A Child of the Rice Fields

Ponpailin 'Noi' Kaewduangdee · A Child of the Rice Fields

Who says oil and water don’t mix? All noodle soups benefit from a generous spoonful of Gio Mak Phet, Chilli, shallot and garlic oil. When a dollop of this fiery chilli oil hits the broth, a beautiful orange slick spreads across the surface with the promise of lip-tingling heat. It’s also a great flavour enhancer, adding not only spice but a smoky sweetness from the fried shallots and garlic. And there’s no need to reserve it for your noodle soups. It’s a good way to add an extra kick to Naem Khao or Naem Pa salads.

Ponpailin 'Noi' Kaewduangdee · A Child of the Rice Fields

Pho is a renowned Vietnamese dish of rice noodles in a light beef stock that is popular all over Laos. Often it is served with a combination of thinly sliced raw beef that is allowed to cook until medium-rare in the piping hot broth, and beef meatballs or Luk Sin Ngua. In Laos, unless you are eating in a Vietnamese-run noodle shop, the soup will not be seasoned as you would find in Vietnam. The stock itself is often made using pork rather than beef bones, and there’ll be no cinnamon, star anise or black cardamom used in the stock. Meat offerings will include chicken, pork and offal, and meatballs. I have never been a fan of the bland and rubbery meatballs, Luk Sin, that are used in noodle shops, so my pho recipe is for a simple, clean-tasting pork soup with homemade pork balls. They are quick and easy to make. The addition of a small amount of smoked bacon takes these meatballs to another level. You can pinch nutmeg-sized pieces off the mixture, give them a light squeeze to bind the m