Sai oua, sometimes also known as Laotian sausage (, , also sai ua: , ; , ; , ), refers to a popular type of

sausage A sausage is a type of meat product usually made from ground meat—often pork, beef, or poultry—along with salt, spices and other flavourings. Other ingredients, such as grains or breadcrumbs, may be included as fillers or extenders. ...

made in

Laos Laos, officially the Lao People's Democratic Republic (LPDR), is the only landlocked country in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by Myanmar and China to the northwest, Vietnam to the east, Cambodia to the southeast, and Thailand to the west and ...

Myanmar Myanmar, officially the Republic of the Union of Myanmar; and also referred to as Burma (the official English name until 1989), is a country in northwest Southeast Asia. It is the largest country by area in Mainland Southeast Asia and has ...

, and

Thailand Thailand, officially the Kingdom of Thailand and historically known as Siam (the official name until 1939), is a country in Southeast Asia on the Mainland Southeast Asia, Indochinese Peninsula. With a population of almost 66 million, it spa ...

, especially northern Thailand, and northern

, from coarsely chopped fatty pork seasoned with lemongrass,

galangal Galangal () is a rhizome of plants in the ginger family Zingiberaceae, with culinary and medicinal uses originating in Indonesia. It is one of four species in the genus ''Alpinia'', and is known for its pungent, aromatic flavor. Greater gal ...

, kaffir lime leaves, shallots, cilantro, chilies, garlic, salt, sticky rice and

fish sauce Fish sauce is a liquid condiment made from fish or krill that have been coated in salt and fermented for up to two years. It is used as a staple seasoning in East Asian cuisine and Southeast Asian cuisine, particularly Myanmar, Cambodia, L ...

. "Lao sausage" is a broad term used to describe the local variant of Lao-style sai oua sausages found in Laos, Northern, and Northeastern Thailand. In

Shan State Shan State (, ; , ) is a administrative divisions of Myanmar, state of Myanmar. Shan State borders China (Yunnan) to the north, Laos (Louang Namtha Province, Louang Namtha and Bokeo Provinces) to the east, and Thailand (Chiang Rai Province, Chia ...

, Myanmar, this sausage is known as ''sai long phik''. In Thailand, it is also known as northern Thai sausage or Chiang Mai sausage that is a standard food of the northern provinces and has become very popular in the rest of

as well.

Description

contains minced pork meat, herbs, spices, and red curry paste. It can include coarsely chopped fatty pork seasoned with lemongrass,

, kaffir lime leaves, shallots, cilantro, chilies, garlic, salt, sticky rice and

. The sausage is fermented or dried and roasted or grilled before serving. It is usually eaten with sticky rice or served as a snack or starter. Traditionally was a homemade sausage, but today it is readily available in shops.

History

is an ancient Lao word for sausage, literally (intestine) (stuffed). The spicy sausage originates from Luang Prabang, Laos. Luang Prabang was once the royal capital and seat of power of the Kingdom of Lan Xang (1353-1707). The ancient city of

Luang Prabang Luang Prabang (Lao language, Lao: wikt:ຫຼວງພະບາງ, ຫຼວງພະບາງ, pronounced ), historically known as Xieng Thong (ຊຽງທອງ) and alternatively spelled Luang Phabang or Louangphabang, is the capital of Lu ...

is considered to be the cradle of Lao culture and cuisine. At the height of its power, Luang Prabang's influence stretches from the borders of Sipsongpanna (China) to Steung Treng (

Cambodia Cambodia, officially the Kingdom of Cambodia, is a country in Southeast Asia on the Mainland Southeast Asia, Indochinese Peninsula. It is bordered by Thailand to the northwest, Laos to the north, and Vietnam to the east, and has a coastline ...

), from the eastern border along the Annamite Range with

Vietnam Vietnam, officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam (SRV), is a country at the eastern edge of mainland Southeast Asia, with an area of about and a population of over 100 million, making it the world's List of countries and depende ...

to the western border Khorat Plateau ( Northeastern Thailand) and its sister kingdom of Lan Na. was listed in a collection of favorite dishes for the former Lao royal family written by Phia Sing (1898-1967), the king's personal chef and master of ceremonies and today is one of several popular traditional Lao dishes.

Types

There are two types of in Laos. * or pork sausage, literally (intestine) (stuffed) (pork) * or water buffalo sausage, literally (intestine) (stuffed) (water buffalo) The traditional recipe for served to Laotian royalties can be found in a collection of hand written recipes from Phia Sing (1898-1967), the king's personal chef and master of ceremonies. Phia Sing's hand written recipes were compiled and published for the first time in 1981.

Commercial preparation

Tong Tem Toh in Chiang Mai, Thailand drew international attention for its

hors d'oeuvre An hors d'oeuvre ( ; ), appetiser, appetizer or starter is a small dish served before a meal in European cuisine. Some hors d'oeuvres are served cold, others hot. Hors d'oeuvres may be served at the dinner table as a part of the meal, or ...

plate featuring . is also prepared in the Western diaspora of Thai and Lao people. Goldee's BBQ in

Fort Worth, Texas Fort Worth is a city in the U.S. state of Texas and the county seat of Tarrant County, Texas, Tarrant County, covering nearly into Denton County, Texas, Denton, Johnson County, Texas, Johnson, Parker County, Texas, Parker, and Wise County, Te ...

serves a smoked ("Lao sausage") based on Laotian American owner Nupohn Inthanousay's family recipe. At Blackstack Brewery in

Saint Paul, Minnesota Saint Paul (often abbreviated St. Paul) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital city of the U.S. state of Minnesota and the county seat of Ramsey County, Minnesota, Ramsey County. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, ...

, Soul Lao serves their version of the sausage. Kao Soy in

Brooklyn, New York Brooklyn is a Boroughs of New York City, borough of New York City located at the westernmost end of Long Island in the New York (state), State of New York. Formerly an independent city, the borough is coextensive with Kings County, one of twelv ...

was named "Best of New York" by '' New York'' magazine in 2015 for its northern Thai . Estrella Dam National Restaurant Awards-winner Singburi in

London London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...

is noted for their own .

Similar sausages

Similar sausages in Lao cuisine include (, "soured Lao sausage"), (; sweet sausage), and (; blood sausage), (; sour sausage) and (; beef

liver The liver is a major metabolic organ (anatomy), organ exclusively found in vertebrates, which performs many essential biological Function (biology), functions such as detoxification of the organism, and the Protein biosynthesis, synthesis of var ...

sausage).

References

External links

Sai Ua Moo (pork sausage) recipe

Tum Mak Houng, Ping Pa, Sai Ua

{{Portal bar, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Food Lao sausages Thai sausages Northern Thai cuisine Burmese cuisine