Anyone who has the chance to visit and experience the charm of the Nakhon Chum communityin Kamphaeng Phet provincemust not miss following the inviting aroma of "Ancient Bean Sausage," a local dish that is increasingly rare to find.
Today, this tradition is carefully preserved by two siblings, Aunt Jeab (Benjaworn Jiamton) and P' Chet (Pichet Thopum), who embrace the unique cultural culinary heritage of Nakhon Chum to create flavors of memory for future generations to enjoy.
The meticulous process from ingredients to mixing highlights the uniqueness of this ancient bean sausage recipe, starting with thoroughly cleaning pig intestines and rubbing them with salt until completely free of any unpleasant smell, before stuffing them with a perfectly hand-mixed filling.
The key ingredient is "cooked mung beans," which provide richness and a distinctive texture, blended with quality minced pork and a homemade spicy chili paste that delivers a bold traditional flavor, seasoned harmoniously and enhanced with finely sliced kaffir lime leaves. The mixture is then carefully stuffed into the casing and tied off at both ends.
The secret behind the golden color and enticing aroma of Aunt Jeab and P' Chet’s bean sausage lies not only in the ingredients but also in the slow grilling technique, an artful process using low heat and smoke from coconut husk.
The low heat gently cooks the mung beans and minced pork inside, combined with the smoky aroma from the coconut husk. During grilling, the sausage is constantly turned to prevent the casing from bursting.
Special care is also given to cleanliness, with burnt residue and coconut husk ash carefully wiped off the sausage to ensure the dish is both appetizing and safe.
Once perfectly cooked, the ancient bean sausage is sliced into bite-sized pieces and served with a variety of fresh vegetables such as culantro, cucumber, and fresh bird’s eye chili, which help balance the richness and enhance the harmonious flavors. This dish is a source of pride for the people of Nakhon Chum, who have preserved the authentic taste of their hometown perfectly.
