Or Tor Kor Market

Bangkok, Thailand

Or Tor Kor (ตลาด อตก.) is a government-run fresh market at Kamphaeng Phet Road in Chatuchak, directly opposite the Chatuchak Weekend Market and connected to Kamphaeng Phet MRT station. CNN named it one of the ten best fresh markets in the world in 2017. The market operates daily from early morning and stocks the widest selection of premium Thai produce in Bangkok: tropical fruits, fresh herbs, dry goods, prepared curries, and regional food from across the country. The Isan section sells sai krok isan grilled at market stalls alongside nam prik pao, som tam ingredients, and fermented fish products (pla ra). The sausages here come from Isan suppliers and are grilled to order over small charcoal trays, served with the standard accompaniment of sticky rice, raw ginger, and chilli. Prices run higher than at roadside stalls upcountry, but the quality is consistently good and the hygiene standards are among the best of any open market in Bangkok.

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Sausages served here

Sai Krok Isan

Isan, Thailand

Sai krok isan is a fermented pork and rice sausage from Thailand's northeast, the Isan region. Coiled in short links and sold by the strand from charcoal grills, it is the dominant street food of the region and one of the most recognisable sausages in Southeast Asia. The defining characteristic is controlled fermentation: raw pork, cooked sticky rice, garlic, salt, and black pepper are mixed and left to ferment for two to four days in warm weather. The rice feeds lactic acid bacteria that sour the sausage from the inside out. The result is a plump, slightly wrinkled link with a mild tang and deep pork flavour. Charcoal heat tightens the casing and crisps the exterior while the interior stays moist and yielding. The sausage is eaten in small bites, wrapped in raw cabbage leaf or eaten alongside sliced fresh ginger and bird's eye chillies — the raw vegetables cut the fat.

porkfermentedThai