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Seasoned pork sausage in Laos, Myanmar, and Thailand
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Sai oua
👁 A plate of slices of Laotian sai oua
Sliced Laotian sai oua
Alternative namesSai ua
TypeSausage
Place of originLaos, Thailand
Region or stateSoutheast Asia, specifically Laos, Northern Thailand, and Northeastern Burma
Associated cuisineLao, Myanmar, and Thai
Serving temperaturehot
Main ingredients

Sai oua, sometimes also known as Laotian sausage (Lao: ໄສ້ອັ່ວ, pronounced [sȁjʔūa], also sai ua: Thai: ไส้อั่ว, pronounced [sâjʔùa]; Northern Thai: ไส้อั่ว, pronounced [sa᷇jʔùa]; Northeastern Thai: ไส้อั่ว, pronounced [sàjʔúa]), is a popular type of sausage made in Laos, Myanmar, and Thailand, particularly in northern Thailand and northern Laos. It is prepared from coarsely chopped fatty pork seasoned with lemongrass, galangal, kaffir lime leaves, shallots, cilantro, chilies, garlic, salt, sticky rice and fish sauce.

"Lao sausage" is a broad term used to describe the local variant of Lao-style sai oua sausages found in Laos, and northern and northeastern Thailand. In Shan State, Myanmar, this sausage is known as sai long phik.[1] In Thailand, it is also known as northern Thai sausage or Chiang Mai sausage.[2] Sai oua is a standard food of Thailand's northern provinces[2] and has become popular in the rest of Thailand as well.[3]

Description

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Sai oua contains minced pork meat, herbs, spices, and kaeng khua red curry paste.[4] It can include coarsely chopped fatty pork seasoned with lemongrass, galangal, kaffir lime leaves, shallots, cilantro, chilies, garlic, salt, sticky rice and fish sauce.[5][6]

The sausage is either fermented,[7][8] dried and roasted,[6] or grilled before serving. It is usually eaten with sticky rice or served as a snack or starter. Traditionally sai oua was a homemade sausage, but today it is readily available in shops.[9][better source needed]

History

[edit]
👁 Image
Grilled sai oua

Sai oua is an ancient Lao word for sausage.[10]. It is a compound term, literally meaning "stuffed intestine": sai (ໄສ້) from "intestine" and oua (ອົວ/ອັ່ວ) meaning "stuffed".[11][12]

The spicy sausage originates from Luang Prabang, Laos.[13][14][15] Luang Prabang was once the royal capital and seat of power of the Kingdom of Lan Xang (1353–1707). The ancient city of Luang Prabang is considered to be the cradle of Lao culture and cuisine.[16][17][18] At the height of its power, Luang Prabang's influence stretches from the borders of Sipsongpanna (China) to Steung Treng (Cambodia), from the eastern border along the Annamite Range with Vietnam to the western border Khorat Plateau (Northeastern Thailand) and its sister kingdom of Lan Na.[19][20]

Sai oua was listed in a collection of favorite dishes for the former Lao royal family written by Phia Sing (1898–1967), the king's personal chef and master of ceremonies,[21] and today is one of several popular traditional Lao dishes.[22]

Types

[edit]
👁 A person is holding a slice of sausauge on top of sticky rice
Sai oua with sticky rice

There are two types of sai oua in Laos:

  • Sai oua moo or pork sausage,[5] literally sai (intestine) oua (stuffed) moo (pork)[citation needed]
  • Sai oua krouaille or water buffalo sausage,[15] literally sai (intestine) oua (stuffed) krouaille (water buffalo)[citation needed]

The traditional recipe for sai oua moo served to Laotian royalties can be found in a collection of hand written recipes from Phia Sing (1898–1967), the king's personal chef and master of ceremonies. Phia Sing's hand written recipes were compiled and published for the first time in 1981.[21]

Commercial preparation

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Tong Tem Toh in Chiang Mai, Thailand drew international attention for its hors d'oeuvre plate featuring sai oua.[23]

Sai oua is also prepared in the Western diaspora of Thai and Lao people. Goldee's BBQ in Fort Worth, Texas serves a smoked sai oua ("Lao sausage") based on Laotian American owner Nupohn Inthanousay's family recipe.[24][25] At Blackstack Brewery in Saint Paul, Minnesota, Soul Lao serves their version of the sausage.[26] Kao Soy in Brooklyn, New York was named "Best of New York" by New York magazine in 2015 for its northern Thai sai oua.[27] Estrella Dam National Restaurant Awards-winner Singburi in London is noted for their own sai oua.[28]

TasteAtlas, a global food and travel guide known for ranking traditional dishes from around the world, released its list of the Top 100 Best Sausages in the World in July 2025. Laotian sai oua ranked at No. 12, earning 4.3 stars,[29] and the Northern Thai version at No. 49, earning 3.9 stars.[30]

Similar sausages

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Similar sausages in Lao cuisine include sai gork (Lao: ໄສ້ກອກ, "soured Lao sausage"),[31] sai gork wan (Lao: ໄສ້ກອກຫວານ; sweet sausage), sai gork leuat (Lao: ໄສ້ກອກເລືອດ; blood sausage), naem (Lao: ແໜມ; sour sausage) and mam (Thai: หม่ำ; beef or pork sausage mixed with liver).[32]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Food in Thailand and elsewhere". www.austinbushphotography.com. Archived from the original on 2013-08-20. Retrieved 2025-02-17.
  2. ^ a b "The Tempting Foods of Chiang Rai". Archived from the original on October 30, 2012.
  3. ^ "THAILAND NORTHERN SHARED DISHES". October 26, 2010.
  4. ^ "Sai-ua". Lanna Food. Northern Thai Information Center, Chiang Mai University Library. Archived from the original on December 21, 2015.
  5. ^ a b "Sai Ua Moo". Traditional Recipes of Laos. Archived from the original on 2012-05-31. Retrieved 2009-06-04.
  6. ^ a b Toldrá, Fidel; Hui, Y.H. (October 2, 2014). "Dry‐Fermented Sausages and Ripened Meats: An Overview". Handbook of Fermented Meat and Poultry. Wiley. doi:10.1002/9781118522653.ch1. ISBN 978-1-118-52269-1.
  7. ^ Toldrá, Fidel (March 16, 2020). "Meat Products". Kirk-Othmer Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology. Wiley. p. 8. doi:10.1002/0471238961.1305012019030813.a01.pub3. ISBN 978-0-471-48494-3.
  8. ^ Di Gioia, Diana (2015-11-23). "Chapter 7: Safety of Fermented Meat" (PDF). In Prakash, V.; Martin-Belloso, Olga; Keener, Larry; Astley, Sian Bethan; Braun, Susanne; McMahon, Helena; Lelieveld, Huub (eds.). Regulating Safety of Traditional and Ethnic Foods. Waltham, MA: Academic Press. p. 130. doi:10.1016/B978-0-12-800605-4.00007-4. ISBN 978-0-12-800605-4. OCLC 941145777.
  9. ^ "Thai Northern Sausage (Sai-Ua)". December 17, 2009. Archived from the original on December 20, 2024. Retrieved February 17, 2025 – via YouTube.
  10. ^ Massie, Victor-Alphonse (1894). Dictionnaire français-laotien: Mission Pavie, exploration de l' indochine (Latin characters). p. 108.
  11. ^ Massie, Victor-Alphonse (1894). Dictionnaire français-laotien. Paris: Imprimerie nationale. p. 152. saucisse = say ouo
  12. ^ Massie, Victor-Alphonse (1894). Dictionnaire français-laotien. Paris: Imprimerie nationale. p. 91. intestin = say thong
  13. ^ Harry (January 19, 2020). "10 Things to Do in Luang Prabang". Archived from the original on August 10, 2020. Retrieved April 15, 2020.
  14. ^ Carter, Sarah (November 4, 2015). "Laos Food and Laos Drinks: Your What To Eat in Laos Guide".
  15. ^ a b "15 of the Best Authentic Laos Food You Want to Enjoy in Luang Prabang". March 12, 2019. Archived from the original on February 19, 2023. Retrieved April 15, 2020.
  16. ^ "Discover why Laos is the world's next great foodie destination". Travel. July 10, 2019. Archived from the original on July 10, 2019.
  17. ^ "The king ate sticky rice: Cooking, past and present, in Luang Prabang, Laos". Los Angeles Times. October 1, 2019. Archived from the original on 2020-03-28. Retrieved 2020-04-15.
  18. ^ "Luang Prabang, Laos - Travel Guide for Food Lovers (Where to Eat, Drink, Stay)". Migrationology - Food Travel Blog. Archived from the original on 2021-04-23. Retrieved 2020-04-15.
  19. ^ Bock, Carl (1884). Temples and Elephants: Narrative of a Journey of Exploration Through Upper Siam and Lao. London: Sampson Low, Marston, Searle and Rivington. (reprinted Bangkok: White Lotus, 1985)
  20. ^ Stuart-Fox, Martin. The French in Laos, 1887–1945. Modern Asian Studies. Vol. 29, no. 1, 1995. pp 111 – 139. Print.
  21. ^ a b "Traditional Recipes of Laos". Traditional Recipes of Laos. December 5, 2020. Archived from the original on June 29, 2021. Retrieved March 31, 2025.
  22. ^ "15 of the Best Authentic Laos Food You Want to Enjoy in Luang Prabang". March 12, 2019. Archived from the original on February 19, 2023. Retrieved April 15, 2020.
  23. ^ Dunston, Lara (March 2016). "Northern sojourn". Australian Gourmet Traveller. Vol. 16, no. 3. Sydney, Australia: Are Media. p. 177. ISSN 1034-9006. EBSCOhost 112858738. Retrieved March 31, 2025.
  24. ^ Torres, Christopher (July 20, 2024). "Goldee's owner hesitantly tried blending his Lao culture into Texas BBQ. It's been a hit". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Retrieved February 24, 2025.
  25. ^ Welch, Sean (April 5, 2022). "Goldee's Lao Sausage is Made with "Love"". Dallas Observer. Retrieved February 24, 2025.
  26. ^ Narain, Aarohi (May 31, 2019). "Soul Lao: On making the case for Lao food in Minnesota". Insight News. Archived from the original on August 10, 2022. Retrieved February 24, 2025.
  27. ^ "Best of New York 2015: Food". New York. Vol. 48, no. 3. New York. March 9, 2015. p. 4. ISSN 0028-7369. EBSCOhost 102973607. Retrieved March 31, 2025.
  28. ^ Knott, Bill; Krader, Kate (November 16, 2023). "Here's Why Thai Food Has Taken Over London". Bloomberg.com. EBSCOhost 173674935. Retrieved March 31, 2025.
  29. ^ "Cooked Sausages of the World: Best Recipes & Restaurants | TasteAtlas". www.tasteatlas.com. Retrieved 2025-07-25.
  30. ^ passamon_a (2025-07-22). "'ไส้กรอกอีสาน-ไส้อั่ว' จากไทย ติด 50 อันดับ ไส้กรอกที่อร่อยที่สุดในโลก" ['Sai krok Isan-Sai oua' from Thailand ranked among the 50 best sausages in the world]. 3PlusNEWS (in Thai). Retrieved 2025-07-23.
  31. ^ "New Lao Sai Oua vs Sai Gok". Laos In The House. Archived from the original on 2020-09-01. Retrieved 2020-04-15.
  32. ^ ตามอำเภอจาน (2024-08-09). "หม่ำ คืออะไร แล้วทำยังไง อร่อยไหม?". Facebook (in Thai). Retrieved 2026-03-16 – via Amarin TV.

External links

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