Kai Look Kuey - Thai recipe sweet and sour fried eggs
Jan 11, 2025
The name "Kai Look-Kuey" means "son-in-law's eggs." Legend has it that this dish originated when a man was expecting a last-minute visit from his in-laws. To impress them and show that he could provide for their daughter, he prepared an elaborate dinner. However, since he only had eggs and a few basic ingredients at his disposal, he created this simple yet delicious dish. The story ended well, and the dish was served with steamed rice.
Kai Look-Kuey is a popular Thai dish that impresses with its simplicity and unique flavor. The combination of crispy fried eggs and sweet and sour tamarind sauce makes it a real treat. The fried shallots add extra texture and a flavorful finish that perfectly complements the eggs.
Ingredients for 2 - 3 servings of Kai Look Kuey
Preparation time 30 minutes
Just follow our cooking instructions.
| eggs | 6 |
| Vegetable oil (for frying) | 2 cups |
| shallots (thinly sliced) | 2 |
| Tamarind concentrate | 100 ml |
| fish sauce | 100 ml |
| Coconut sugar or palm sugar | 50 g |
| Dried chili (decoration) | 3-4 |
| Coriander leaf (decoration) | 2-3 |
Preparation of Kai Look Kuey
1. Hard-boil the eggs for 10 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool. Peel the eggs and set aside to dry.
2. Heat the oil in a saucepan to 175 to 190°C and fry the sliced shallots for 3 to 5 minutes, until light brown and crispy. Set aside.
3. Fry the whole eggs in the same oil until golden brown on all sides. Remove and drain on absorbent paper.
4. Mix the tamarind concentrate, fish sauce, and sugar in a saucepan, bring to a boil, and simmer for 5 to 10 minutes until the sauce becomes syrupy.
5. Halve the eggs lengthwise and arrange them on a serving platter. Drizzle with the sauce and garnish with the fried shallots. Serve the remaining sauce separately.
Did you know...?
Simplicity and Flavor : Kai Look-Kuey is a simple dish that combines crispy fried eggs with a sweet and sour tamarind sauce. The sauce, made from tamarind paste, fish sauce, and palm sugar, gives the dish its distinctive flavor.
Popular Street Food : In Thailand, kai look-kuey is a popular street food and is often served as a snack or side dish. The crispy shallots that garnish the dish add extra texture and a flavorful finish.
Versatility : Although the dish is traditionally prepared with hard-boiled eggs, it can also be made with soft-boiled eggs, depending on your preference for the yolk. The eggs are then deep-fried in hot oil until they form a golden brown crust.
A cautionary tale : Another story says a mother prepared this dish for her son-in-law to remind him to treat her daughter well. The fried eggs were meant to be a subtle warning that if he didn't behave better, his own "eggs" might be next.
