We made this noodly miracle after a suggestion from our culinary partner and friend, chef Boby Pradachith, to do so - he’s never led us astray before, and his reputation remains untarnished. Khao Soi is a dish that takes a wide array of forms across Northern Thailand, Laos, and Myanmar. However, the one that we’ve made here is most adherent to a Lao style of preparation - noodles in a delicate broth topped with flavorful meat & sauce made from aromatic herbs, tomatoes, ground meat, and soybean paste. It’s simple and delicious - what more do you need?

ACTIVE: 45 minutes
SERVES: 2
SPECIAL EQUIPMENT: wok or skillet, sauce pot

Ingredients

• 1 package Phil’s Finest Lao Curry Style Grass-fed Beef
• 1/8 cup fermented soybean paste (miso, doenjang, or whatever other type you prefer)
• 1 package dry noodles (we love Momofuku's packaged noodles)
• 1 pint chicken broth
• 1 pint tomatoes, sliced
• 3 cloves garlic, smashed
• 1 tsp ginger, minced
• 1 each shallot, minced
• 3-4 thai bird chilis, minced
• 1 each cucumber, sliced
• optional: mint, basil, and chives, all minced

Method

1. If you have some chicken broth in your fridge or freezer, that will be perfect - get it warm and season it with salt to taste.
2. Meanwhile, sweat minced shallots, garlic, thai bird chilis, and ginger with some oil in a sauce pot before adding your Phil’s Finest Lao Curry ground beef, fermented soybean paste (we used doenjang, a Korean soybean paste, but use Japanese miso or whatever other soybean paste you have on hand), and sliced cherry tomatoes.
3. Cook this tasty business down until it’s reduced and saucy - chef Boby told us to effectively treat it like a ragu or bolognese sauce. Approximately 30 minutes.
4. While your sauce is simmering, bring water to a boil and cook your noodles according to the package instructions.
5. Place your noodles in a big bowl, ladle over your broth to just cover the cooked noodles, and add a heaping spoonful of your meat sauce on top.
6. Mix it up with chopsticks - this one can be enjoyed for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.