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Thai kale ... what is it really?

Jingthing

By Jingthing
in Thai Food

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Jingthing Legendary Member

Jingthing

Posted
Posted

Recently I've been eating a lot more Thai kale.

Like entire orders of it. Just Thai kale.

Now I now Thai kale is not the same vegetable as kale in the west.

But what is it exactly?

Is it a different kind of kale?
Is it not really kale, just called kale?

Is Thai kale as wonderfully nutritious and health promoting as western kale?

In the U.S. kale is absurdly trendy to the point of there being tons of jokes about it, but I've not lived there during the age of Kale.

So those who know the answers to my queries, please spill the beans.

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wayned
wayned

I think that you are talking about Chinese Kale. The Thais call it Phak Khana. It is used extensively in Thai cooking, not just the leaves, but the entire stalk cut in very thin slices. Here's a li

wayned
wayned

Next time that you see it point to it and ask them if it's Khana. I would guess that the answer is yes. The Thais seem to shorten the names of vegetables. My wife would ask me to go to the market a

AyG
AyG

Had you said it was an ingredient of classic ratnaa or pad siew you'd have been right. It's not an ingredient of pad Thai. The long strips in pad Thai are pickled radish or turnip.

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tutsiwarrior Diamond Member

tutsiwarrior

Posted
Posted

JT...please post a photo...what is 'thai kale'? and what is the thai language word?

I useta grow magnificent kale in my garden in N California about 35 years ago...quite nice freshly picked inna salad...

never seen nothin' in Thailand suitable for that purpose...

Jingthing Legendary Member

Jingthing

Posted
  • Author
Posted (edited)

It's on menus all over Thailand. It's Thailand so here they just call it kale. But I know it's not the same as western kale. So it's Thai kale. Like a French kiss. In France, that's just a kiss.

Edited by Jingthing
tutsiwarrior Diamond Member

tutsiwarrior

Posted
Posted (edited)

I googled 'thai kale' and it came up 'thai kale with pork' which indeed is a common dish...my folks just refer to it as 'pak' like all other veges...

it's the most ubiquitous leafy green vege in Thailand, it seems...always available everywhere...I usually wash thoroughly, remove the tough stems, chop once roughly diagonally and add to a stir fry (on top, any stir fry; chicken , pork, tofu, etc) cover and steam during last few minutes of cooking...

not bad....

https://www.google.co.th/search?q=thai+kale&rlz=1C1CHWA_enSA644SA644&espv=2&biw=1366&bih=643&tbm=isch&imgil=jwl1kb-XJA5gAM%253A%253B0EpSddxQuo_l4M%253Bhttp%25253A%25252F%25252Fwww.thaivisa.com%25252Fforum%25252Ftopic%25252F680476-can-i-find-strong-leafy-vegetables-in-the-fresh-markets%25252F&source=iu&pf=m&fir=jwl1kb-XJA5gAM%253A%252C0EpSddxQuo_l4M%252C_&usg=__2NYCbLrbBzqDGyxdBU2JxvrYFDo%3D&ved=0CCYQyjdqFQoTCPGjhKzKkMkCFQxOjgodsjcAAA&ei=ZoJHVvHYIIycuQSybw#imgrc=jwl1kb-XJA5gAM%3A&usg=__2NYCbLrbBzqDGyxdBU2JxvrYFDo%3D

Edited by tutsiwarrior
Jingthing Legendary Member

Jingthing

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Posted (edited)

Yes, it's in many dishes.

Such as pad see yu.

It so totally different than western Kale.

It seems similar to Chinese broccoli but not Chinese broccoli either.

How did something so different than western Kale get named Kale in English in Thailand?

Edited by Jingthing
tutsiwarrior Diamond Member

tutsiwarrior

Posted
Posted

just thought of something...remove the stems after washing then stir fry with the other ingredients..add the leaves and steam as previously described...

I gotta try it when I get home next...

tmw, I'm back on the road to.....work bah.gif

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wayned Ruby Member

wayned

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Posted (edited)

I think that you are talking about Chinese Kale. The Thais call it Phak Khana. It is used extensively in Thai cooking, not just the leaves, but the entire stalk cut in very thin slices. Here's a link but it is the Chinese name, Kai-lan: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kai-lan.

My wife bought kilos of it everyday when she had a restaurant.

Edited by wayned
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Jingthing Legendary Member

Jingthing

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Posted (edited)

Yes when you order a plate of it you get the leaves and the stalk. That's what you want!

I just googled Chinese kale and it comes up as Kailan, Chinese broccoli.

NO!

Thai kale is definitely not the same thing as Chinese broccoli!

Order a plate of Chinese broccoli in a Chinese restaurant and then a plate of Thai Kale in a Thai restaurant.

Cooked differently yes of course but not the same vegetable either.

I actually prefer Chinese broccoli but you don't usually see that on standard Thai menus.

Edited by Jingthing
wayned Ruby Member

wayned

Posted
Posted

There must be different varieties of it. This is what we buy in the market known as Phak Khana. If you goggle Phak Khana it comes up as Chinese broccoli or Chinese kale. If you go to any vegetable vendor and ask for Phak Khana this is what you get. It's grown just down the road from us.

10439015_267101316746796_230484687905068

wayned Ruby Member

wayned

Posted
Posted

There must be different varieties of it. This is what we buy in the market known as Phak Khana. If you goggle Phak Khana it comes up as Chinese broccoli or Chinese kale. If you go to any vegetable vendor and ask for Phak Khana this is what you get. It's grown just down the road from us.

10439015_267101316746796_230484687905068

tutsiwarrior Diamond Member

tutsiwarrior

Posted
Posted

yeah...what wayned's got is what I'm talkin' about...I find the stalks inedible but there's no accounting fer local taste as a westerner...

however, if they were removed after washing and precooked or simmered inna cooking sauce awhile like cauli or broccoli after initial stir frying, perhaps...

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wayned Ruby Member

wayned

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Next time that you see it point to it and ask them if it's Khana. I would guess that the answer is yes.

The Thais seem to shorten the names of vegetables. My wife would ask me to go to the market and buy some Phak Bung (swamp Cabbage) and ma-kheua (eggplant). I would always came back with the wrong thing. There are different types of Phak Bung and many types of ma-kheua ranging from small green pea shaped pods, ma-kheua phuang, to tomatoes, ma-kheus thaeht, with many varieties in between. Even Phak Chee which most think is coriander, but there are many types of phak chee, phak chee Lao is asian dill. You can even go to the market and get a Fuk!

  • Like 4
tutsiwarrior Diamond Member

tutsiwarrior

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Posted (edited)

yeah...the various local names for veges always have me confused...best to personally go down the market and see what's best on the day and then load up...

(and here comes tutsi from the market...shufflin' under the weight inna coolie hat with a stick on his shoulder with dangling baskets fulla veg and then his wife exclaims with dismay: ' whatsamatta wid ye...')

Edited by tutsiwarrior
Briggsy Diamond Member

Briggsy

Posted
Posted

Google Brassica Oleracea and you will see this plant has many subspecies. I don't know how much of the amazing diversity of this species is due to man or nature.

tutsiwarrior Diamond Member

tutsiwarrior

Posted
Posted

Google Brassica Oleracea and you will see this plant has many subspecies. I don't know how much of the amazing diversity of this species is due to man or nature.

what we got is probably a mutation...we gots mutant veggies over here!

someone call the cops...

NickJ Silver Member

NickJ

Posted
Posted

And if anyone ever thinks about going on a juicing kick here. Trust me, really really wash everything. I thought I was washing enough. I wasnt...............

tutsiwarrior Diamond Member

tutsiwarrior

Posted
Posted

And if anyone ever thinks about going on a juicing kick here. Trust me, really really wash everything. I thought I was washing enough. I wasnt...............

I hear that, brother...

I've seen what they spray on crops here and believe me it ain't nice...but, that's not to say that what ye get elsewhere is 'nicer'...

tutsiwarrior Diamond Member

tutsiwarrior

Posted
Posted

Google Brassica Oleracea and you will see this plant has many subspecies. I don't know how much of the amazing diversity of this species is due to man or nature.

Specifically it's Brassica oleracea var. alboglabra. See https://th.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%B8%84%E0%B8%B0%E0%B8%99%E0%B9%89%E0%B8%B2

'alboglabra'?

would that be linear, multivariable...or, simply, mathematically undefined gobbledygook!!!

(I love 'gobbledygook', don't you?)

I sorta like this one: linear, empirically proved and elegant

Tf = 1.8Tc + 32

and it makes a difference in our daily comprehension of most things in general...

(jeezuz it's hot...whew...)

AyG Platinum Member

AyG

Posted
Posted

'alboglabra'?

would that be linear, multivariable...or, simply, mathematically undefined gobbledygook!!!

Oh, the younger generation! If only they'd studied Latin at school.

Alboglabra is from "albus" meaning "white" and "glabrus" meaning "hairless".

  • Like 1
just_Elaine Advanced Member

just_Elaine

Posted
Posted

I think Thai kale is Chinese broccoli (gai-lan). The ones I get at the markets in Thailand are usually younger and more tender. There are many types of kale: lacinato, curly and Russian that I know of. People use it in salads or saute it. Kale is supposedly a very nutritious food. I like the taste of all these vegetables.. Not sure if I have seen kale at the stores... If so, it will most likely be the curly type which many people like in salads or to make smoothies/juice.

thrilled Gold Member

thrilled

Posted
Posted

Kale as I know it and other greens,collard,turnip etc,as far as I know don't grow in hot weather.They grow good in the fall of the year because of the temperature.I believe it don't grow when it's hot.

  • Like 1
zyphodb Gold Member

zyphodb

Posted
Posted

There must be different varieties of it. This is what we buy in the market known as Phak Khana. If you goggle Phak Khana it comes up as Chinese broccoli or Chinese kale. If you go to any vegetable vendor and ask for Phak Khana this is what you get. It's grown just down the road from us.

10439015_267101316746796_230484687905068

The peeled stalks of this in long slices are actually one of the ingredients of classic Pad Thai, along with Prawns & flat noodles, & its what I understand to be Thai kale...

loong Ruby Member

loong

Posted
Posted

There are many varieties, as already mentioned.

Some are grown specifically for the leaves, others for a nice thick stalk. The peeled stalk is delicious, just like broccoli stalk.

AyG Platinum Member

AyG

Posted
Posted

The peeled stalks of this in long slices are actually one of the ingredients of classic Pad Thai, along with Prawns & flat noodles, & its what I understand to be Thai kale...

Had you said it was an ingredient of classic ratnaa or pad siew you'd have been right. It's not an ingredient of pad Thai. The long strips in pad Thai are pickled radish or turnip.

  • Like 2
ExpatOilWorker Ruby Member

ExpatOilWorker

Posted
Posted

Google Brassica Oleracea and you will see this plant has many subspecies. I don't know how much of the amazing diversity of this species is due to man or nature.

Specifically it's Brassica oleracea var. alboglabra. See https://th.wikipedia.org/wiki/คะน้า

'alboglabra'?

would that be linear, multivariable...or, simply, mathematically undefined gobbledygook!!!

(I love 'gobbledygook', don't you?)

I sorta like this one: linear, empirically proved and elegant

Tf = 1.8Tc + 32

and it makes a difference in our daily comprehension of most things in general...

(jeezuz it's hot...whew...)

Romanesco broccoli, my favorite mathematical vegetable.

post-119133-0-48223300-1447642634_thumb.

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