If you travel to Thailand there is a very high probability you will encounter the Thai “Mu kratha” dinner.
What Mu Kratha Is
Mu kratha (Thai: หมูกระทะ, RTGS: mu kratha, pronounced [mǔː krā.tʰáʔ])
…is often a buffet of uncooked vegetables, meats, and various types of tofu (Egg, bean, fish, crab) and noodles (rice, bean) that are cooked on an open fire right on your table on a “Grata” or “pan”. Mu in the Thai language translates to pork, so this culinary experience is transliterated to “Pork Pan” but it is so much more than just that.
Mu Kratha originated in the regions of Siam: Thailand, Laos, Malaysia, and Indonesia, all have their version of this dish. There is also a version in the Philippines. This dish differs from the Japanese and Korean versions by the shape of the “Pan”. The Thai Kratha has a mote around the perimeter of the convex pan. The flavors tend to be rather simple, seasoned with salt, pepper, egg, soy sauce, fish sauce, or oyster sauce. The dipping sauces tend to have more Thai flavors, crushed garlic, sliced ginger, lemongrass, chilies peppers, fermented peanuts, or any other Thai ingredient that the family likes to use. The grilled meat is tender but has a crispy outer layer. This is because on the top of the pan you lay pork belly, or large chunks of fat that sizzle and drip fat down seasoning the pan.
Never the Same Meal Twice
From my experience, every Mu Kratha restaurant in Thailand does it a little bit differently. The marinade on the meats is unique, the sauces they offer to dip the cooked meats in are secret family recipes. Sometimes there is ice cream, sometimes there are Thai desserts, but there is nearly always beer and whiskey with soda water over ice involved.
A Social Event
Mu Kratha is a slow meal and it can take hours to prepare as well as hours to consume. It is a lengthy social event where people slowly cook, slowly eat, and calmly talk around a live charcoal fire.
Video of Mu Kratha on My Deck
“It [Mu Kratha]
Robert Minemier
is so good!”
Improvement Dave 