Best 7 Isaan Papaya Salad With Fried Pork Belly Recipes

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If you're craving a spicy, tangy, and refreshing salad that tantalizes your taste buds, look no further than the renowned Isan papaya salad, also known as Som Tum, which originated in the Northeastern region of Thailand, Isan. This delectable dish, famous for its vibrant flavors and textures, features crispy shredded green papaya, a medley of aromatic herbs, and a zesty dressing that packs a punch. The addition of fried pork belly adds an extra layer of savory goodness, making this salad a perfect balance of flavors and textures. Whether you're a fan of Thai cuisine or simply seeking a unique and satisfying salad experience, this recipe is sure to hit the spot.

Let's cook with our recipes!

CRISPY PORK BELLY



Crispy Pork Belly image

The secret to delicious pork belly? Poking holes all over the skin, then seasoning with a baking powder mixture. Two easy steps that deliver super crispy skin and extra tender meat.

Provided by Food Network Kitchen

Time 4h

Yield 6 to 8 servings

Number Of Ingredients 16

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme
1 teaspoon mustard powder
1 teaspoon ground coriander
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
2 cloves garlic, grated
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 1/2 pounds skin-on pork belly
1/4 cup fresh cilantro leaves, chopped
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 teaspoon honey
3 scallions, thinly sliced
1 clove garlic, grated
Juice of 1/2 lemon
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

Steps:

  • For the pork belly: Line a baking sheet with foil and fit with a wire rack.
  • Mix together the olive oil, thyme, mustard powder, coriander, red pepper flakes, garlic, 2 teaspoons salt and a generous amount of pepper in a small bowl until combined. Mix the baking powder with 2 teaspoons salt in a separate small bowl.
  • Pat the skin of the pork belly completely dry. Use a sharp skewer, fork or paring knife to poke lots of holes all over the skin, making sure not to hit the meat. This will help the skin crisp up. Flip the pork over and rub the spice mixture all over the meat (not the skin). Transfer to the prepared baking sheet skin-side up. Sprinkle half of the baking powder mixture over the skin. Refrigerate, uncovered, for at least 1 hour and up to 6 hours.
  • Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
  • Wipe off the baking powder mixture from the pork with a paper towel. Pat the skin completely dry and sprinkle with the remaining baking powder mixture.
  • Bake until the pork is cooked through and tender, about 2 hours. Raise the temperature to 500 degrees F and continue cooking until the skin is golden brown, bubbling and crispy, about 20 minutes more. Let rest for 10 minutes.
  • For the sauce: Meanwhile, whisk together the cilantro, olive oil, honey, scallions, garlic, lemon juice, 1/2 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper in a medium bowl.
  • Slice the pork belly into 1/2-inch-thick slices and transfer to a serving platter. Spoon the sauce down the middle before serving.

STICKY PORK BELLY WITH GREEN PAPAYA SALAD & CHILLI LIME DRESSING



Sticky pork belly with green papaya salad & chilli lime dressing image

Try this exotic salad of julienned papaya and carrots, topped with roast pork and drizzled with a sweet and sticky sauce

Provided by Jennifer Joyce

Categories     Dinner, Main course

Time 2h

Number Of Ingredients 17

1kg pork belly , rind removed and chopped into 4cm cubes
200g soft light brown sugar
4 tbsp fish sauce
2 tbsp dark soy sauce
2 tbsp rice wine vinegar
5 star anise
2 tsp Chinese five-spice powder
1 medium green papaya (about 400g/14oz), peeled, halved and deseeded
4 garlic cloves , halved
2-3 small red bird's-eye chillies , sliced
1 large carrot , peeled and julienned
50g green beans , halved lengthways
2 tbsp grated palm sugar or soft light brown sugar
1 tbsp fish sauce
juice of 5 limes
6 cherry tomatoes , halved
3 tbsp roasted peanuts or cashews (see tip, below left), roughly chopped or crushed

Steps:

  • Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Place the pork in a roasting tin with the sugar, fish sauce, soy, vinegar, star anise, five-spice and 250ml water. Mix well, cover with foil and roast for 30 mins. Remove the foil, then turn up the heat to 220C/200C fan/gas 7. Cook for another 45 mins-1 hr, tossing the pork every 15 mins until tender. Remove the pork from the tin and keep warm. Tip the juices into a pan and reduce to a syrupy sauce.
  • While the pork is cooking, prepare the salad. Using a julienning tool or large box grater, shred the green papaya and set aside.
  • In a large pestle and mortar, or use the flat end of a rolling pin, pound the garlic and chilli for 1 min or until it is crushed, but still chunky. Add the papaya, carrot, and beans, and gently pound a little more. Add in the palm sugar, fish sauce, and lime juice, and pound again for 1 min. Mix well and taste to make sure it has enough fish sauce and sugar, it should be tangy, sweet and spicy. Add the tomatoes, sprinkle over the nuts and tip onto a serving dish or platter. Top with the warm pork, drizzle over the sauce and serve.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 571 calories, Fat 27 grams fat, SaturatedFat 9 grams saturated fat, Carbohydrate 48 grams carbohydrates, Sugar 42 grams sugar, Fiber 3 grams fiber, Protein 32 grams protein, Sodium 3.9 milligram of sodium

PORK BELLY



Pork Belly image

Provided by Food Network

Categories     main-dish

Time P1DT23h35m

Yield 20 servings

Number Of Ingredients 9

6 cups kosher salt, plus more for seasoning
6 cups sugar
One fresh 5 to 8-pound pork belly
4 carrots
4 stalks celery, trimmed
2 onion, halved
1 head garlic, halved horizontally
Freshly ground pepper
Vegetable oil, for sauteing

Steps:

  • Combine the salt and sugar and completely cover the pork belly with the mixture. Refrigerate for 20 to 24 hours.
  • Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F.
  • Rinse the salt and sugar off the pork and transfer to a large pan. Add the carrots, celery, onions and garlic and cover with water. Cover the pan with foil or a tight-fitting lid and transfer to the oven until the pork is very tender, 13 to 15 hours.
  • Gently remove the pork, place in between 2 pans and refrigerate for 12 hours.
  • Cut the pork into 6-ounce portions and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Heat the oil in a saute pan and saute the pork skin-side down until crisp and hot.

MIDWEST BIPBIMBOP WITH PORK BELLY



Midwest Bipbimbop with Pork Belly image

Provided by Food Network

Categories     main-dish

Time 13h45m

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 30

Pork Belly, recipe follows, sliced
3 cups mushrooms (whatever type you prefer), sliced
Salt and pepper
4 cups cooked jasmine rice
1 cup Cucumber Pickles, recipe follows
1/2 cup Ssamjang, recipe follows
4 soft-boiled eggs, cooled and peeled
2 radishes, thinly sliced
Baby greens, for garnish
1/4 cup kosher salt
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon ancho chile powder, optional
1 teaspoon guajillo chile powder, optional
1 teaspoon smoked paprika, optional
2 bay leaves, crushed
1 pound pork belly
2 large cucumbers, sliced thin
1/2 yellow onion, sliced thin
3 tablespoons kosher salt
1 cup white vinegar
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon black peppercorns
1 bay leaf
1 cup gochujang (fermented chile paste; found at any Asian market)
1/4 cup sesame seeds, toasted
3 tablespoons sesame oil
2 tablespoons fresh ginger, minced
2 tablespoons honey
2 cloves fresh garlic, minced

Steps:

  • Heat a medium skillet and add Pork Belly to sear off, about 2 minutes on each side. Remove from skillet. In same skillet, add mushrooms to saute in rendered pork fat. Season with salt and pepper as desired. To serve, add 1 cup of rice to a medium serving bowl. Top with three to four slices pork, 1/4 cup Pickles, 2 tablespoons Ssamjang, 1 egg, 7 to 8 slices radishes and a quarter of the cooked mushrooms. Garnish with some baby greens. Repeat with the remaining ingredients to make 3 more servings.
  • In a small bowl, mix together salt, brown sugar, pepper, chile powders, if using, smoked paprika and bay leaves. Pour over pork, rubbing mix into meat. Wrap pork in plastic and refrigerate overnight or up to 24 hours.
  • Preheat the oven to 275 degrees F.
  • Remove plastic from pork belly. Rinse off excess seasoning under cold water, then place pork on a wire rack in a sheet pan. Place in oven and cook until golden brown and meat begins to pull apart with a fork, about 4 hours. Let cool, then slice.
  • In a small bowl, toss cucumbers and onion with salt. Refrigerate 1 hour, then drain excess liquid. Meanwhile, in a small saucepot, add vinegar, granulated sugar, peppercorns, bay leaf and 1/2 cup water and place on medium heat. Bring to a boil to dissolve sugar, then remove from heat. Allow to cool, then add to salted cucumbers and onions. Let sit overnight in fridge to pickle.
  • In a small bowl, combine gochujang, sesame seeds, sesame oil, ginger, honey and garlic until fully incorporated.

BRAISED PORK BELLY



Braised Pork Belly image

Provided by Food Network

Categories     main-dish

Time 5h15m

Yield 10 servings

Number Of Ingredients 12

1/2 cup olive oil
5 pounds pork belly, cut into 6-inch pieces
1 can of your favorite beer
1 bunch celery, chopped
2 large yellow onions, chopped
2 medium carrots, chopped
20 cloves garlic, chopped
8 cups chicken stock or broth
2 tablespoon Szechuan peppercorns
10 sprigs fresh thyme
2 bay leaves
Salt

Steps:

  • Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Heat 3 tablespoons of the oil in a large saute pan over medium-high heat. When the oil begins to smoke, carefully place one piece of pork in the saute pan and sear, turning once, until golden. Remove to a plate and repeat with the remaining pieces of pork. Set aside.
  • Carefully add the beer to the drippings in the pan and cook, scraping up the cooked bits with a wooden spoon, until reduced.
  • Heat the remaining 5 tablespoons of oil in a large flame-proof roasting pan over medium heat. Add the celery, onions, carrots, garlic and cook, stirring occasionally, until caramelized, 8 to 10 minutes.
  • Add the pork to the roasting pan. Add the deglazed pan juices and enough chicken stock to cover the pork and vegetables. Add the peppercorns, thyme, bay leaves and 2 generous pinches of salt. Cover the pan with foil and braise for 3 hours. Remove the foil and roast 30 minutes more. This will allow the pork to gain a beautiful color and for the braising liquid to reduce.
  • Let the pork cool in the braising liquid for 30 minutes to increase tenderness. Remove the pork from the roasting pan and strain the braising liquid. Refrigerate separately until ready to use. The pork can be served sliced or shredded.

ISAAN PAPAYA SALAD WITH FRIED PORK BELLY



Isaan Papaya Salad with Fried Pork Belly image

This is the style of papaya salad we make at home on our family rice farm in Isaan in northeastern Thailand. It's different from the Bangkok ''big city'' version: It's funkier and more pungent from the addition of fermented fish sauce and salted crab. Traditionally, the salad is eaten with grilled or fried meat. Here we pair it with pork belly; the crunch and tang of the salad cuts the heaviness of the pork and balances out the dish.

Provided by Food Network

Categories     main-dish

Time 1h10m

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 17

4 to 10 fresh Thai bird chiles, depending on taste
2 cloves garlic
1 teaspoon palm sugar
1/2 cup halved grape tomatoes
3 tablespoons fermented fish sauce
1 tablespoon fish sauce
2 tablespoons tamarind juice
2 slices lime
2 cups shredded young green papaya
1/4 cup shredded carrot
1/4 cup salted crab
1/4 cup fish sauce
1 teaspoon sugar
2 teaspoons ground black pepper
1 1/4 pounds pork belly, cut crossways into 1/2-inch-thick slices
2 1/2 cups tempura flour
Canola oil, for frying

Steps:

  • For the som tom (papaya salad): Combine the chiles, garlic and palm sugar in a large mortar and bash with a pestle until it forms a coarse paste, 2 to 5 minutes. (You can also combine the ingredients in a medium bowl and use gloved hands to break, shred and mash the ingredients together.) Add the tomatoes, fermented fish sauce, fish sauce, tamarind juice and limes and mix well. Add the papaya, carrot and salted crab and mix gently.
  • For the fried pork belly: Combine the fish sauce, sugar and pepper in a bowl and mix well. Add the pork and massage the ingredients into the meat. Refrigerate 15 to 30 minutes to marinate.
  • Place the tempura flour in a large bowl. Coat the pork belly in the flour and place on a sheet pan fitted with a cooling rack. Pour oil to the depth of 1 to 2 inches into a large heavy skillet and place over medium to low heat. When hot, gently place the pork belly in the skillet and cook until golden brown and crispy, 15 to 20 minutes.
  • Drain the pork briefly on a clean wire rack set over a sheet pan. Serve with the papaya salad.

EMERIL'S NEW ORLEANS' ASIAN-STYLE BRAISED PORK BELLY



Emeril's New Orleans' Asian-Style Braised Pork Belly image

Provided by Food Network

Categories     main-dish

Time 4h20m

Yield 6 portions

Number Of Ingredients 14

2 (2 1/2 pounds each) slabs pork belly
2 cups fresh squeezed orange juice
1 cup soy sauce
1 cup light brown sugar
1/2 cup fresh squeezed lemon juice
1/2 cup fresh squeezed lime juice
1/3 cup minced garlic
1/4 cup minced ginger
1/4 cup minced green onion bottoms (white part only)
1/4 cup sambal oelek
4 cups chicken stock
12 ounces frisee lettuce, cleaned, rinsed and spun dry
1/3 cup rice wine vinegar
Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Steps:

  • Place each portion of pork belly in a 1-gallon re-sealable plastic bag. In a medium mixing bowl, combine the orange juice, soy sauce, light brown sugar, lemon juice, lime juice, garlic, ginger, green onions and sambal and use a whisk to blend well. Divide the mixture between the 2 plastic bags and seal them. Place in a baking dish or roasting pan and refrigerate overnight, or for 8 hours.
  • Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
  • Remove the pork from the refrigerator and allow to sit at room temperature for 1 hour. Place the pork belly, skin sides down in a 9 by 13 inch glass oven proof baking dish, or a small roasting pan and pour the marinade and 3 cups of the chicken stock over and around the pork belly. Place in the oven and roast for 1 hour. Turn the pork belly over and roast for another 1 1/2 hours. Remove from the oven and place on a counter top, or cooling rack to cool. Use a fork and long, sharp, thin-bladed knife to remove the skin from the pork. Allow the pork to cool in the cooking liquid and, once cooled, about 1 to 1 1/2 hours, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 6 hours or up to overnight.
  • Remove the pork from the refrigerator and uncover. Carefully remove any congealed fat that rests on top of the cooking liquid. Using a sharp knife, score the fat layer of the pork in a cross hatch pattern.
  • Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
  • Add the remaining cup of chicken stock to the pan and place in the oven. Cook the pork belly until slightly caramelized on top and warmed through, 20 to 25 minutes.
  • Remove from the oven and divide into 6 even portions. Place the frisee in a large bowl and toss with the rice wine vinegar. Season lightly with salt and pepper.
  • To serve, place a portion of the pork on a warmed entree plate with 2 ounces of the frisee. Pour some of the sauce over the pork and serve immediately.

Tips:

  • When choosing a papaya for this salad, look for one that is firm and not too ripe. A slightly unripe papaya will have a better texture and flavor in the salad.
  • Be sure to use a sharp knife to slice the papaya. This will help to prevent the papaya from becoming mushy.
  • If you don't have a mortar and pestle, you can use a food processor to make the dressing. However, be careful not to over-process the dressing, or it will become too watery.
  • The fried pork belly is a great addition to this salad, but it is optional. If you don't want to fry pork belly, you can substitute another protein, such as grilled chicken or shrimp.
  • This salad can be served immediately, or it can be chilled for a few hours before serving. If you chill the salad, be sure to bring it to room temperature before serving.

Conclusion:

Isaan papaya salad with fried pork belly is a delicious and refreshing salad that is perfect for a hot summer day. The combination of sweet, sour, and salty flavors is sure to please everyone at your table. This salad is also very easy to make, so it's a great option for a weeknight meal. Give it a try today!

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