Chim chum facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Chim chum

Chim chum
Place of origin	Mainland Southeast Asia
Region or state	Southeast Asia
Associated national cuisine	Thailand, Lao, Cambodia
Main ingredients	Pork, chicken, herbs, vegetables

Chim chum is a super yummy hot pot dish from Southeast Asia. It's really popular, especially in Thailand! People usually make it with chicken or pork. They add fresh herbs like galangal, sweet basil, lemongrass, and kaffir lime leaves. All these tasty ingredients cook in a small clay pot over a charcoal stove. You often eat it with a special dipping sauce called nam chim.

The name chim chum comes from how you eat it. Chim means to dip, and chum means to drop something quickly. So, you dip and drop your food into the pot!

What is Chim Chum?

Chim chum is a fun way to eat a meal together. It's like a mini cooking adventure right at your table! You get a special clay pot filled with hot broth. This pot sits on a small stove, keeping the broth bubbling.

You add different vegetables and herbs to the broth. Sometimes, people even add unique flowers for a special taste! In northeastern Thailand, this dish is also called chaeo hon.

How to Eat Chim Chum

Eating chim chum is an interactive experience! Here's how it works:

• First, the clay pot with broth comes to your table.
• Wait for the broth to get super hot and start boiling.
• Add the vegetables first, as they take a bit longer to cook.
• Once the broth is boiling again, use your chopsticks to pick up a piece of meat.
• Dip the meat into the boiling broth for less than a minute, until it's cooked.
• Take out your cooked meat and dip it into the special nam chim sauce.
• Enjoy your delicious bite!

How to Make Chim Chum

Making chim chum involves preparing the meat, the broth, and the dipping sauce. It's a fun dish to make with friends or family!

Chim Chum Broth and Meat

This is the main part of your hot pot. It's easy to prepare the ingredients ahead of time.

Ingredients for the Broth

• Chicken stock (broth)
• Galangal
• Lemongrass
• Kaffir lime leaves
• Thai Sweet basil
• Your favorite fresh vegetables (like cabbage, mushrooms, or morning glory)

Ingredients for the Meat

• Your favorite meat (like pork or chicken)
• Oyster sauce
• Light soy sauce
• Sugar
• Optional: Egg
• Optional: Glass noodles

Steps to Prepare

• Marinate the meat: Mix your pork or chicken with oyster sauce, light soy sauce, and a little sugar. Let it sit in the fridge overnight. This makes the meat super flavorful!
• Make the broth: Bring the chicken stock to a boil in a pot. Add galangal, lemongrass, and kaffir lime leaves. Let it simmer until the broth smells amazing.
• Add basil: Stir in the Thai Sweet Basil.
• Bring to the table: Pour the hot broth into your clay pot. Bring it to the table along with all your fresh vegetables, marinated meat, and any other items like eggs or glass noodles.
• Start cooking! Begin by adding vegetables that take longer to cook. Then, everyone can cook their own meat in the boiling broth. Don't forget to dip it in the sauce!

Nam Chim (Dipping Sauce)

The nam chim sauce is super important for chim chum! It adds a burst of flavor.

Ingredients for Nam Chim

• Garlic Cloves
• Coriander roots
• Sea salt
• Red chili
• Green chili
• Thai green chili
• Palm sugar syrup
• Fish sauce
• Limes (for juice)
• Shallot

Steps to Prepare

• Crush the basics: Use a mortar and pestle to gently pound the garlic, coriander roots, and sea salt. Don't make it a smooth paste.
• Add chilies: Add the different types of chilies and lightly crush them.
• Mix everything: Stir in the palm sugar, fish sauce, fresh lime juice, and chopped shallots.
• Let it sit: For the best flavor, let the nam chim sauce sit for about an hour before you use it. This helps all the flavors mix together perfectly!