''Naem'' (, ; , ; , ; , ; also referred to as ''nam'', ''nham'', ''naem moo'', ''som moo'', ''naem maw'', ''chin som'') is a

pork Pork is the culinary name for the meat of the pig (''Sus domesticus''). It is the most commonly consumed meat worldwide, with evidence of pig animal husbandry, husbandry dating back to 8000–9000 BCE. Pork is eaten both freshly cooke ...

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. ...

in Lao and Thai cuisine. It is a fermented food that has a sour flavor. It has a short shelf life, and is often eaten in raw form after the fermentation process has occurred. It is a popular Southeast Asian food, and different regions of Southeast Asia have various preferred flavors, including variations of sour and spicy. ''Naem'' is used as an ingredient in various dishes and is also served as a

side dish A side dish, sometimes referred to as a side order, side item, or simply a side, is a food item that accompanies the entrée or main course at a meal.kilocalories per and contains a significant amount of protein, a moderate amount of fat, and minor carbohydrate content.

Parasite Parasitism is a Symbiosis, close relationship between species, where one organism, the parasite, lives (at least some of the time) on or inside another organism, the Host (biology), host, causing it some harm, and is Adaptation, adapted str ...

s and enteropathogenic

bacteria Bacteria (; : bacterium) are ubiquitous, mostly free-living organisms often consisting of one Cell (biology), biological cell. They constitute a large domain (biology), domain of Prokaryote, prokaryotic microorganisms. Typically a few micr ...

have been found in samples of ''naem''.

Lactic acid Lactic acid is an organic acid. It has the molecular formula C3H6O3. It is white in the solid state and it is miscible with water. When in the dissolved state, it forms a colorless solution. Production includes both artificial synthesis as wel ...

formed during its fermentation inhibits the growth of ''

Salmonella ''Salmonella'' is a genus of bacillus (shape), rod-shaped, (bacillus) Gram-negative bacteria of the family Enterobacteriaceae. The two known species of ''Salmonella'' are ''Salmonella enterica'' and ''Salmonella bongori''. ''S. enterica'' ...

''. ''Lactobacillus curvatus'' use in the product has been proven to prevent the growth of

pathogenic bacteria Pathogenic bacteria are bacteria that can cause disease. This article focuses on the bacteria that are pathogenic to humans. Most species of bacteria are harmless and many are Probiotic, beneficial but others can cause infectious diseases. The nu ...

in ''naem''. It is sometimes

irradiated Irradiation is the process by which an object is exposed to radiation. An irradiator is a device used to expose an object to radiation, most often gamma radiation, for a variety of purposes. Irradiators may be used for sterilizing medical and p ...

to kill off parasites and pathogens. The bacterial content in Thai sour pork products is regulated.

Overview

''Naem'' is a red-colored, semi-dry lactic- fermented

in Southeast Asian cuisine prepared using minced raw pork and pork skin, significant amounts of cooked

sticky rice Sticky may refer to: Adhesion *Adhesion, the tendency of dissimilar particles or surfaces to cling to one another *Sticky mat, an adhesive mat used in cleanrooms to lessen contamination from footwear *Sticky note, a generic term for a Post-it Note ...

, chili peppers, garlic, sugar, salt and

potassium nitrate Potassium nitrate is a chemical compound with a sharp, salty, bitter taste and the chemical formula . It is a potassium salt of nitric acid. This salt consists of potassium cations and nitrate anions , and is therefore an alkali metal nit ...

. Minced beef is sometimes used in its preparation. After the mix is prepared, it is encased in

banana leaves The banana leaf is the leaf of the banana plant, which may produce up to 40 leaves in a growing cycle. The leaves have a wide range of applications because they are large, flexible, waterproof and decorative. They are used for cooking, wrappin ...

, synthetic sausage casings or tubular plastic bags and left to ferment for three to five days. ''Naem'' has a sour quality to it due to the fermentation, in which

lactic acid Lactic acid is an organic acid. It has the molecular formula C3H6O3. It is white in the solid state and it is miscible with water. When in the dissolved state, it forms a colorless solution. Production includes both artificial synthesis as wel ...

bacteria and yeasts grow within the sausage. The lactic acid

and yeasts expand by feeding upon the rice and sugar, and the use of salt prevents the meat from rotting. Naem typically has a short shelf life, which can be extended through refrigeration. The sausage can be time-consuming and labor-intensive to prepare. It is typically stored at room temperature, which gives it a shelf life of around one week. It is produced all over

Southeast Asia Southeast Asia is the geographical United Nations geoscheme for Asia#South-eastern Asia, southeastern region of Asia, consisting of the regions that are situated south of China, east of the Indian subcontinent, and northwest of the Mainland Au ...

in slight variations. ''Naem'' is often consumed raw, (after fermentation has occurred), and is often accompanied with

shallot The shallot is a cultivar group of the onion. Until 2010, the (French red) shallot was classified as a separate species, ''Allium ascalonicum''. The taxon was synonymized with '' Allium cepa'' (the common onion) in 2010, as the difference was t ...

ginger Ginger (''Zingiber officinale'') is a flowering plant whose rhizome, ginger root or ginger, is widely used as a spice and a folk medicine. It is an herbaceous perennial that grows annual pseudostems (false stems made of the rolled bases of l ...

bird's eye chili Bird's eye chili or Thai chili ( owing to its shape) is a chili pepper variety (botany), variety from the species ''Capsicum annuum'' that is native to Mexico. Cultivated across Southeast Asia, it is used extensively in many Asian cuisines. It m ...

peppers and spring onions. It is used as an ingredient in various dishes such as ''naem'' fried with eggs, '' Naem khao'' and ''Naem phat wun sen sai khai'', and is also consumed as a

side dish A side dish, sometimes referred to as a side order, side item, or simply a side, is a food item that accompanies the entrée or main course at a meal.condiment A condiment is a preparation that is added to food, typically after cooking, to enhance the Flavoring, flavour, to complement the dish or to impart a specific flavor. Such specific flavors generally add sweetness or pungency, or sharp or piquant ...

. The cooking of ''naem'' significantly changes its flavor.

Prominence

''Naem'' has been described in Thailand as "one of the popular meat products of the country prepared from ground pork" and as "one of the most popular traditional Thai

fermented meat Fermented meat is an important preservation process which has evolved for meat but is rarely used alone. A particularly common form of fermented meat product is the sausage, with notable examples including chorizo, salami, sucuk, pepperoni, ne ...

products".

Varieties

Different

regions of Thailand Thailand is variably divided into different sets of regions, the most notable of which are the six-region grouping used in geographic studies, and the four-region grouping consistent with the Monthon administrative regional grouping system form ...

have different preferred flavors: northern and northeastern pork is a little bit sour, central is sour, and southern is spicy. ''Naem mo'' in northern Thailand may be fermented in a clay pot. In Laos, fermented sour pork with shredded pork skin is known as som moo (sour pork). Some som moo variations also incorporate garlic and chilli peppers. Luang Prabang som moo is very popular because of its unique texture and a tasty sour flavor. Som moo can be enjoyed both as a side-dish with sticky rice, or as an ingredient for the Lao crispy rice salad nam khao.

Use in dishes

Dishes prepared with ''naem'' include ''naem'' fried with eggs, and ''naem'' fried rice. ''Naem phat wun sen sai khai'' is a dish prepared with ''naem'', glass noodles and eggs, among other ingredients such as spring onions and red pepper. '' Nam khao'' is a salad dish in Lao cuisine prepared using Lao fermented pork sausage, rice, coconut, peanuts, mint,

cilantro Coriander (), whose leaves are known as cilantro () in the U.S. and parts of Canada, and dhania in parts of South Asia and Africa, is an annual herb (''Coriandrum sativum'') in the family Apiaceae. Most people perceive the leaves as ha ...

, fish sauce, and lemon juice. ''Naem'' and rice are formed into balls, deep-fried, and then served broken atop the various ingredients. Serenade, a restaurant in Bangkok, makes a dish called the "McNaem", which consists of a duck egg wrapped in ''naem'' that is fried and then served with risotto, slaw,

shiitake The shiitake (; ''Chinese/black mushroom'' or ''Lentinula edodes'') is a macrofungus native to East Asia, which is cultivated and consumed around the globe. Taxonomy The fungus was first described scientifically as '' Agaricus edodes'' by ...

mushrooms,

herb Herbs are a widely distributed and widespread group of plants, excluding vegetables, with savory or aromatic properties that are used for flavoring and garnishing food, for medicinal purposes, or for fragrances. Culinary use typically distingu ...

s, and cooked sea scallops atop crushed garlic. There are many applications of sour pork with different flavors such as ''phat phet naem'' (), '' tom kha naem'' (), '' ho mok naem'' (), and ''naem priao wan'' (). File:Chin som mok.JPG, alt=Chin som mok is a speciality of northern Thailand and is the northern Thai version of naem sausage, ''Chin som mok'' – a speciality of northern Thailand, it is the northern Thai version of ''naem'' sausage File:Khua chin som sai khai.JPG, alt=Khua chin som sai khai is a dish prepared with dry-fried pickled pork and egg. Chin som is the northern Thai name for naem., ''Khua chin som sai khai'' – a dish prepared with dry-fried pickled pork and egg. ''Chin som'' is the northern Thai name for ''naem'' File:Yam naem.JPG, alt=Yam naem is a Thai salad prepared with naem and other ingredients., ''Nam khao'' – a Laotian salad prepared with ''naem'' and other ingredients File:Phat naem sai khai.jpg, alt=Phat naem sai khai is a dish consisting of naem stir-fried with egg., ''Phat naem sai khai'' – ''naem'' stir fried with egg

Nutritional content

A serving size of of ''naem'' has 185 kilocalories, protein, fat, and carbohydrate. According to the "Industrialization of Thai Nham" by Warawut Krusong of the King Mongkut's Institute of Technology Ladkrabang vitamins B1 and B2, ferric iron, and phosphorus were present in naem, quantities unspecified.

Microbiology

''Naem'' has on occasion been contaminated with

parasite Parasitism is a Symbiosis, close relationship between species, where one organism, the parasite, lives (at least some of the time) on or inside another organism, the Host (biology), host, causing it some harm, and is Adaptation, adapted str ...

s such as ''

Taenia solium ''Taenia solium'', the pork tapeworm, belongs to the cyclophyllid cestode family Taeniidae. It is found throughout the world and is most common in countries where pork is eaten. It is a tapeworm that uses humans (''Homo sapiens'') as its definit ...

'', ''

Trichinella spiralis ''Trichinella spiralis'' is a viviparous nematode parasite, occurring in rodents, pigs, bears, hyenas and humans, and is responsible for the disease trichinosis. It is sometimes referred to as the "pork worm" due to it being typically encount ...

'', and enteropathogenic bacteria such as

coliform bacteria Coliform bacteria are defined as either motile or non-motile Gram-negative non- spore forming bacilli that possess β-galactosidase to produce acids and gases under their optimal growth temperature of 35–37 °C. They can be aerobes or ...

and ''

''. It has been demonstrated that ''Salmonella'' growth is inhibited by the formation of

during the

fermentation Fermentation is a type of anaerobic metabolism which harnesses the redox potential of the reactants to make adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and organic end products. Organic molecules, such as glucose or other sugars, are catabolized and reduce ...

process. Use of the starter culture '' Lactobacillus curvatus'' has been shown to prevent "the outgrowth of

" in ''naem''. ''Naem'' is sometimes

Regulations on bacterial content

The bacterial content in Thai sour pork products is regulated. There should not be more than of '' Escherichia coli O157:H7'', ''

Staphylococcus aureus ''Staphylococcus aureus'' is a Gram-positive spherically shaped bacterium, a member of the Bacillota, and is a usual member of the microbiota of the body, frequently found in the upper respiratory tract and on the skin. It is often posi ...

'' not more than , '' Yersinia enterocolitica'' not more than , ''

Listeria monocytogenes ''Listeria monocytogenes'' is the species of pathogenic bacteria that causes the infection listeriosis. It is a facultative anaerobic bacterium, capable of surviving in the presence or absence of oxygen. It can grow and reproduce inside the ho ...

'' not more than , ''

Clostridium perfringens ''Clostridium perfringens'' (formerly known as ''C. welchii'', or ''Bacillus welchii'') is a Gram-positive, bacillus (rod-shaped), anaerobic, spore-forming pathogenic bacterium of the genus '' Clostridium''. ''C. perfringens'' is ever-present ...

'' not more than , Fungi less than 10colony per gram, ''Trichinellaspiralis'' less than . Bacteria at higher levels may cause sickness.

Overview

Prominence

Varieties

Use in dishes

Nutritional content

Microbiology

Regulations on bacterial content

See also

References

Bibliography

Further reading