''Khanom thuai talai'' (, ), usually shortened to ''khanom thuai'' (), is a
Thai dessert
This is a list of Thai khanom, comprising snacks and desserts that are a part of Thai cuisine. Some of these dishes are also a part of other cuisines. The word "khanom" (), refers to snack or dessert, presumably being a compound between two words, ...
made from
rice flour
Rice flour (also rice powder) is a form of flour made from finely milled rice. It is distinct from rice starch, which is usually produced by steeping rice in lye. Rice flour is a common substitute for wheat flour. It is also used as a thickening ...
,
coconut milk
Coconut milk is a plant milk extracted from the grated pulp of mature coconuts. The opacity and rich taste of the milky-white liquid are due to its high oil content, most of which is saturated fat. Coconut milk is a traditional food ingred ...
and sugar. Its name is derived from the small ceramic cups in which the dessert is cooked and distinctively served, which are called ''thuai talai'' ("talai" bowls). Ingredients may also include salt, eggs and
pandan essence.
Khanom thuai has a sweet taste in contrast with a salty taste. There are two parts of the Khanom thuai, the "body" and the "face". The body is at the bottom with the face resting on it. In the past, the body section will have a light brown color from coconut sugar. However, nowadays, people are applying a variety of ingredients to change different aspects of the dessert (taste and looks). For example, by applying pandan leaf, the body will change color to white, and by applying butterfly pea, the body will change color to light blue.
In Thailand, Khanom thuai is well known across the country and is commonly eaten alongside
boat noodles and sold at
street shops. Bangkok neighborhoods that are notable for serving Khanom thuai include
Talad Nang Loeng (ตลาดนางเลิ้ง, ''Nang Loeng market'') in
Pom Prap Sattru Phai.
History
In the past, Khanom Thuai was generally made only for important cultural dates and festivals, such as weddings, ordinations, and events similar to Songkran day. This is due to the number of recourse both manpower and ingredients that are required are quite high. In addition, the recipe for making this delicacy changes drastically over time, and for the dessert to be more suitable for different purposes, for example, Khanom Thuai which is given to the monks as an offering has a different recipe than normal ones, in this case, the recipe was adjusted so that it is more difficult to becomes doughy.
Modern versions
There are many variation of Khanom Thuai at the present date. Adding different colors and other ingredients, such as pandan leaf or young coconut, is a popular act that is commonly done in stores across Bangkok.
Price of Khanom Thuai depending on where you buy it. It can vary from 2 or 5 bath per piece up to 10 bath.
See also
*
Coconut pudding
*
List of Thai desserts
This is a list of Thai khanom, comprising snack
A snack is a small portion of Human food, food generally Eating, eaten between meals. Snacks come in a variety of forms including Food packaging, packaged snack foods and other processed foods, ...
*
Serabi
References
External links
Steamed Pandanus Cakeon enjoythaifood.com
{{Cuisine of Thailand
Thai desserts and snacks
Foods containing coconut