แกงจืดหน่อไม้หวานหมูสับ
Nothing beats a cup of soup during raining in the wrong season. The earthly smell of fresh sweet bamboo shoots in a simple, clear soup literally called Kaeng (curry) Jeod (insipid, bland) #แกงจืด. Anything does not contain countless chilli nor spices, we call it bland which in fact the tasty flavours coexist in the dish. However, this crystal clear soup with a light aroma of garlic, white pepper, and coriander, pounded together to form a curry paste, is set as a curry starter of the clear soup kind. In making such a curry, we fry the paste with lard then add meat until cooked. Then we pour the water and add any vegetable at the end.
Sam Gleur: Thai Three Musketeers, one for all and all for one.
We call clear soup a curry even without coconut milk. This clear soup contains a curry paste known as sam (three) gleur (friends), an authentic Thai aroma signature of garlic, coriander root, and white pepper with the ratio of 1:1, where the amount of white peppercorn is up to your heat preference, starting from 5 pieces onward. I call it Thai Three musketeers since it represents the foundation of Thai flavour, from curry base to stir-fry and relish.
Clear soup curry vs Clear soup
In Tanpuying Plean Pasakalawongse‘s recipe book, Mae Krua Hua Pa, she had clearly distinguished her Gange from Dtom. Kaeng Jeud has apparently different ways of making from Dtom Jeud (clear soup). She fried pork or meat with lard and Sam Gleur paste first then add water until boiled. Vegetables will be added last. The latter is cooked by adding whole garlic, white peppercorn, and coriander roots to the boiling water right away without having to make them a paste first. Dtom soup will be clearer than Gaeng one and more aromatic. And if you like non-greasy soup, could be familiar with pot au feu then Dtom could be your answer.
My 2020 Geang Jeud version
The bamboo shoots are in season now. I am so glad that I got the sweet kind too. Originally, this kind of recipe, bamboo shoots are paired with pork belly or pork ribs. We have to cook that fatty pork part until soft, then add the stir-fry curry paste in the pot. I don’t have all day to just cook one soup, plus I think I have enough fat from cooking the Gaeng starter. I replace pork belly with minced pork. Chicken is also nice, in pieces, small drumsticks or minced. Minced pork will definitely make Rima’s teeth and stomach happier.
Sweet Bamboo with Minced Pork Clear Soup Curry
a simple clear soup with wonderful earthly flavours of bamboo shoots with minced pork get along well with Thai sam gleur paste aroma will brighten up your gloomy day.
Sam Gleur Paste
- 1/4 c garlic (peeled)
- 1/4 c coriander
- 5 white peppercorns
Making CleaSoup Curry
- 1 t canolar oil (lard original)
- 1.5 T Sam Gleur Paste
- 1/2 c Minced pork (can substituted by pork belly, 🐔)
- 4 c water
- 1 c sweet Bamboo shoots
- Optional if u like seasoning with salt or fish sauce
Stir fry oil and paste in a pot or a sauce pan or dutch oven in medium heat until fragnce add pork
Add water until boiled
Add bamboo shoots, cook until it boils again. Turn off the heat.
The taste should be savory and natural sweet from bamboo shoots without any flavor stronger than others as the idea of a soothing dish. You can just drop a spoonful of rice into the bowl and enjoy the weather on a rainy day with your family in the quarantine zone.
