Khao Yam Pak Thai

Ingredients for 4 servings:

• 500 g rice
• 100 g desiccated coconut
• 150 g pomelo(s)
• 100 g mung bean sprouts
• 35 g shrimps, dried
• 100 g beans (snake beans)
• 100 g cucumber(s)
• 4 stalks of lemongrass
• 10 chili pepper(s), red
• 6 stalks of coriander, without roots
• 2 limes
• 2 kaffir lime leaves
• 2 tbsp salted fish, without bones and skin (Pla Kem – from the Asian store)
• 2 tbsp palm sugar, grated
• 2 tbsp galangal, very finely chopped
• 4 shallots (Thai shallots), finely chopped
• 1 stalk of lemongrass, the tender inner part, chopped into fine slices
• 2 kaffir lime leaves, very finely chopped
• 1 tbsp soy sauce, dark
• 2 tbsp fish sauce
• 250 ml water
• 2 eggs
• Salt
• possibly fat, for frying

Instructions

Working time approx. 1 hour; Total time approx. 1 hour

Rice salad from southern Thailand

For the sauce: Place all ingredients in a small saucepan and bring to a boil while stirring. Reduce heat to low for about 10 minutes, or until the sauce has reduced by half. Pour through a sieve into a small bowl and press through as much of the liquid as possible with a spoon. Allow to cool. For the salad: Cook the rice and allow to cool. Toast the desiccated coconut in a dry pan until golden brown and allow to cool. Peel the pomelo and cut into small pieces. Remove the dry tails from the mung bean sprouts. Soak the dried shrimp for 10 minutes, drain well, and finely grind. Finely chop the snake beans. Cut the cucumber into sticks. Finely slice the tender inner part of the lemongrass. Finely chop the red chilies. Chop the coriander stalks. Quarter the limes. Very finely chop the kaffir lime leaves. For the omelet, whisk the eggs, season, and cook. Let them cool and then cut them into thin strips. To serve, you can mix all the ingredients (including the sauce) in a large bowl, or you can serve the dish on individual plates. In the latter case, place a portion of rice in the center, all the other ingredients around the edge of the plate, add two lime wedges, and serve the sauce. Everyone mixes their own salad and takes as much sauce as they like.