Sweet and Savoury Thai Snacks (Kanombuang)

Thai food is a unique combination of spicy, salty, sweet and sour and is meant to be satisfying to the eye, nose and palate. It is thought that the origins of Thai desserts lie in worship and ceremony with each ingredient bearing its own symbolic meaning. For more information on Thai food, click here. True Thai snacks follow several important

codes: it must be served in a way that includes more than one person; it must be easy to eat (not requiring extra plates and utensils); the ingredients must be fresh and unprocessed; and it must be quick and easy to prepare and arranged in an attractive way.

I am told that these traditional Thai snacks are called ‘Kanombuang’. I found these Kanombuang delicacies as I was walking to the post office. I marveled at the way in which the woman meticulously prepared these delicate snacks. The base is thin and tastes like that of a Chinese fortune cookie. Without missing a beat, she prepares each batter on the hot surface and when each base is cooked, she flips them over. After a minute or so, each circular base is removed to a wire rack and it is here you see everything being assembled. For the sweet snack, the ingredients include meringue topped by a cooked, chopped egg mixture and the savoury snack consists of cooked prawn or fish (finely chopped) mixed with coconut and chopped green onion on top of a dollop of meringue. A quick pinch of the base and the snack is ready to be eaten!

The Culinary Chase’s Note: When I first tried these, I wasn’t sure what to expect but the combination of ingredients made for a pleasant surprise. And, the cost of each snack is one Thai Baht which is four Canadian cents!!