Northern Thai Pork Curry, 'Gaeng Hanglay'

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In our continuing effort to present regional Thai recipes, here is an authentic version of Gaeng Hanglay, a northern Thai curry made with pork (or beef). Similar to massaman but without the coconut milk. The main ingredient is pork, and you can use a fatty belly pork or other cut of your choice. Other distinctive ingredients are ginger and pickled garlic.

Some recipes call for Santol fruit (wild mangosteen) or pineapple cut into large cubes. We used fresh pineapple with good results. This dish originated from Burma, and in Burma this is usually served with Khai bananas (small bananas). You will usually find gaeng hanglay served in Khantok-style Thai dinners as one of the main dishes, together with sticky rice.

Ingredients for the curry paste

8 - 10 whole dried chili, chopped and soaked in water
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon fresh galangal, finely chopped
1 tablespoon fresh lemongrass, thinly sliced
1 tablespoon garlic, thinly sliced
2 tablespoons shallot, thinly sliced
1 teaspoon shrimp paste

Method

In a mortar and pestle pound the soaked dried chillies with salt until fine, then add galangal, lemongrass and garlic. Pound this until it becomes a fine paste. Add shallot and shrimp paste. Pound until smooth. You will have about 2/3 cup of chili paste.

Ingredients for the soup

2 pounds pork shoulder, cut into large chunks
1 pound pork belly, cut into large chunks
1 tablespoon hanglay powder
1/2 cup of liquid from a jar of pickled garlic
5 heads of pickled garlic, separated into cloves
1/4 cup fresh ginger, sliced into matchsticks
2 tablespoons roasted peanut
1 to 1 1/2 cups of fresh pineapple, cut into large chunks (optional)
1 teaspoon black soy sauce
1 teaspoon thin soy sauce
3 tablespoons palm sugar
3 tablespoons tamarind concentrate (do not mix with water)
3 cups water

Method

In a large mixing bowl, combine all of the pork with the curry paste, 1/2 cup of liquid from pickled garlic, and Thai curry powder. Mix well (put rubber glove on if mixing by hand) and let this marinade for 1 hour (stir the meat after half hour).

In a large pot or large wok stir fry the marinaded pork on medium heat for about 10-15 minutes until it's no longer pink. Add water, and cook until it comes up to a boil. Turn the heat down to low, let cook for 30 minutes. (Note: You can scoop off the fat that comes up to the surface, and save this fat for another dish called "Keang Ho" later if you prefer).

Add pickled garlic cloves, ginger, peanuts and pineapple. Continue to cook over medium/low for another 30 minutes. Season with soy sauces, palm sugar and tamarind. The taste will be sour and sweet with a little bit salty. Let it cook for another 30 minutes. Serve and Enjoy!

Keang Ho Soup (optional accompaniment to serve with Hanglay)

Ingredients

Left over soup from Hunglay above
Any vegetables you have in your fridge such as cabbage, carrot, broccoli, coliflower, green onion, bamboo, baby corn, green beans, etc.
bean thread noodles, soaked in water
Fresh garlic chopped
Fresh whole Thai chili, crushed

Method

In the wok, heat the reserved fat of the Hanglay together with garlic. Stir fry until fragrant then add your vegetables starting from the one that takes longer to cook. Then add the left over soup from hunglay, followed by the beanthread noodles, and chili. Season with fish sauce if necessary. Serve and Enjoy!

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World's Largest Hanglay, Prepared in Chiang Mai Thailand

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