Koh Lanta flavors
Gaeng Som (Southern Sour Curry)
The South's everyday curry — a thin, vivid-orange, hot-and-sour broth on a chilli-and-turmeric paste, soured with tamarind, with chunks of fish and a vegetable such as papaya or cabbage. Brighter, sourer, and far hotter than central Thai curries.
About this dish
Gaeng som — literally 'sour curry' — is the workhorse of the Southern Thai table, eaten almost daily in Koh Lanta homes and the dish that best captures the region's love of bold, sour, fiery flavour. Unlike the creamy coconut curries of central Thailand, gaeng som is a thin, brothy curry coloured a vivid orange by a paste of dried red chilli, turmeric, shallot, garlic, and shrimp paste, then made intensely hot and bracingly sour with tamarind. Into it go chunks of fresh fish (and often shrimp) plus a single vegetable to balance the broth — green papaya, cabbage, snake beans, daikon, or the South's beloved cha-om (acacia) leaf set into an omelette. It is meant to be eaten ladled over plenty of plain rice, its sharp sourness and chilli heat cutting cleanly through a meal of grilled fish and vegetables. The seaside restaurants of Lanta Old Town, like the long-loved Fresh, are celebrated for their versions.
Allergen information
Preparation methods may vary by restaurant. Always confirm with staff if you have severe allergies.
Where to try
Fresh and other local restaurants in Lanta Old Town (Baan Ko Lanta)