Make Ahead

Pok Pok’s Khao Soi

January 16, 2021
5
3 Ratings
Photo by Sahana Suresh
  • Prep time 30 minutes
  • Cook time 30 minutes
  • Serves 4
Author Notes

My first bowl of Khao Soi was at Pok Pok in Portland. It was the most heavenly and life changing bite. There was something about slurping noodles in a rich, spicy, and aromatic broth against the backdrop of a cold and rainy Portland afternoon. Notice the heat of the chili oil slowly creeping up and balancing perfectly with the sour and sharp flavors of raw shallot and lime and the sweetness of the coconut based broth. It somehow always feels like home.

I adapted the restaurant version to make it vegetarian, substituting the meat with king trumpet and oyster mushrooms. I also replaced shrimp paste and fish sauce with Thai thin soy sauce. Lastly, I garnished with some gorgeous finger limes from my local Asian market. They added lovely pops of flavor with every bite.

Trust me when I say that this is a meal you’ll always remember.

Inspired by Andy Ricker’s Pok Pok cookbook —Sahana Suresh

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Ingredients
  • Curry Paste
  • 1 piece Lemongrass
  • 6 pieces Whole Kashmiri Red Chilies
  • 6 grams Galangal
  • 10 grams Ginger
  • 2 teaspoons Garlic minced
  • 1 piece Asian shallot
  • 2 teaspoons Coriander seed
  • 1 teaspoon Cumin seed
  • 3 pieces Green cardamom pods
  • 1 pinch Salt
  • 1 handful Cilantro stems finely chopped
  • Curry Broth and Noodles
  • 3 cups chopped mixed mushrooms such as king trumpet and oyster
  • 2 tablespoons Vegetable oil
  • 4 cups Coconut milk
  • 1 cup Water
  • 4 tablespoons Thai thin soy sauce
  • 1 teaspoon Madras curry powder
  • .5 teaspoons Turmeric
  • 1 tablespoon Palm sugar
  • 1 pinch Salt to taste
  • 2 cups Vegetable oil
  • 12 ounces Wonton noodles (reserve a handful for frying)
  • 1 cup Chopped baby bok choy
  • 1 piece Sliced Asian shallot
  • 4 pieces Finger limes
  • 2 tablespoons Chili crunch or chili oil
Directions
  1. Prepare your curry paste by slowly pounding the ingredients in a pestle and mortar. Toast all the spices and grind them into a coarse powder. Then add the chilies and more fibrous ingredients such as ginger and galangal. Do the same with garlic and shallots. You should have a smooth paste.
  2. Heat vegetable oil in a wok. Add the curry powder and turmeric and stir until fragrant. Add your mushrooms and roast until slightly browned. Now add the curry paste and stir on medium-low for 10 minutes.
  3. Stir in soy sauce, palm sugar, coconut milk, and water. Let the broth simmer at medium heat for 30 minutes
  4. To finish, add enough oil to a pan to deep fry and when oil is 350 degrees F, add a handful wonton noodles and deep fry until crisp and golden brown. Transfer to paper towel lined plate to drain the oil.
  5. Boil 10 ounces of wonton noodles according to instructions and cook until al dente
  6. To finish, divide broth between four bowls. Add your cooked wonton noodles and top with chopped bok choy, finger limes, sliced shallots, chili onion crunch, and crispy noodles

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2 Reviews

ss1891 March 1, 2021
Yumm, this was so good! I love everything about this dish!
Gurleen M. January 27, 2021
The best vegetarian khao soi I’ve ever had!