Thai Noodles

The other day I got to spend some time with a friend from Thailand and cook! We went to the Asian grocery store together to select some of the ingredients and then went to her house to assemble these great ingredients into dinner. I have to tell you that she (and her husband) are the most awesome cooks. When we were all at violin camp in August their smell of their food got us all drooling; fortunately they are good at sharing their food and recipes! I think that their serving dish at potlucks is wiped clean. I asked for their noodle recipe and she explained that it is probably easier to cook together. She is a great cook which means her recipe is a bit of a guide rather than an exact procedure, so it was good to see her in action.

This recipe does have one ingredient I had never used before....coriander root. She had this in her freezer since she gets it at farmers markets when she sees it. It wasn't for sale at the store we visited today. I guess if the choice is to make this dish without it or not make the dish I would try it without; although see the link for a substitution idea. I'll have to update you on that later when I try this recipe again after the markets are done for the winter.

For a pound or so of pork (thick cut pork chop):
Put it in a bowl and toss with 1T. brown sugar and 2 t. soy sauce

In a mortar and pestle mash:garlic and coriander root and a pinch of coriander seeds. Maybe two pieces of 1" root with 4 cloves garlic. After it's mashed and smells good add it to the meat. Add a couple grinds of pepper.

Steam veggies:
Zucchini, sliced thin
broccoli
pea pods
bean sprouts
Dump the veggies in a bowl.

Make garlic oil by warming oil and sauteing garlic until light brown and save it in a bowl.


Use small amount of garlic oil and cook pork. When done slice into pieces and put into bowl with veggies.
Note that the meat in the picture is for a double batch...we were cooking for two hungry families!
Cook boiling pot of water and cook fresh rice noodles and drain. In pan where meat was cooked heat the rest of the marinade until it boils. turn off the heat and add noodles and stir until noodles are coated. Put noodles in bowl with vegetables and pork.

Top with cilantro, lime juice, chiles, and peanuts, if desired. Although it's good just like this too!

The most difficult part of this meal is bringing home that large serving dish and saving it until dinner. I had just a small taste of it for lunch...then a little more....I had better leave the house so I don't eat most of it this afternoon!