Limes

Fresh Limes

The name lime refers to several species of citrus fruit. In Southeast Asia, fruits of the variety Citrus latifolia and their juice are used as a source of acidity in many dishes.

In Thailand they are called , in Vietnam and in Laos “Punkhav” (ປູນຂາວ).

I like to use untreated limes sold here for cocktails such as Cuba Libre, because I can also use the peel without concern in dishes such as Som Tam.

Usage

Pickled Limes

In Thailand, limes are also often preserved in salt. These pickled limes, called “Manao Dong” ( ), are used to season soups and curries. You can find them in jars or cans in well-stocked Asian supermarkets under the name “Salted Pickled Lime.”