Plah goong (prawn salad with lemongrass)
Plah goong (พล่ากุ้ง): just-cooked prawns with lemongrass, lime leaf and mint in a chilli-jam dressing
Plah is the old Thai word for a salad of barely cooked seafood or meat, and plah goong is a favourite at restaurants along the Gulf coast in Phetchaburi and Hua Hin, where the prawns come in that morning. The dressing of lime and nam prik pao is sweet, sour and smoky, and thin slices of raw lemongrass and kaffir lime leaf make it fragrant and crunchy. Traditionally the prawns are only seared or even served barely 'cooked' by the lime; this recipe cooks them through, which is safer. Chef's tip: dress the prawns while they are still warm, not straight from the fridge; cold prawns won't soak up any of the dressing.
- Total time
- 20 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 3
Ingredients
For the salad
- 14 oz raw king prawnspeeled, tails on, deveined
- 2 lemongrassstalks, tender part only, very thinly sliced
- 4 kaffir lime leavesmidribs removed, finely shredded
- 3 shallotsthinly sliced
- 1 handful mint leaves
- 1 handful coriander leaves (optional)
For the dressing
- 1 ½ tbsp nam prik pao (Thai chilli jam)
- 3 tbsp lime juice
- 1 ½ tbsp fish sauce
- 1 tsp sugar
- 3 bird's-eye chillieschopped
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Method
0/4 doneStep 1: Whisk 1 ½ tbsp nam prik pao (Thai chilli jam), 3 tbsp lime juice, 1 ½ tbsp fish sauce, 1 tsp sugar and 3 bird's-eye chillies in a bowl until smooth.
Step 2: Bring a pan of water to the boil and drop in 14 oz raw king prawns. Cook for 1½–2 minutes, until pink, curled and opaque right through to the centre. Drain well.
2 minStep 3: While still warm, toss the prawns in the dressing so they soak it up.
Step 4: Add 2 lemongrass, 4 kaffir lime leaves and 3 shallots and toss again, then fold in 1 handful mint leaves and 1 handful coriander leaves if using. Serve at once with rice.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 180 kcal
- Protein
- 27 g
- Carbs
- 9 g
- Fat
- 3 g
- Fibre
- 1 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does plah goong (prawn salad with lemongrass) take?
- About 20 minutes in total: 15 minutes to prepare and 5 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 3 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- Is it very spicy?
- It has some heat. Use less chilli for a milder version, or more if you like it hot.
- What can I use instead of shallots?
- Half an onion per 2 shallots.
- What can I use instead of mint leaves?
- Fresh coriander, same amount.
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