1 / 4Nam prik noom is the green chilli dip of northern Thailand: young green chillies, garlic and shallots roasted over charcoal until soft and smoky, then pounded into a rough, pale green paste. It is on the table at almost every northern meal, and you can buy it by the tub at any morning market in Chiang Mai or order it as a set with pork rinds and vegetables at a northern restaurant.
What it is
Nam prik means chilli dip, and noom means young. The chillies used are long, pale green ones picked before they turn red, milder and more fruity than the small bird's eye chillies of central Thai food. Cooks roast them whole over charcoal with garlic cloves and shallots in their skins, peel off the burnt skins, then pound everything in a mortar with a little salt and sometimes a dash of fish sauce.
The result is not a smooth sauce. It is a coarse, moist mash with a strong smell of smoke and roasted garlic. The heat varies from batch to batch and from vendor to vendor, because the chillies themselves vary. Some tubs are gentle; some will make you reach for water. Ask, or taste before you buy.
Nam prik noom is the dip that goes with everything in the northern kitchen, and it is the classic partner of grilled sai ua sausage. Together with nam prik ong, the red pork and tomato relish, it is one of the two dips you will see most often in a northern set meal.
How to eat it
Nam prik noom is never eaten on its own. It is the centre of a small spread, and you scoop it up with whatever is around it:
- Pork rinds (khaep moo): the classic. Crisp, puffed pork skin used like a cracker to scoop the dip. Market stalls sell bags of it right next to the chilli tubs.
- Steamed and raw vegetables: cabbage, long beans, pumpkin, cucumber, eggplant and whatever is in season. The vegetables soften the heat.
- Sticky rice: roll a small ball with your fingers, flatten it, and press it into the dip.
- Grilled sai ua: a slice of herb sausage with a smear of green dip is northern food at its simplest.
At a market you buy the parts separately: a tub of dip, a bag of pork rinds, a bag of steamed vegetables and sticky rice. At a restaurant you order a set that brings them all on one plate. A tub on its own costs 20 to 50 THB; a full set with rinds and vegetables at a restaurant is 60 to 120 THB.
Where to eat it
Every market in Chiang Mai sells nam prik noom. The best tubs are made fresh each morning, so go early.
- Mae Hia community market, Mae Hia. The local morning market by the airport, 06:00 to 09:00. Chilli dips in small tubs and bags beside the sausage grill and the sticky rice. Low end of the price band.
- Warorot Market (Kad Luang), near the Old City. The big central market and the best place to buy several makers' dips at once, plus pork rinds and sai ua. Low to middle of the band for tubs.
- Neighbourhood morning markets. Any district fresh market will have a dip stall. Low end of the band.
- Northern restaurants in the Old City and Nimman. Order the set with pork rinds and vegetables. Middle to top of the set price.
- Khantoke dinners. The traditional northern dinner on low round trays almost always includes nam prik noom. The price is part of the dinner package.
If you are staying in Mae Hia, the community market is a few minutes away and is the easiest place to try it fresh.
Other northern dishes to try
Nam prik noom is one part of a northern meal. Try it with these:
- Sai ua: grilled herb sausage, the dip's natural partner.
- Nam prik ong: the milder red relish of pork and tomato, good for those who find the green dip too hot.
- Kaeng khae: a thin, spicy herb and vegetable curry, part of the same home cooking.
FAQ
What is nam prik noom?
A northern Thai dip of charcoal-roasted young green chillies, garlic and shallots, pounded into a coarse paste.
What do you eat nam prik noom with?
Pork rinds, steamed and raw vegetables, sticky rice and grilled sai ua sausage.
Is nam prik noom very spicy?
It varies by batch. Some tubs are mild and some are hot, so ask or taste before buying.
How much does nam prik noom cost?
About 20 to 50 THB a tub at markets, or 60 to 120 THB as a set with rinds and vegetables at a restaurant.
Can I bring nam prik noom home as a souvenir?
Yes. Sealed tubs from markets and souvenir shops are one of the most popular edible gifts from Chiang Mai.
