aeng tai pla is a highly spicy curry; it has a very intense taste and pungent aroma that usually are only appreciated by local people and connoisseurs.[2] It is made mainly with vegetables and fish. Sometimes it includes prawns and certain variants use coconut milk instead of water.[3]
The usual ingredients of the dish are bamboo shoots, eggplants, pea eggplants, yardlong beans and fresh chilies.[4] Other vegetables used alternatively are Parkia speciosa, baby corn, pumpkin[5] and also potatoes if bamboo shoots are not available.[6]
The other ingredients are tai pla sauce, which contributes greatly to its characteristic smell and taste, as well as shrimp paste, turmeric, lesser galangal, lemongrass, kaffir lime leaves, red chili paste, black pepper, onions and garlic.[7]