Sai oua explained

Sai oua
Name Lang:lo
Alternate Name:Sai ua
Country:Laos, Thailand
Region:Southeast Asia, specifically Northern Thailand, Northeastern Burma, and Laos
National Cuisine:Myanmar, Lao, and Thai
Type:Sausage
Served:hot

Sai oua, sometimes also known as Laotian sausage (lo|ໄສ້ອັ່ວ, pronounced as /lo/, also sai ua: th|ไส้อั่ว, pronounced as /th/; nod|ไส้อั่ว, pronounced as /nod/; tts|ไส้อั่ว, pronounced as /tts/), is a popular type of sausage made in Laos, Myanmar, and Thailand, particularly in northern Thailand and northern Laos. It is prepared from coarsely chopped fatty pork seasoned with lemongrass, galangal, kaffir lime leaves, shallots, cilantro, chilies, garlic, salt, sticky rice and fish sauce.

"Lao sausage" is a broad term used to describe the local variant of Lao-style sai oua sausages found in Laos, and northern and northeastern Thailand. In Shan State, Myanmar, this sausage is known as sai long phik.[1] In Thailand, it is also known as northern Thai sausage or Chiang Mai sausage. Sai oua is a standard food of Thailand's northern provinces[2] and has become popular in the rest of Thailand as well.[3]

Description

Lao: Sai ua contains minced pork meat, herbs, spices, and Lao: kaeng khua red curry paste.[4] It can include coarsely chopped fatty pork seasoned with lemongrass, galangal, kaffir lime leaves, shallots, cilantro, chilies, garlic, salt, sticky rice and fish sauce.[5] [6]

The sausage is either fermented,[7] [8] dried and roasted,[6] or grilled before serving. It is usually eaten with sticky rice or served as a snack or starter. Traditionally Lao: sai ua was a homemade sausage, but today it is readily available in shops.[9]

History

Lao: Sai oua is an ancient Lao word for sausage.[10] . The name is an ancient compound term in Lao, literally meaning "stuffed intestine": sai (ໄສ້) from "intestine" and oua (ອົວ/ອັ່ວ) meaning "stuffed".[11] [12]

The spicy sausage originates from Luang Prabang, Laos.[13] [14] [15] 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 is considered to be the cradle of Lao culture and cuisine.[16] [17] [18] At the height of its power, Luang Prabang's influence stretches from the borders of Sipsongpanna (China) to Steung Treng (Cambodia), from the eastern border along the Annamite Range with Vietnam to the western border Khorat Plateau (Northeastern Thailand) and its sister kingdom of Lan Na.[19] [20]

Lao: Sai ua 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.[21]

Types

There are two types of Lao: sai oua in Laos:

The traditional recipe for Lao: sai oua moo 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.[22]

Commercial preparation

Tong Tem Toh in Chiang Mai, Thailand drew international attention for its hors d'oeuvre plate featuring Thai: sai oua.[23]

Lao: Sai oua is also prepared in the Western diaspora of Thai and Lao people. Goldee's BBQ in Fort Worth, Texas serves a smoked Lao: sai oua ("Lao sausage") based on Laotian American owner Nupohn Inthanousay's family recipe.[24] [25] At Blackstack Brewery in Saint Paul, Minnesota, Soul Lao serves their version of the sausage.[26] Kao Soy in Brooklyn, New York was named "Best of New York" by New York magazine in 2015 for its northern Thai Lao: sai oua.[27] Estrella Dam National Restaurant Awards-winner Singburi in London is noted for their own Thai: sai oua.[28]

TasteAtlas, a global food and travel guide known for ranking traditional dishes from around the world, released its list of the Top 100 Best Sausages in the World in July 2025. Laotian sai oua ranked at No. 12, earning 4.3 stars,[29] and the Northern Thai version at No. 49, earning 3.9 stars.[30]

Similar sausages

Similar sausages in Lao cuisine include Lao: [[sai gork]] (lo|ໄສ້ກອກ, "soured Lao sausage"),[31] Lao: sai gork wan (lo|ໄສ້ກອກຫວານ; sweet sausage), Lao: sai gork leuat (lo|ໄສ້ກອກເລືອດ; blood sausage), Lao: [[Naem (food)|naem]] (lo|ແໜມ; sour sausage) and Lao: mam (th|หม่ำ; beef liver sausage).

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Food in Thailand and elsewhere. www.austinbushphotography.com. 2025-02-17. 2013-08-20. https://web.archive.org/web/20130820031358/http://www.austinbushphotography.com/2011/05. dead.
  2. Web site: The Tempting Foods of Chiang Rai. https://web.archive.org/web/20121030031323/http://www.chiangraitimes.com/news/7522.html. dead. October 30, 2012.
  3. Web site: THAILAND NORTHERN SHARED DISHES. October 26, 2010.
  4. Web site: Sai-ua . Lanna Food . Northern Thai Information Center, Chiang Mai University Library. https://web.archive.org/web/20151221032358/http://library.cmu.ac.th/ntic/en_lannafood/detail_lannafood.php?id_food=188. dead. December 21, 2015.
  5. Web site: Sai Ua Moo . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120531110928/http://www.seasite.niu.edu/lao/otherTopics/foods/recipe12.htm . 2012-05-31 . 2009-06-04 . Traditional Recipes of Laos.
  6. Book: Toldrá, Fidel . Hui . Y.H. . Handbook of Fermented Meat and Poultry . Dry‐Fermented Sausages and Ripened Meats: An Overview . Wiley . October 2, 2014 . 978-1-118-52269-1 . 10.1002/9781118522653.ch1.
  7. Book: Toldrá . Fidel . Kirk-Othmer Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology . Wiley . March 16, 2020 . 8 . 978-0-471-48494-3 . 10.1002/0471238961.1305012019030813.a01.pub3 . Meat Products.
  8. Book: Prakash . V. . Martin-Belloso . Olga . Keener . Larry . Astley . Sian Bethan . Braun . Susanne . McMahon . Helena . Lelieveld . Huub . Regulating Safety of Traditional and Ethnic Foods . Academic Press . Waltham, MA . 2015-11-23 . 978-0-12-800605-4 . 941145777 . 10.1016/B978-0-12-800605-4.00007-4 . 130 . Chapter 7: Safety of Fermented Meat . Di Gioia . Diana . https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Anita-Klaus/publication/299390006_Safety_of_Foods_Based_on_Mushrooms/links/62dff2c09d410c5ff3634b74/Safety-of-Foods-Based-on-Mushrooms.pdf#page=148.
  9. Web site: Thai Northern Sausage (Sai-Ua). December 17, 2009. YouTube. February 17, 2025. December 20, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20241220193558/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pZnOcc0PGGo. live.
  10. Book: Massie, Victor-Alphonse . Dictionnaire français-laotien: Mission Pavie, exploration de l' indochine (Latin characters) . 1894 . 108.
  11. Book: Massie, Victor-Alphonse . Dictionnaire français-laotien . 1894 . Imprimerie nationale . Paris . 152 . saucisse = say ouo.
  12. Book: Massie, Victor-Alphonse . Dictionnaire français-laotien . 1894 . Imprimerie nationale . Paris . 91 . intestin = say thong.
  13. Web site: Harry . January 19, 2020 . 10 Things to Do in Luang Prabang . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20200810222638/https://carryitlikeharry.com/10-things-to-do-in-luang-prabang/ . August 10, 2020 . April 15, 2020.
  14. Web site: Carter . Sarah . November 4, 2015 . Laos Food and Laos Drinks: Your What To Eat in Laos Guide .
  15. Web site: March 12, 2019 . 15 of the Best Authentic Laos Food You Want to Enjoy in Luang Prabang . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230219134508/https://www.authenticfoodquest.com/laos-food-in-luang-prabang/ . February 19, 2023 . April 15, 2020.
  16. Web site: July 10, 2019 . Discover why Laos is the world's next great foodie destination . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20190710174542/https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/destinations/asia/laos/what-to-eat-and-where-in-luang-prabang/ . July 10, 2019 . Travel.
  17. Web site: October 1, 2019 . The king ate sticky rice: Cooking, past and present, in Luang Prabang, Laos . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20200328132741/https://www.latimes.com/food/story/2019-10-01/traditional-recipes-of-laos-cookbook-history . 2020-03-28 . 2020-04-15 . Los Angeles Times.
  18. Web site: Luang Prabang, Laos - Travel Guide for Food Lovers (Where to Eat, Drink, Stay) . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20210423163533/https://www.migrationology.com/travel-guides/luang-prabang-laos/ . 2021-04-23 . 2020-04-15 . Migrationology - Food Travel Blog.
  19. Bock, Carl. Temples and Elephants: The Narrative of a Journey of Exploration Through Upper Siam and Laos (London: Low, I884; reprinted Bangkok: White Lotus, 1985)
  20. Stuart-Fox, Martin. The French in Laos, 1887–1945. Modern Asian Studies. Vol. 29, no. 1, 1995. pp 111 – 139. Print.
  21. Web site: 15 of the Best Authentic Laos Food You Want to Enjoy in Luang Prabang. March 12, 2019. April 15, 2020. February 19, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230219134508/https://www.authenticfoodquest.com/laos-food-in-luang-prabang/. live.
  22. Web site: Traditional Recipes of Laos . Traditional Recipes of Laos . December 5, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210629011943/http://www.seasite.niu.edu/lao/othertopics/foods/recipe.htm . June 29, 2021 . dead . March 31, 2025.
  23. Dunston . Lara . March 2016 . 16 . 3 . 177 . Northern sojourn . Australian Gourmet Traveller . Sydney, Australia . Are Media . March 31, 2025 . 1034-9006 . .
  24. Web site: Torres . Christopher . Goldee's owner hesitantly tried blending his Lao culture into Texas BBQ. It's been a hit. . Fort Worth Star-Telegram . July 20, 2024 . February 24, 2025.
  25. Web site: Welch . Sean . Goldee's Lao Sausage is Made with "Love" . Dallas Observer . April 5, 2022 . February 24, 2025.
  26. Web site: Narain . Aarohi . Soul Lao: On making the case for Lao food in Minnesota . Insight News . May 31, 2019 . February 24, 2025 . August 10, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220810231030/https://www.insightnews.com/lifestyle/soul-lao-on-making-the-case-for-lao-food-in-minnesota/article_9a1f705a-835d-11e9-a101-6b37b6604053.html . live .
  27. March 9, 2015 . Best of New York 2015: Food . . 48 . 3 . 4 . New York . 0028-7369 . March 31, 2025 . .
  28. Web site: Knott . Bill . Krader . Kate . Here's Why Thai Food Has Taken Over London . Bloomberg.com . November 16, 2023 . March 31, 2025 . .
  29. Web site: Cooked Sausages of the World: Best Recipes & Restaurants TasteAtlas . 2025-07-25 . www.tasteatlas.com.
  30. Web site: 'ไส้กรอกอีสาน-ไส้อั่ว' จากไทย ติด 50 อันดับ ไส้กรอกที่อร่อยที่สุดในโลก. 3PlusNEWS. 2025-07-23. 2025-07-22. passamon_a. thai. 'Sai krok Isan-Sai oua' from Thailand ranked among the 50 best sausages in the world.
  31. Web site: New Lao Sai Oua vs Sai Gok . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20200901064423/https://www.laosinthehouse.com/new-lao-sai-oua-vs-sai-gok . 2020-09-01 . 2020-04-15 . Laos In The House.

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