Sai ua

Renowned for being flavor-packed, sai ua is a type of Northern Thai sausage that combines pork with a red curry paste and a variety of herbs and spices. The meat mixture is prepared with ground pork, green onions, kaffir lime leaves, and cilantro stems, which are all finely chopped and combined. It is then mixed with a curry paste usually composed of galangal, kaffir lime zest, lemongrass, garlic, fermented shrimp paste, chilis, shallots, and fish sauce. Traditionally, sai ua is added to an intestine wrapper and formed into a coil that is typically grilled. These days, however, the sausage mixture is not necessarily added to sausage casings and can be shaped into meat patties, balls, or caseless sausages. Sai ua is often broiled, baked, or fried, and consumed as a street snack, an appetizer, or an accompaniment to main dishes. Salty and somewhat spicy, this Thai sausage is usually served with fresh vegetables, sticky rice, and nam prikh num sauce on the side. Sai ua is a staple of northern Thai provinces, especially Chiang Mai, where it is available at numerous street stalls and markets.