If an authentic Thai breakfast is what you are planning to have, then learn how to eat khao tom. Unlike the Western countries, Thai breakfast is not something that will call for an elaborate breakfast table. It is more of a quick grab from the street stalls. This article will help you know more about Thai breakfasts and especially about Khao Tom.

The Basics:
Thai cuisine does not really have specific dishes for breakfast. Unlike the Western world, where items like bacon and eggs, pancakes or even cereals and milk, always align themselves with breakfast ideas, in Thailand, rarely do you find any such concept. A Thai breakfast, more often than not, consists of the same dishes eaten for lunch or dinner, at the most topped by some quick omelet, chicken or fried pork.

Khao literally means “rice” and “tom” means soup. Therefore, in simple terms, khao tom is nothing but rice soup. Light and healthy, it is therefore a popular breakfast choice.

Garnishes and Sauces:
Garnishing occupies a big space in Thai cuisine. For the Thais, garnishing not only acts as beautifying agents, but also adds additional flavors to the dish. Before eating khao tom, add a few pieces of deep fried sliced shallots as garnishes. You can also add finely chopped green onions, sprigs of cilantro and pickled radish. The combined flavor of all these items will give your khao tom that authentic Thai flavor that you had always wanted. If you want to make it a little spicy, you can add roasted Thai chilly flakes as well.

Sauces also form an integral part of any Thai cuisine. The most commonly used sauce in Thai cuisine is the nam pla or the fish sauce. If you are a fish lover, this sauce is a must for you. It not only adds a subtle fish flavor to your dish, but also gives you the real Thai feel. You can also add nam pla phrik (sliced chillies dipped in fish sauce) to khao tom to give it a spicier version.

Variation:
While khao tom is traditionally a lighter soup (suitable for breakfast), you can also add variation to this by making a thick rice soup with pork pieces in it. You can add chicken to the soup, which is then commonly known as gai khao tom. Fishes are also added to the rice soup at times, and the soup is then called khao tom pla. Some people even add raw eggs directly to the bowl of khao tom, to make it more rich and proteinous. The idea is that the heat from the simmering soup of khao tom will cook the egg and make it tastier.

The Accessories:
Talking about eating khao tom is incomplete if the way it is served is not mentioned. Khao tom is always served on a soup bowl or a soup plate which makes the process of eating khao tom much easier. Also, typical Thai soup spoons made of ceramics are served with the bowl.

The process of eating khao tom is thus essentially the same as eating any other soup. However, it is the flavors, the tastes, the aromas and the presence of rich solids in the creamy, delicious soup that makes all the difference and gives you the feel of that traditional Thai cuisine.

Photo Courtesy: thai-street-food.blogspot.com