Caramelised Pork Mince Magic | Try This Thai-inspired Spianch Rice Bowl!

This recipe is one of my favorites for a quick mid-week meal, inspired by Thai street food called pad kra pao. I’ve made some adjustments to suit my taste and the ingredients I have on hand in the UK. Instead of using spicy elements, I’ve opted for common vegetables like carrots, celery, and chestnut mushrooms. I’ve also replaced the traditional fish sauce and sugar with dark soy sauce for color, and light soy sauce and miso paste for flavor. The key to this dish is slow frying until all the juices dry out and the minced meat caramelizes, giving it a slightly salty and aromatic taste. It pairs perfectly with boiled rice, pasta, flatbread, or even some crisp cos lettuce. I hope you enjoy it.

Ingredients:

➡️For the Fried Pork Mince:

• 500g pork mince (5% fat)
• 100g chestnut mushrooms, chopped
• 180g carrots, peeled and chopped
• 100g celery sticks, chopped
• 1 brown onion, peeled and chopped
• 3 garlic cloves, peeled and grated
• 7g ginger, grated
• 1 tbsp white miso paste
• 3 tsp dark soy sauce
• 3 tsp light soy sauce
• Ground black pepper to taste
• Rapeseed oil (or olive/vegetable oil)

Serves: 3–4 people

➡️For the Rice:

• 1 cup basmati rice (70g)
• 2 cups water
• 1/4 tsp turmeric powder
• 3 cloves
• Sea salt flakes to taste

🍴Garnish:

• Handful of spinach leaves
• Chopped chives

Method:

1. Heat rapeseed oil in a frying pan over medium heat. Add pork mince and cook for about two minutes.
2. Stir in onions until well mixed.
3. Add carrots, celery, and mushrooms; stir well and cook for about five minutes.
4. In a separate bowl, mix grated garlic and ginger with white miso paste; add this mixture to the pan.
5. Pour in dark soy sauce; stir well, then reduce heat and let it simmer while stirring occasionally.
6. In a pot, mix rice with turmeric powder, cloves, sea salt flakes, and water; bring it to a boil, then reduce heat and let it simmer for about twenty minutes.
7. Pour light soy sauce into the pan containing pork; stir well, continuing to simmer until it dries up and caramelizes.
8. Lay baby spinach at the bottom of a bowl as a base; place cooked rice on top, followed by fried pork mince. Sprinkle chopped chives on top as garnish. Enjoy your flavorful Miso Caramelised Pork Mince with Basmati Spinach Rice Bowl!