Khao Kha Moo Recipe (Thai Braised Pork Leg)
This khao kha moo recipe features fall-apart tender Thai braised pork leg in a rich sweet and savory broth. Perfect with jasmine rice.
Equipment
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Cutting board
- Sharp knife
- Large pot or Dutch oven
- Tongs
- ladle
Ingredients
- 2.2 lb pork leg
- 3 coriander root
- 3 garlic
- 1 teaspoon black peppercorns
- 2 tablespoons dark soy sauce
- 5 tablespoons light soy sauce
- 4 tablespoons palm sugar
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 2 tablespoons oil
- 4 dried shiitake mushrooms, soaked
- 2 tablespoons Chinese five spice powder
- 3 star anise
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- 6¼ cups water
Optional
- hard-boiled eggs, add to taste
- choy sum, see notes, add to taste
- pickled mustard greens, add to taste
Instructions
- Brown the pork. Heat enough oil to coat the bottom of a large pot or wok over medium-high heat. Brown the pork leg on all sides for about 5 minutes, then remove.
- Make the spice base. Pound the garlic, coriander root, and black peppercorns into a rough paste. In a large pot, stir-fry the paste with the cinnamon stick, star anise, and soaked shiitake mushrooms until fragrant.
- Build the broth. Add the palm sugar and cook until it begins to caramelize. Stir in the water, Chinese five spice powder, light soy sauce, dark soy sauce, and salt.
- Braise the pork. Return the pork leg to the pot, cover, and simmer over low heat for about 3 hours, turning the pork once or twice during cooking.
- Add the eggs. If using, add the hard-boiled eggs during the last 30 minutes of cooking so they absorb the flavorful broth.
- Serve. Blanch the choy sum, Chinese broccoli, or bok choy until just tender. Serve the braised pork with steamed jasmine rice, the vegetables, braised eggs, pickled mustard greens, and my spicy vinegar dipping sauce.
Notes
- Use the nutrition card in this recipe as a guideline.
- Pork leg: Ask your butcher to cut it into smaller pieces if buying it whole.
Calories: 351kcal | Carbohydrates: 14g | Protein: 46g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Trans Fat: 0.04g | Cholesterol: 131mg | Sodium: 2150mg | Potassium: 777mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 38IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 80mg | Iron: 3mg
