I grew up with a Burmese neighbor - and luckily, my first tastes of food from this amazing country was because of her. Every July 4th, their entire family would throw a big BBQ with friends and family, and one of her dishes that I still recall (and love) was a coconut noodle soup called ohn no khauk swe (which literally means coconut milk noodles). Hearty, tangy and fresh, it quickly won a place in my chubby little food-loving heart early on in life.

Khao Soi is actually the Thai version of the Burmese noodle dish. They believe the term might be some corruption of the original Burmese term (but also is literally translated as 'cut noodle' in Thai). I haven't had the real version in Thailand yet, but I did have a delicious bowl in Seattle at an amazing Northern Thai restaurant called Pestle Rock. It features slightly different toppings, red curry paste, and spices such as lemony cardamom and coriander seeds. For my version, I bought a fresh egg noodle from the Asian supermarket which worked perfectly for this dish.

I've made the Burmese version a few times and wanted to take on the Thai version - but really try and perfect it. Thai has always been an intimidating cuisine to take on for it's variety of exotic spices. What really makes this noodle soup, like many other Southeast noodle soups, are the variety of toppings that include crunchy, savory, spicy, and sour elements.

Don't compromise on them or try and take a shortcut! Every topping in that bowl of noodle has it's place, and when you eat it all together you understand why. 

This is an adapted recipe that I got from Rachel Cooks Thai. I fully endorse it and encourage you to check out her awesome blog as well. It's a great introduction to Thai cooking.

INGREDIENTS:

Fresh Curry Paste:

4 tablespoons red curry paste 4 tablespoons grated ginger 1 tablespoon ground tumeric spice 1 teaspoon curry powder 1 teaspoon coriander spice 1 teaspoon cardamom spice

Curry Soup:

Curry paste (from above) 2 whole chicken legs (thigh and drumsticks separated) 2 cups coconut milk 2 cups chicken broth 2 cups water 1 tablespoon brown sugar 1 tablespoon thin soy sauce 1 tablespoon dark soy sauce 16 ounces fresh wide egg noodles (and 3 ounces, fried, for topping). You can find this at your local asian market.

Roast Chili Sauce:

1/4 cup oil 2 tablespoons shallots 1 tablespoon garlic 12 dried red Thai chilis

Toppings:

1/4 cup shallots, finely sliced 1/4 cup preserved sour mustard green, sliced 1 lime, sliced Roast chili sauce Cilantro leaves

INSTRUCTIONS:

Curry Paste:

Grate fresh ginger. Combine Thai curry paste, tumeric, curry, coriander & cardamom and mix in a small bowl. Set it aside.

Curry Soup:

Open a can of coconut milk (~2 cups) and add the khao soi curry paste. Turn up the pot to medium heat and cook until the curry paste dissolves into the coconut milk.

Salt and pepper the chicken legs and fry them in a oiled pan 3-4 minutes per said until you get a golden crust on the outside. Keep in mind that it will be par-cooked. You will finish cooking it by boiling it in the curry soup.

Add chicken broth, and water. Place chicken legs into soup. Let it boil gently (uncovered) for 45 minutes to an hour until the chicken is cooked through. The flavors and spices will really come together during this time. Make sure to keep tasting all the way through and monitor. Season with brown sugar, light soy sauce, and dark soy sauce to taste. If too salty or strong, dilute with water slightly.

Roast Chili Sauce:

Slice garlic and shallots finely.

Heat a small pot of oil over medium heat.

Fry the garlic, shallots, and dried red chilis separately in this oil. Remove and save the oil.

Pound the fried garlic, shallots, and chilis together in the mortar and pestle.

Add back 2 Tablespoons of the frying oil to form the chili sauce.

Noodle Toppings:

Boil 12 ounces of fresh egg noodles until they are al dente. 

Fry the remaining 3 ounces of egg noodles in oil until golden brown.

Place the boiled noodles in the bottom of the bowl and scoop a chicken drumstick and the curry soup over the top. Top with a handful of fried noodles.