NOODLES AT NORLIFT

KHAO SOI - SOUTHEAST ASIAN COMFORT FOOD

Tamie Sperling, Credit Manager, and her team of three students started cooking up a batch of Khao Soi, a Laotian soup, at 11:30AM. The secret to the recipe: “Coordination, determination, and cooperation, that’s what it takes. The list of ingredients looks daunting, but don't be afraid to try," said Tamie.

Feedback from the chefs-in-training was overwhelmingly positive. Although the group was fairly new to the Laotian soup scene, they had a great time making it.

"No matter where you go in the streets of Laos, Thailand, or Cambodia, you will find a street vendor or a hole in the wall mom and pop shop with this staple dish."

While many chefs guard their recipes like family secrets, Tamie is open with hers.

INGREDIENTS:

  • 1 teaspoon oil

  • 1 tablespoon minced garlic

  • 2 tablespoons minced shallots

  • 1 & ½ lbs ground pork

  • 1 teaspoon salt

  • 2 tablespoons homemade bean paste

  • ½ teaspoon fermented beans

  • 2 cups diced tomatoes

  • 1 tablespoon paprika

  • 4 quarts water

  • 1 tablespoon fish sauce

  • 1 tablespoon soy sauce

  • 2 cubes of pork bouillon

  • 2 teaspoons fried chili paste

  • 3 packages Pho noodles

  • 1 cup bean sprouts

  • 1 cup chopped green onions

  • 1 cup chopped cilantro

  • 1 limes cut into 8 quarter slices

  • 2 jalapenos, thinly sliced

  • Fried garlic for garnishing

Optional:

  • 1 pack beef meatballs with or without tendon cut in half 

  • 1 pack fish balls cut in half

  • 1 pack pork rinds

SOUP

  1. In a 6 quarts or bigger pot, heat oil

  2. Add garlic, cook until brown

  3. Add shallots and cook until caramelized

  4. Add ground pork, seasoned with 1 tsp salt and cook until lightly brown 

  5. Add homemade bean paste and cook for another 3 minutes, adjust heat so the meat does not burn

  6. Add chopped tomatoes and paprika and cook until mixed well with meat

  7. Add 4 quarts of water to pot and bring to boil

  8. Add soy sauce, fish sauce, pork bouillons, beef meat balls, fish balls and fermented bean paste 

  9. Stir and then turn down heat, and simmer the soup for 10 minutes. 

NOODLES

  1. In a separate pot, bring water to boil

  2. Put one serving portion of noodles into strainer and soak in the boiling water for 30 seconds -1 minute or to preferred texture

TO SERVE:

  1. Pour noodles into a large soup bowl

  2. Stir pot, pour one or two ladles of broth and meat over the noodles

  3. Top bowl with sliced jalapeno, cilantro, green onions, bean sprouts, pork rinds

  4. Squeeze a wedge of lime into the bowl, add additional sauces and spices to taste, and then mix everything in the bowl together

  5. Enjoy!