what is Simply Ras And where does it find?
Simply Ras (or Padaek in Lao) is a fermented fish sauce. But in contrast to normal fish sauce (Nam Pla) This is also fermented, it is made more of fresh water fish than from anchovies. Simply Ras can be made from a variety of fish, but Gourami is a common one. It is thicker, funky and absolutely full with Umami.
In contrast to normal fish sauce, a commercial product that most people buy, Simply Ras Is an ingredient that many people still make at home, but nowadays they can also buy them. But because it is historically a homemade object, the taste of different ones Simply Ras Vary strongly depending on the recipe used. Some people add different herbs, such as lemon grass and macru -lime leavesPresent Others add pineapple juice or even pandan leaves.
Where can you buy PLA RA? You can find Simply Ras Wherever you find your Thai ingredients. Most of the time it will be available in Asian grocery stores that have a good amount of Southeast Asian ingredients. You can also buy it online. Here is the brand I use and that I like, and it is a good beginner pla RA that is not overly funky and is well experienced (not sponsored, but the company has sent the product for me).
When shopping, labeling can often be confusing, since it is often simply referred to as “fish sauce”. So make sure that the liquid inside is cloudy and thick and the color can vary from gray to brown. Ingredients should include fish, salt and some spices, and it can also contain herbs, rice bran or a kind of rice product.
Note: The Vietnamese also have a similar product called Mắm Nêm, which is available in some Asian markets, and you can use it instead of Simply Ras * Theoretically.* However, I don’t have much experience with it and do not know to what extent their aromas can vary between brands. If possible, I would stick to Thai brands to ensure the right flavors.
Tip for purchase Simply Ras:
I prefer the more modern Thai brands of Simply Ras Like Ling di Krok (which I use), Zab Mike or e pim. You can identify them through their more modern branding and a darker brown color. These are good for Simply Ras Beginners because they are less funky and are well seasoned. The more traditional recipes, which tend to have a lighter grayish color, can be a little intense if they are not used to it.