Chiang Mai Pork Curry

 

🍛 Chiang Mai Pork Curry – Full Recipe

If you love Thai cuisine, you know it’s all about bold flavors, fragrant spices, and a perfect balance of sweet, salty, spicy, and sour. Chiang Mai Pork Curry, or “Kaeng Hang Le”, is a classic Northern Thai dish that combines tender pork with a rich, aromatic curry. It’s deeply flavorful, slightly tangy, and surprisingly easy to make at home.

Whether you’re serving it with rice, sticky rice, or steamed vegetables, this dish is a crowd-pleaser that will transport your taste buds straight to Northern Thailand.

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🥘 Ingredients

For the curry:

• 1 lb (450g) pork shoulder or belly, cut into bite-sized pieces

• 2 tbsp vegetable oil

• 1 onion, sliced

• 3 cloves garlic, minced

• 1–2 tbsp ginger, minced

• 2–3 tbsp Chiang Mai curry paste (or substitute Thai red curry paste)

• 1 cup coconut milk

• ½ cup water or stock

• 2 tbsp fish sauce

• 1 tbsp tamarind paste (or lime juice)

• 1 tsp sugar or palm sugar

• 2–3 kaffir lime leaves (optional)

For garnish:

• Fresh cilantro

• Sliced red chili

• Lime wedges

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🍳 Instructions

1. Prepare the pork

• Heat oil in a large pan over medium heat.

• Sear pork pieces until browned on all sides. Remove and set aside.

2. Cook the aromatics

• In the same pan, sauté onions, garlic, and ginger until fragrant, about 2–3 minutes.

• Add the curry paste and stir for 1–2 minutes to release the flavors.

3. Make the curry

• Return the pork to the pan.

• Pour in coconut milk and water/stock. Stir to combine.

• Add fish sauce, tamarind paste, sugar, and kaffir lime leaves.

4. Simmer

• Reduce heat to low and cover.

• Simmer for 30–40 minutes, or until the pork is tender and the sauce has thickened slightly.

5. Finish and serve

• Taste and adjust seasoning (add more fish sauce, sugar, or lime juice if needed).

• Garnish with fresh cilantro, sliced chili, and lime wedges.

• Serve hot with steamed rice or sticky rice.

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💡 Tips for the Perfect Chiang Mai Pork Curry

• Cut pork evenly so it cooks uniformly and stays tender.

• Simmer gently — high heat can make the pork tough.

• Adjust spice level by adding more or fewer chili slices or curry paste.

• Make it ahead — the flavors deepen if the curry sits for a few hours or overnight.

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🍽 Serving Suggestions

• Pair with jasmine or sticky rice to soak up the rich curry sauce.

• Serve alongside steamed or stir-fried vegetables for a complete meal.

• Add a squeeze of lime before eating for a fresh, tangy finish.

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🌿 Final Thoughts

Chiang Mai Pork Curry is a comforting yet exotic dish that balances heat, sweetness, and tanginess in every bite. Its rich, aromatic sauce and tender pork make it a standout at dinner tables, whether you’re cooking for family or impressing guests. With a little patience and the right ingredients, you can enjoy authentic Northern Thai flavors right at home.