Jump to content
Login with your Gmail HERE and start posting in seconds! ×
Don't just read! Be part of the Community! Join the conversation ×
Our Newsletter now includes a Sunday edition! Stay updated 7 days a week!

What is the origin of Thai's putting ketchup on pizza?

DudleySquat

By DudleySquat
in Western Food in Thailand

 Share

Recommended Posts

fondue zoo Gold Member

fondue zoo

Posted
Posted (edited)

I read elsewhere when this was asked that it was/is? common in China too.

Pre-made marinara sauce isn't readily available, storage, heat, cost, etc. Ketchup, sweeter and in a bottle full of preservatives that never goes bad.

 

 

Edited by fondue zoo
  • Popular Post
likerdup1 Silver Member

likerdup1

Posted
  • Popular Post
Posted

It's deeply rooted in Thai tradition. The first Italian explorer to Thailand a one "Guisepee Whoramongera" loved Thailand but could not find any pizza shops anywhere. In a desperate attempt for his favorite food, not being a chef himself shopped for the closest ingredients possible to make himself a pizza. On entering a 7-11 he saw a bottle of Philippine ketchup on display and jumped at the chance to purchase what he thought was tomato sauce. He then found himself the rest of the ingredients by searching the land far and wide. After some attempts at making his pizza it finally worked, but sadly he was so over worked by his efforts passed away in his small apartment on Sukumvit Soi 6.

 

He was found later by police and his Thai neighbors who were curious about this flat bread food that was strewn all about his apartment and the many bottles of ketchup found.

 

It was from this small beginning that Thai people came to know pizza as flat bread and ketchup. It's a truly heart warming anecdote.

  • Like 1
  • Haha 2
ezzra Star Member

ezzra

Posted
Posted

I think that Thais confuses Pizza sauce with tomato ketchup, but it also might add a  different flavour to the Pizza, who knows...

  • Like 1
DudleySquat Silver Member

DudleySquat

Posted
  • Author
Posted
6 minutes ago, ezzra said:

I think that Thais confuses Pizza sauce with tomato ketchup, but it also might add a  different flavour to the Pizza, who knows...

You are close.

likerdup1 Silver Member

likerdup1

Posted
Posted (edited)
10 minutes ago, fondue zoo said:

 

 

 

 

 

They are a very powerful political organization. Don't mess with them!

Edited by likerdup1
it is what it is Gold Member

it is what it is

Posted
Posted
28 minutes ago, fondue zoo said:

I read elsewhere when this was asked that it was/is? common in China too.

Pre-made marinara sauce isn't readily available, storage, heat, cost, etc. Ketchup, sweeter and in a bottle full of preservatives that never goes bad.

 

 

 

saw this when i was traveling in iran too.

NoDisplayName Gold Member

NoDisplayName

Posted
Posted
35 minutes ago, fondue zoo said:

I read elsewhere when this was asked that it was/is? common in China too.

Pre-made marinara sauce isn't readily available, storage, heat, cost, etc. Ketchup, sweeter and in a bottle full of preservatives that never goes bad.

 

 

 

A lot of what you find in China is simply copy-&-pasta.  :passifier:

 

Hotel/restaurant manager wants additional items on the menu, looks through some western foodie magazines, rips out a few pages, and hands them to his "chef" to recreate.

 

The "chef" will make a dish that looks like the item in the photo.  Spaghetti made with ketchup?  Well, it looks right............

KhunLA Star Member

KhunLA

Posted
Posted

To the title ... I'm at a loss to how that is a thing, for anyone.   Adding tomato sauce to something that already has as a main ingredient/flavoring.

 

Not just pizza, and seems many add tomato sauce to most western food.  

 

I rarely use tomato sauce on foods that it's traditionally used on.  I consider it the easiest & best way to ruin most things.  Especially the way some folks just smother their food with it.  

 

Same with plain mayo ... not a big fan of either.

Sheryl Star Member

Sheryl

Posted
Posted
2 hours ago, ezzra said:

I think that Thais confuses Pizza sauce with tomato ketchup, but it also might add a  different flavour to the Pizza, who knows...

Definitely they conflate tomato sauce with ketchup.

 

And indeed many Thai "pizzas" use ketchup for this purpose . And they use it for spaghetti sauce too   :sad:

 

Same in Cambodia

DudleySquat Silver Member

DudleySquat

Posted
  • Author
Posted
1 minute ago, Sheryl said:

Definitely they conflate tomato sauce with ketchup.

 

And indeed many Thai "pizzas" use ketchup for this purpose . And they use it for spaghetti sauce too   :sad:

 

Same in Cambodia

 

Shocking to the palate. 

mokwit Platinum Member

mokwit

Posted
Posted (edited)

Widespread Pizza outlets was brought to Thailand by Minor group in the '90's with franchise of Pizza Hut - probably required to include the ketchup in line with company rules and Thais just assumed it was an integral part of the dish.

Edited by mokwit
DudleySquat Silver Member

DudleySquat

Posted
  • Author
Posted
1 minute ago, thaibeachlovers said:

What sort of mustard? Mild American is different to English mustard. I like Mild American on hot dogs, but never tried it on pizza.

Don't.

Sheryl Star Member

Sheryl

Posted
Posted
17 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

To the title ... I'm at a loss to how that is a thing, for anyone.   Adding tomato sauce to something that already has as a main ingredient/flavoring.

 

Not just pizza, and seems many add tomato sauce to most western food.  

 

I rarely use tomato sauce on foods that it's traditionally used on.  I consider it the easiest & best way to ruin most things.  Especially the way some folks just smother their food with it.  

 

Same with plain mayo ... not a big fan of either.

 

The issue is that ketchup is not tomato sauce. (though that is the way Thais and many other Asians apparently view it).

 

It is a condiment that is made from tomatoes, vinegar and sugar. It is in no way similar in taste to the tomato sauces used for pizza and pasta. The addition of a vingar-y condiment completely alters the taste of these foods, and not in a good way....

bendejo Diamond Member

bendejo

Posted
Posted

They do it in Brazil as well.  In fact, some of the tomato sauces you may encounter are ketchup based in many places in the world.  Yech!

I've had slices down there that were more like open melted cheese sandwiches served on flatbread.  And if your lucky it won't taste of ketchup.

 

freeworld Gold Member

freeworld

Posted
Posted
3 minutes ago, Felton Jarvis said:

Ketchup contains sugar. Most Thai people like their food sweeter.

Correct. My wife made me spaghetti arrabiata last night. She has her nephew and his girlfried staying over for new year and they wanted to try it.

 

They took one mouthful and said it was not sweet enough and started dosing it with ketchup.

spidermike007 Star Member

spidermike007

Posted
Posted

I think if they have really good tomato sauce no additions are required, but a lot of pizza I've had here has very marginal tomato sauce. Regardless, there's no excuse for putting ketchup on pizza. My older sister used to do that when I was a kid and it would drive me crazy, even as a kid I had enough good sense to not do something like that. 

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
 Share
Go to topic listing

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.






ASEANNOW

ASEANNOW (formally ThaiVisa) is Thailand's oldest and most popular expat and foriegner forum. Sign up today and have your say!

MORE INFO

POPULAR AREAS

CONTACT US

219/59 Asoke Towers, 15th Floor, Soi Sukhumvit 21, Watthana, Bangkok 10110
(+66) 99 196 1100
[email protected]

×
×
  • Create New...