Kaeng Nang Loi (แกงนางลอย), or stuffed chili curry, is part of Thai court cuisine, which focuses on beauty, balance, and careful preparation. It’s a rare dish to find in restaurants today. Even though it looks simple, I love how it connects the Thai culinary traditions with the country’s rich literary and mythological heritage.

This dish is inspired by the Thai epic Ramakien, where a demoness pretends to be Sita to trick Rama. This scene is unique to the Thai version and doesn’t appear in the original Indian Ramayana.

In the Ramakien, Thotsakan (Ravana) makes a plan to upset Phra Ram (Rama) and stop him from reaching Lanka. He tells his niece, Benyakai (also spelled Benchakai), to change her shape and look like Sida (Sita). She pretends to be a dead Sita and is floated down the river near Rama’s camp. When Rama sees the body, he believes Sita has died and becomes heartbroken.

The image of a beautiful woman floating on water may have inspired the name Kaeng Nang Loi (literal translation: floating lady curry). In the dish, stuffed chilies float in a tasty curry (sweet, salty and a little tangy ending), like the floating figure in the story.

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