Kuy Teav : Cambodian Noodle Soup

I have come to realize that I cook way more Asian food than anything else. And when I get on a kick, man do I go all out. I think part of the reason I cook a lot of Asian dishes is that they are usually naturally gluten free. There is a lot of rice and rice noodles involved in the cooking which makes life just so much easier for me. Not to mention, the food somehow feels lighter (unless you order some kung pao from an american-chinese food restaurant).

The majority of the food I cook in the Asian realm is either Thai or Vietnamese, so when I was checking out instagram and Deana Saukum was doing a whole story on Kuy Teav, I was immediately intrigued. Literally, I searched for a recipe, watched her insta-story and headed to the grocery store to get the ingredients same day.

The soup is traditionally served as a breakfast dish, but that wasn’t going to happen as I needed to shop, prep and cook. Since this was my first time venturing into Cambodian food, I really did not veer far from the recipe Deana provided. I am definitely an over-user of all things spicy, so I really did go hard on the chiles and chile paste in my personal bowl.

The recipe and some pictures can be found below or originally at Camille Styles

Also, kid tested. And approved

INGREDIENTS

• 1 1/2 cups dried shrimp, divided
• 2 pounds pork neck bones
• 1 pound pork tenderloin
• 4 chicken drumsticks (about 1 pound)
• 2 bunches scallions, plus more, thinly sliced, for serving
• 1 small white onion, coarsely chopped
• 1 small sweet potato, diced
• 1 carrot, coarsely chopped
• 1 small head bok choy, coarsely chopped
• 1/2 medium daikon, diced (about 6 ounces)
• 1 head garlic, halved crosswise, plus 8 garlic cloves, chopped
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce, plus more for serving
• 1 tablespoon fish sauce
• 1 tablespoon granulated sugar, plus more for serving
• 6 quart water
• 7 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
• 1 pound ground pork
• Kosher salt
• Freshly ground black pepper
• 12 ounces bean sprouts
• 16 raw large shrimp, peeled and deveined
• 1 pound dried rice vermicelli
• 8 green lettuce leaves
• Cilantro leaves, pickled green Thai chiles, thinly sliced Thai bird chiles, chile paste, and lime wedges, for serving

DIRECTIONS

Place 1 cup dried shrimp in a small bowl. Add warm water to cover, and let stand for 30 minutes; drain.

Step 2    

Combine soaked shrimp, pork bones, pork tenderloin, chicken drumsticks, 2 bunches whole scallions, onion, sweet potato, carrot, bok choy, daikon, garlic head halves, 2 tablespoons soy sauce, fish sauce, and 1 tablespoon sugar in a stockpot. Add 6 quarts water and bring to a boil over high. Reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer until an instant-read thermometer inserted in thickest portion of tenderloin registers 140°F, about 30 minutes. Using tongs, transfer tenderloin to a plate and let cool slightly; cover and refrigerate. Continue to simmer broth until well flavored, about 2 hours and 30 minutes.

Step 3    

Meanwhile, place a fine wire-mesh strainer over a small heatproof bowl. Heat 1/4 cup oil in a small skillet over medium-high. Add chopped garlic, and cook, stirring occasionally, until garlic is golden and oil is hot and fragrant, about 3 minutes. Strain into prepared bowl. Reserve fried garlic.

Step 4    

Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet over medium. Add ground pork, season with salt and pepper, and cook, stirring occasionally, until cooked through and browned, about 10 minutes. Scrape into a medium bowl. In the same skillet, heat remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil. Add remaining 1/2 cup dried shrimp, and cook over medium-high, stirring often, until shrimp are bright pink and crisp, about 2 minutes.

Step 5    

Fill a large pot with water, and fit with a colander. Bring to a boil. Blanch bean sprouts 10 seconds; transfer to a medium bowl. Return water to a boil and add raw shrimp; cook until just pink, 2 to 3 minutes. Drain and transfer to a medium bowl.

Step 6    

Using tongs, remove scallions and chicken drumsticks from stockpot and transfer to a medium bowl. Pour broth through a fine wire-mesh strainer into a large pot; discard solids. Bring to a simmer and season with salt. Add tenderloin and cook until warmed through, about 5 minutes. Transfer tenderloin to a work surface and thinly slice. Coarsely shred chicken meat, and discard skin and bones.

Step 7    

Cook vermicelli in a large pot of boiling water until al dente; drain. Rinse under cool water. Pat dry. Toss with reserved garlic oil and 1 teaspoon reserved fried garlic.

Step 8    

Divide lettuce leaves among 8 large bowls. Top each leaf with noodles, and ladle broth over noodles. Top with sliced pork tenderloin, shredded chicken, ground pork, cooked shrimp, dried shrimp, whole scallions, and remaining fried garlic. Serve with bean sprouts, sliced scallions, cilantro, pickled chiles, sliced chiles, chile paste, lime wedges, soy sauce, sugar, salt, and pepper.