

The dish is completed by drizzling prepared dipping sauce over the top. Once all the ingredients are mixed, the dish is ready to enjoy.

This illuminating insight into an old and lesser-known Thai dish was provided by a local doctor and has sparked a renewed interest in traditional Thai cuisine.