Ingredients
What is Thum Mak Thang?
Thum Mak Thang, a go-to side dish for Lao family gatherings, is a fresh, fiery, and tangy cucumber salad with hints of lime, chili, sugar, and fish sauce. Crisp cucumbers get tossed in a bold mix of flavors, bringing together spicy, sour, salty, and just a touch of sweet in every bite. It’s light, crunchy, and cuts through heavier dishes perfectly, whether you’re eating grilled meats or sticky rice.
What’s in Thum Mak Thang?
It’s all about layering flavor. You’ll need cucumbers, Thai chilies, lime juice, fish sauce (and padaek if you want that real Lao flavor), a bit of sugar, and cherry tomatoes. Pound it all together so the flavors soak in!
Want a vegan version? Swap the fish sauce/padaek for a plant-based alternative.
Pro Tips:
- Adjust and taste as you go! Some families will prefer different proportions (such as no fish sauce, less padaek, more lime, etc). You can also add garlic, shrimp paste, or crab paste for an extra kick.
- Eat it fresh! This recipe is best consumed immediately after making.
Once you get it right, this is the side dish (or meal) you’ll keep coming back to.
The Recipe
Ingredients you'll need:
- 1 Cucumber
- 3-4 Cherry Tomatoes
- 1/2 Lime
- 2 Tbsp Padaek (Fermented Fish Sauce)
- 2 Tbsp Fish Sauce
- 3-5 Thai Chili Peppers (1-2 for mild, 3-5 for medium, 6++ for spicy!)
- 1/2 Tbsp Sugar
- Pinch of MSG
- Mortar and pestle to combine everything (or a food processor)
- You can also add garlic, shrimp paste, and crab paste, and adjust any of the ingredients how you like (some people cut out fish sauce completely and add more lime)!
How to make it:
- 1) Skin and shred your cucumber into thin slices:
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- 2) Using the mortar & pestle, throw your chili peppers in and start mashing into a fine paste:
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- 3) Add your cherry tomatoes, and crush to release the juices!
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- 4) Throw in your sugar & MSG:
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- 5) Mix it all up while adding in your lime, fish sauce, and padaek:
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- 6) Finally, pour in your shredded cucumbers, and combine:
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- 7) Serve and eat! Use as a side, or add in some proteins (steak, shrimp, etc) with rice vermicelli noodles to enjoy a Lao meal :)
Serve Thum Mak Thang with just about any dish, it pairs perfectly with grilled meats, sticky rice, and fresh spring rolls. This Lao cucumber salad works as a refreshing side, a light dressing, or a bold flavor boost to elevate your meal. Easily customize it to your taste - add more chilies for extra spice, more lime juice for a brighter, tangier kick, or more padaek for that tasty & funky Lao flavor!