Son-In-Law Eggs: The Thai Dish Thats Also A Threat
Naming conventions can be intriguing in every language and in every culture, but the son-in-law eggs are a particularly unique gem. They're quite delicious, resembling something like a lighter-flavored scotch egg, and there is a funny myth explaining their name's origin to boot. What's not to love?
According to Atlas Obscura, the old Thai story goes that once there was a mother who loved her daughter and wished the best for her in life and marriage. This mother had heard that her daughter's husband had been treating her poorly and so served up a fresh hot steaming pair of deep-fried boiled eggs to her son-in-law when they had been over for dinner as a delicious warning that a certain pair of his own could be next — a sign of a mother's love and a hot oiled pan's fury. It's a fun story to tell and possibly a dish to look out for the next time you're eating with the in-laws, but son-in-law eggs are also a delicious eggy treat that many enjoy regardless of their relationships with their wife's mother.
Familiar jewels of the dinner plate
Kai look keuy, which translates to son-in-law eggs in English, is very simple to make and delicious when perfected. Depending on how runny you like your yolks, soft boil or hard boil your eggs and lay them out on a rack while you heat some oil in a skillet for deep frying. Then deep fry the eggs until they form a nice brown crust and set aside to cook to an adequate temperature, per Serious Eats.
This dish is very popular in Thailand and is served with a variety of sauces, usually something sweet or sour to balance out the weight of the deep-fried boiled egg. Typically a sauce with shallots, palm sugar, oil, fish sauce, and some other seasonings is a great big hit, with added chilies if you feel like bringing the heat, per Atlas Obscura. It's not just an interesting name, son-in-law eggs also serve as a tasty treat and, in the direst of situations, a delicious warning.