Khao Tom

Ingredients

• 300g ground pork
• 1 tbsp minced cilantro root or stems
• 5 cloves garlic, minced, divided
• 1/2 tsp white pepper, plus extra for garnish
• 2 tbsp fish sauce, divided
• 6 cups chicken or pork stock
• 3 cups cooked jasmine rice
• 2 tbsp oil
• light soy sauce, to taste
• sliced scallion and cilantro leaves, for garnish

Before you cook

• Pound the cilantro root, 2 cloves minced garlic, and white pepper into a rough paste using a mortar and pestle.
• Mix the paste into the ground pork with 1 tablespoon of the fish sauce.
• Roll the seasoned pork into small meatballs.

Steps

1. Heat the oil in a small pan over medium heat.
2. Fry the remaining 3 cloves sliced garlic for 2-3 minutes until golden and crisp, then drain on paper towels.
3. Bring the stock to a simmer in a pot.
4. Drop in the pork meatballs.
5. Simmer for 5 minutes until the meatballs float and cook through.
6. Add the cooked jasmine rice to the pot.
7. Simmer for 2 minutes to warm the rice through without letting it turn mushy.
8. Season the soup with the remaining fish sauce and light soy sauce to taste.
9. Ladle the soup into bowls.
10. Top each bowl with the fried garlic, scallion, and cilantro.
11. Finish with a pinch of white pepper and serve hot.