PROSE POETRY

Yam Wun Sen

Salad glass noodle

“Yam Wun Sen”. “Salad long noodle”. (Stretched rice noodles, extracting starch). No relation to Paroma Sen, we would never, stretch nor devour a member of the Sen family, dearest Paroma!

“Glass noodle salad”, as it’s commonly known by the English speaking community, is a very; popular, luscious dish found all around; (yes, you guessed it.) Thailand.

At first sight of this dish, I thought, “no way am I eating this slime!” My loss, I can assure you.

Glass noodles are added to boiled water for one minute making them anything but slimy, no oils are harmed during this process. Warm Glass noodle gives this salad a strangely delightful twist.

Mixed in a big steel bowl, fish sauce, lime juice, a little palm sugar with, wait for it; garlic stock!

Add celery, tomato, garlic, coriander, chillies, lime, onion and spring onion mixing thoroughly. Many places add peanuts these days; (make sure you inform the vendor of any allergies). Amy Marley!

The final ingredient to the mixture, cooked prawns; delicious!

Chicken, beef or pork are generally available, stick with prawns if you want an authentic Thai experience; set on a plate garnished with lettuce leaves served with a separate plate of jasmine steamed rice.

Possibly the best salad; In… the… world! Even salad dodgers, like myself, will love this dish.

Of course, there are those tourists who once again go overboard with chilis, giving the locals a riot auld laugh!

Remember to order “Yam Wun Sen” when you get over to our place!

James G Brennan 2021

Dedicated to my soul sisters of food, in alphamabetical order. Gaby Rogut, Lucy Dan 蛋小姐 (she/her/她) Paroma Sen Suzanne V. Tanner introducing, Amy Marley!

Thank you as always, Lucy Dan 蛋小姐 (she/her/她) for giving my words a platform. 🙏☘✨ Thank you all for reading and your precious time. Always. J. 🙏☘✨