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Meat, South and Southeast Asian

Moo ping with sticky rice

Moo ping are Thai pork skewers marinated in coconut milk, soy sauce, and fish sauce, then grilled until caramelized. This recipe serves 4, takes 45 minutes, is rated easy, and costs about €3.00 per person. Success comes down to coating the pork well in the marinade and grilling it until glossy without drying it out.

Tonight, moo ping, these Thai pork skewers marinated in coconut milk and soy sauce, grilled until glossy and caramelized, sold on every street corner in Bangkok, served with sticky rice.

Moo ping with sticky rice
Total time
45 min
Difficulty
Easy
Cost per person
€3.00
Calories per person
500 kcalcalculated by Kiloach, your weight coach
Season
Summer, Spring, Fall
The kids
They generally like it

The pork in moo ping turns glossy and slightly caramelized as it grills, thanks to the cane sugar and coconut milk in the marinade. Pounded garlic and cilantro build a fragrant base, while fish sauce and soy sauce give that salty depth you find in Thai street grilling. Sticky rice, soft and clingy, balances out the charred edges of the meat.

This is a good recipe for an evening when you have a little time on hand, mostly for the marinade and the sticky rice, which needs soaking first. Kids love eating the skewers with their hands and dipping bites of rice into the sauce. It also works well shared with friends, set in the middle of the table with cool cucumber on the side.

The ingredients

4 people

Butcher

  • Pork shoulder 700 g

Pantry

  • Coconut milkoften in the pantry 10 cl
  • Soy sauceoften in the pantry 3 tbsp
  • Fish sauceoften in the pantry 1 tbsp
  • Cane sugaroften in the pantry 2 tbsp
  • Pepperoften in the pantry 1 tsp
  • Sticky riceoften in the pantry 300 g
  • Wooden skewersoften in the pantry 12

Fruits and vegetables

  • Garlic 4 cloves
  • Cilantro 1 bunch
  • Cucumber 1

Allergens Fish, Soy

The step by step recipe

  1. Cut the pork into cubes or strips and pound the garlic, cilantro, and pepper into a paste.

    1 cm thick slices grill well without drying out.

  2. Mix the paste with coconut milk, soy sauce, fish sauce, and sugar, coat the pork, and let it marinate. 30 min

    The sugar and coconut milk give the skewers their glossy color.

  3. Steam the sticky rice after soaking it. 25 min

    Flip the rice halfway through so it cooks evenly.

  4. Thread the pork onto skewers and grill over medium heat, turning often. 12 min

    Brush with leftover marinade halfway through cooking.

  5. Serve the skewers hot with the sticky rice and cucumber.

    A side of sweet chili sauce is a must.

Our tips to get it right

  • Cut the pork into even pieces so every bite on the skewer cooks at the same rate.
  • If you're marinating longer than 30 minutes, keep the pork in the fridge, it only gets more flavorful.
  • Watch the grill closely once you start brushing on extra marinade, the sugar in it can burn fast.

The variations

  • Swap the pork shoulder for chicken thighs, the same marinating and grilling times work fine.
  • For a vegetarian version, use firm tofu cut into cubes and cut the marinating time down to 15 minutes.
  • For kids, cut the meat into small, easy to eat cubes instead of long strips on skewers.

What to serve it with

  • Fresh sliced cucumber
  • Thai sweet chili sauce
  • Iced tea or lemonade

Storage

Raw marinated pork keeps for 24 hours in the fridge in a sealed container before cooking. Once grilled, the skewers keep for 2 days in the fridge and reheat well in a pan or oven. Cooked sticky rice freezes well, just reheat it steamed or in the microwave with a splash of water.

Questions about this dish

Can you make the marinade ahead of time?

Yes, you can mix the marinade a day ahead and let the pork soak in it for up to 24 hours before grilling. The longer it marinates, the more flavorful it gets.

Can you cook moo ping without a grill?

Yes, a grill pan or your oven's broiler setting both work well. Turn the skewers often so they brown evenly without drying out.

Does sticky rice cook the same way as regular rice?

No, it needs to soak before cooking, then steam rather than boil in water. That's what gives it its signature chewy, clingy texture.

Can you substitute the fish sauce?

Soy sauce alone can work in a pinch, but the flavor will be less distinct. Fish sauce adds a savory depth that's central to Thai cooking.

How long does it take to make moo ping with sticky rice?

Count 45 min in total, prep and cooking included. The recipe is rated “easy”.

How many calories are in moo ping with sticky rice?

About 500 kcal per serving, for a recipe meant for 4 people. Calories are calculated by Kiloach, your weight coach, the app that partners with Mon Chou.

How much does moo ping with sticky rice cost?

About €3.00 per serving, or €12.00 for 4 people, based on average supermarket prices.

What allergens does this recipe contain?

This recipe contains fish, soy. Always check the labels of the products you buy.

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