Naem Khao

A Laotian appetizer made from crispy rice balls with a savory filling of sour pork, fresh herbs, and aromatic spices. Perfect for a festive table or street food.

Ingredients

• 3 cup Jasmine rice
• 1 pcs Coconut milk or shredded coconut
• Vegetable oil
• 2 pcs Eggs
• 2 cup Sour pork sausage
• 2 pcs Pickled garlic
• 1 pcs Lime
• 2 tbsp Fish sauce
• 1 tbsp Sugar
• 1 pcs Yellow onion
• 1 pcs Shallot
• 3 pcs Green onion
• 1 cup Cilantro
• 0.5 cup Hot mint
• 0.5 cup Common mint
• 0.25 cup Roasted peanuts
• Lettuce leaves
• Fresh vegetables

Instructions

1. Thinly slice the yellow onion and shallot, then soak them in ice water while you prepare the remaining ingredients.
2. Grate the coconut meat on a large grater and transfer to a large bowl. Add the rice and mix with your hands until evenly combined.
3. Form the rice mixture into balls approximately 2 inches in diameter.
4. Crack two eggs into a bowl and beat well. Heat vegetable oil in a pot or skillet. Dip the rice balls in the egg mixture and carefully place them in the hot oil.
5. Fry the balls until dark amber in color, until they become crispy and golden. Transfer to paper towels to remove excess oil.
6. Once cooled, break the rice balls into large pieces and transfer to a large bowl.
7. Drain the water from the onion and shallot. Tear the sour pork sausage by hand into small pieces (or slice with a knife).
8. To the bowl with rice pieces, add the prepared onion, shallot, pork sausage, pickled garlic, lime juice, fish sauce, sugar, cilantro, hot mint, and common mint. Mix well.
9. Garnish the dish with roasted peanuts and serve with lettuce leaves and fresh vegetables.