Gaeng Hung Lay (Northern Thai Braised Pork Curry)

120 mins
Serves 4
tiktok.com

Directions

  1. 1Season pork with fish sauce and set aside.
  2. 2Pound the dried chillies in a mortar and pestle.
  3. 3Add shallots, garlic, turmeric, lemongrass, and galangal to the mortar and pestle and pound.
  4. 4Finish by adding shrimp paste to the mortar and pestle and pounding until a coarse texture is achieved.
  5. 5Heat a pot on medium heat and render fat from the pork pieces.
  6. 6Remove the pork from the pot.
  7. 7Add the curry paste and garam masala into the pork fat in the pot.
  8. 8Fry the curry paste and garam masala for 3-4 minutes until fragrant.
  9. 9Add the pork back into the pot, sear, and coat well for about 5-6 minutes.
  10. 10Add just enough water to cover the pork.
  11. 11Add dark soy sauce, tamarind, jaggery, and extra garlic cloves.
  12. 12Bring to a simmer, then cover and cook on low heat for 1.5 hours.
  13. 13Once the oil splits, uncover and simmer until the sauce is thick, glossy, and dreamy.
  14. 14Finish with fresh ginger and coriander.
  15. 15Serve with jasmine rice.

Ingredients

  • 700 g pork (with some fat)
  • few pork bone pieces
  • 3 tbsp fish sauce
  • 2 large shallots
  • 4 garlic cloves
  • 1 Thumb-size fresh turmeric
  • 2 inch piece galangal
  • 2 lemongrass stalks white part
  • 7 dried red chillies
  • 1.5 tsp shrimp paste
  • 1 heaped tbsp garam masala (or Hung Lay curry powder)
  • Water
  • 2.5 tbsp dark soy sauce
  • 1 tsp concentrated tamarind
  • 1 tbsp jaggery (or brown sugar)
  • 10 garlic cloves
  • Fresh ginger, finely chopped
  • Coriander leaves
  • Jasmine rice

Equipment

mortar & pestlepot

Tips

  • For the curry paste, a coarse texture is perfect.
  • Don't talk to anyone till you've tasted it.