Boat noodles facts for kids
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| Alternative names | Boat noodle soup, kuaitiao ruea |
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| Type | Noodle |
| Place of origin | Thailand |
| Region or state | Thailand |
| Main ingredients | dark soy sauce, pickled bean curd, nam tok, salt, garlic, fried garlic, radish, cinnamon, beansprout, parsley, morning glory, paprika |
Boat noodles (called kuaitiao ruea in Thai) is a super tasty Thai noodle dish. It has a really strong flavor! This special soup usually has both pork and beef. It also uses ingredients like dark soy sauce and a type of pickled bean curd.
The soup gets its unique taste and color from a mix of pig or cow blood with salt and spices. This makes the soup thicker and gives it a rich, dark color. Boat noodles are almost always served in a small bowl.
Other ingredients in boat noodles include garlic, fried garlic, and radish. You might also find cinnamon, bean sprouts, parsley, and morning glory. Sometimes, a little bit of Thai chili flakes are added for spice. There are different kinds of noodles you can choose from. These include thin rice noodles, egg noodles, and two types of flat rice noodles called sen yai (big noodles) and sen lek (small noodles).
Boat noodles are often served with crispy pork crackling. Fresh basil or sweet basil is also a common side.
The Story of Boat Noodles
Boat noodles have been a popular dish in Thailand for a long time. People started eating them around 1942. Back then, these noodles were sold right from boats! These boats traveled along the canals in Bangkok.
Why Are the Bowls So Small?
Imagine a merchant selling noodles from a tiny boat. They had to do everything themselves! This included paddling the boat, cooking the noodles, and serving the food. They also had to handle money and wash dishes. If the bowls were too big, it would be hard to pass them to customers on land. The soup might spill easily. So, the small bowls made it much safer and easier for the merchants.
Even today, you'll find boat noodles served in these small bowls. This tradition keeps the history of the dish alive. Sometimes, restaurants that sell boat noodles even have a small boat parked outside!
Where to Find Boat Noodles Today?
You can find delicious boat noodles all over Thailand. Some famous places for them are Ayutthaya and Rangsit. These areas are in the central part of Thailand. But today, the most well-known spot for boat noodles is near the Victory Monument in Bangkok.
