Whole freshwater fish fermented with rice and salt until sour, then fried. It is a central and north-eastern Thai preserve that carries river fish through the dry season.
It is an ambient ferment of raw freshwater fish in a sealed jar, where the salt and acidity balance has no reliable domestic gauge, and river fish carry liver fluke that souring does not reliably kill.
What goes into it
- whole freshwater fish
- salt
- cooked rice
- garlic
How it is made
The fish is cleaned, salted for a day, then packed whole into a jar with cooked rice and garlic and sealed under a weight. Lactic bacteria feed on the rice starch and acidify the jar over several days to weeks, souring and preserving the fish. It is always fried before eating.
How long it takes: several days to several weeks in the jar
How it is eaten
Fried until crisp and eaten with rice, raw vegetables and a chilli dip.
History
A central and north-eastern Thai preserve that keeps river fish through the dry season; usually fried before eating.
Frequently asked questions
What is Pla Som?
Pla Som is a fermented & pickled from Thailand: whole freshwater fish fermented with rice and salt until sour, then fried. A central and north-eastern Thai preserve that keeps river fish through the dry season; usually fried before eating.
How is Pla Som made?
The fish is cleaned, salted for a day, then packed whole into a jar with cooked rice and garlic and sealed under a weight. Lactic bacteria feed on the rice starch and acidify the jar over several days to weeks, souring and preserving the fish. It is always fried before eating. It takes several days to several weeks in the jar.
Can I make Pla Som at home?
No, and the atlas gives no method for it. It is an ambient ferment of raw freshwater fish in a sealed jar, where the salt and acidity balance has no reliable domestic gauge, and river fish carry liver fluke that souring does not reliably kill.
What goes into Pla Som?
Whole freshwater fish, salt, cooked rice, garlic.
How is Pla Som eaten?
Fried until crisp and eaten with rice, raw vegetables and a chilli dip.
