Three simple ingredients that do
amazing things to fruits: fresh chili, salt, and sugar, simply
mixed together. If you’ve been to Thailand, I’m sure you’ve seen
this trilogy before. You get them in little paper packets with
every piece of fruit you buy off one of those carts on the street.
They are wonderful on sweet fruits, adding
an interesting layer of flavors that take it beyond simple sweetness.
They are even better on fruits that are slightly acidic–the salt and sugar
taming the acidity and the chili giving it a kick that make everything
even better. It’s so easy, and so crazy good. You simply must try it.
Thai Chili-Salt, Prik-kab-klua
2 tbsp sugar
1 tbsp salt
1-2 fresh red chili
Put all the ingredients in a small mortar
and grind everything together. The red chili will tint the entire mixture
a lovely shade of light pinkish orange, and the moisture from it will turn
everything the texture of wet sand. Serve along side fresh fruits cut
into bite size pieces (so no one double dips on you!)
Try it with tart green apple, or with
crunchy green mango. It even works well to revive those not so sweet
mangoes you get from the grocery stores. Toss a bit into a bowl of
early-season
tart berries. Even dip a juicy chunk of perfectly sweet watermelon
into it for just a little change of scenery.