Penang Rice Salad Recipes

PENANG PORK SATAY

Steps:

• Place fresh turmeric in a food processor along with powdered turmeric. Add ginger, shallot, garlic, brown sugar, ancho chili powder, coriander, chipotle, cayenne, rice vinegar, soy sauce, fish sauce, tamarind paste, and cilantro. Blend into a fine paste.
• Cut pork into 1 1/2-inch cubes, trimming off fat as needed. Place pork in a bowl; season with salt. Pour in the marinade. Mix and massage pork with your hands until completely coated. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 4 to 18 hours.
• Preheat an outdoor grill for medium-high heat and lightly oil the grate. Thread pork through skewers so the pieces are touching but not squished together. Reserve leftover marinade.
• Grill skewers, brushing on reserved marinade, until pork just starts to firm up but is still slightly pink in the center, about 10 minutes per side. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read 145 degrees F (63 degrees C). Serve immediately.

PENANG RICE SALAD

Steps:

• Wash rice in several changes of cold water in a bowl until water is clear, then drain well in a sieve. Combine with 3 cups fresh water in a 2 1/2-quart heavy saucepan. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low and cook, covered, until rice is tender and water is absorbed, about 15 minutes. Remove from heat and let stand, covered, 5 minutes. Fluff gently with a fork, then transfer 5 cups to a large shallow baking pan and cool to warm room temperature. Reserve remaining rice for another use.
• While rice is cooking, toast coconut in a dry heavy skillet (preferably cast-iron) over moderately low heat, stirring constantly, until golden, 4 to 6 minutes, then transfer to a small bowl to cool. Pulse in grinder once or twice (do not overgrind or you will end up with coconut butter), then return to small bowl. Finely grind shrimp in grinder until very fluffy, about 1 minute. Thinly slice lower 6 inches of lemongrass stalk and very finely mince slices. Cut out central veins and stems from lime leaves with a sharp knife, then slice leaves lengthwise into hair-thin strips.
• Toss together rice, coconut, dried shrimp, lemongrass, lime leaves, turmeric (if using), shallot, basil, mint, 2 tablespoons lime juice, white pepper, and salt until combined well and free of lumps, then season with additional salt and lime juice if necessary. Serve immediately.
• *Available at Temple of Thai (877-811-8773). **Available at Asian markets.