Stir-fried Pickled Mustard Greens with Eggs with Brother Thid Aeaw at Ban Rakas

Stir-fried Pickled Mustard Greens with Eggs with Brother Thid Aeaw at Ban Rakas

When it comes to simple home-style dishes that are easy to eat but have extraordinary flavors in the Samut Prakan area, I, mr.hotsia, want to share the menu “Stir-fried Pickled Mustard Greens with Eggs.” This dish isn’t eaten every day, but when you eat it with Brother Thid Aeaw at Ban Rakas, you’ll feel it’s special in an indescribable way.

Ban Rakas is a small community along Samrong Canal in Bang Bo District, Samut Prakan Province, where I grew up and lived. I have known Brother Thid Aeaw for a long time. He is a local who still firmly preserves the traditional rural lifestyle. Here there are canals, rice fields, the nationally famous Bang Bo salted fish, and importantly, home-style food made from fresh local ingredients.

The last time I visited Brother Thid Aeaw at Ban Rakas, I tasted this stir-fried pickled mustard greens with eggs at his home. The pickled mustard greens used are not the usual store-bought kind but are homemade by the villagers following a traditional recipe. The flavor is perfectly balanced sour and salty, not too strong. Stir-fried with fluffy beaten chicken eggs in a pan until the eggs are crumbly and mixed well with the pickled mustard greens, it emits a fragrant aroma of eggs and a subtle sour-salty taste from the pickled greens. This is what makes this dish special.

Eating stir-fried pickled mustard greens with eggs with Brother Thid Aeaw is not just about food; it’s about sitting and talking about the lifestyle of the people of Ban Rakas—from rice farming, fish raising, to living with Samrong Canal, the community’s lifeline. I still remember Brother telling me about fishing in the canal using “Ai Ngo” andfishing competitionswhich are fun activities for the locals.

Ban Rakas also preserves the traditional old market culture as well as the 150-year-old Bang Phli Old Market, which I have mentioned inprevious articles.These markets reflect the canal-side lifestyle where locals still use boats and waterways as the main routes for travel and trade.

Back to stir-fried pickled mustard greens with eggs, this dish is not only great with hot steamed rice but also perfect for those who prefer mild flavors without too much spiciness, yet still retain the sour-salty taste that stimulates appetite. I, mr.hotsia, always say that eating home-style food like this is a way to experience the true local flavors and learn about the lives of the people there.

Speaking of Samut Prakan’s food, especially in Bang Bo, it’s not just about stir-fried pickled mustard greens with eggs. There is also the famous Bang Bo salted fish known nationwide and worldwide. I have written about Bang Bo salted fish several times inBang Bo Salted Fish articleswhich describe the local fish farming methods that make this seafood sweet, rich, and delicious enough that everyone wants to buy it as a gift.

On the day I went to Ban Rakas, I also saw the canal-side lifestyle that hasn’t changed much—boating, fishing, and warm community conversations. This is the charm of Ban Rakas and Bang Bo that I, mr.hotsia, will never forget.

Finally, if anyone wants to try stir-fried pickled mustard greens with eggs in a homey atmosphere full of canal-side lifestyle stories, I recommend visiting Ban Rakas in Bang Bo, Samut Prakan, and inviting Brother Thid Aeaw to have a meal together. I guarantee you won’t be disappointed.

For those interested in following travel stories and tasting home-style food like me, mr.hotsia, don’t forget to subscribe to the YouTube channelStir-fried Pickled Mustard Greens with Eggs with Brother Thid Aeaw at Ban Rakaswhere I have shared the authentic atmosphere from Ban Rakas for you to enjoy.