Kai Pa Lo, or Thai 5-spice stew with eggs and braised pork, is one of the classic dishes in Thailand that is often prepared as a side dish to accompany a plate of rice. Our parents frequently cook this stew, and it has become a staple in many Thai households.
You can also easily find Kai Pa Lo at street food stalls, markets, or food courts all around the country. It is a comfort food that is delicious, pairs well with other dishes, and, best of all, is easy on the stomach, unlike many other Thai dishes that are often spicy.
Kai Pa Lo is made from hard-boiled eggs and tender pork belly or pork, simmered in a sweet-salty soy-based sauce infused with a blend of spices. The spices include star anise, cinnamon, black pepper, garlic, cilantro roots, soy sauce, sweet soy sauce, and palm sugar.
It is a traditional dish made with pork belly, eggs, and tofu. However, if you don’t like pork belly, feel free to experiment with different types of meat. You can use any cut of pork or chicken, or even opt for a vegetarian version using just tofu.
Kai Pa Lo is definitely among my favorite Thai dishes to make and one that I often recommend to my foreign friends if they find Thai food too spicy. You are going to love it, seriously. Once you taste the sweet, salty, and savory Kai Pa Lo soup, you won’t want to put it down! Now, let’s get cooking!
If you're interested in more Thai soup recipes, you can try: Authentic Thai Braised Chicken Noodle Soup (Guay Tiew Gai Toon) Recipe, Authentic Thai Coconut Chicken Soup (Tom Kha Gai) Recipe, Thai Spicy Beef Soup (Tom Saap) Recipe, and Pork Rib Rice Soup (Kao Tom Kra Dook Moo) Recipe
To make this recipe, you are going to need:
- 5-10 eggs
- 400 g. Pork belly, finely cut
- 5 star-anise
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- 5 coriander roots
- 6 garlic cloves
- 1 tablespoon black pepper
- 3 tablespoons palm sugar
- 6 tablespoons sweet soy sauce
- 4 tablespoons soy sauce
- 3 cups water
Here is a step-by-step guide on how to make Authentic Thai 5-Spice Stew with Egg and Braised Pork (Kai Pa Lo) Recipe
1 Begin by gathering all the necessary ingredients for Kai Pa Lo.
2 Pound the garlic, cilantro roots, and black pepper until they are thoroughly combined.
3 Set a soup pot over medium-high heat. Once it’s hot, add the cooking oil, followed by the garlic and cilantro root mix. Stir until fragrant, then add the palm sugar.
4 Add the pork belly and stir until it is coated with the sauce.
5 Continue stirring the pork belly until it is half-cooked. Then, add the cinnamon stick.
6 Add 3 cups of water and allow the sauce to simmer for about 5 minutes.
7 Once the soup starts to boil, add the boiled eggs. Then, continue to boil the soup for about 25 minutes.
8 When the meat becomes tender and the eggs turn brown, reduce the heat. Now, you can serve the dish with Jasmine rice and the dish is completed. Congratulations!
Other Thai Recipes You Might Like
Here are some of my favorite Thai that I think you might like. For more Thai cuisine, check out my Thai recipe page.
Authentic Thai 5-Spice Stew with Egg and Braised Pork (Kai Pa Lo) Recipe
Let’s make the delicious Thai 5-spice stew with egg and braised pork or Kai Palo, the way we do it here in Thailand. Follow this easy recipe and enjoy the delicious Kai Palo with us.
Ingredients
- 5-10 eggs
- 400 g. Pork belly, finely cut
- 5 star-anise
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- 5 coriander roots
- 6 garlic cloves
- 1 tablespoon black pepper
- 3 tablespoons palm sugar
- 6 tablespoons sweet soy sauce
- 4 tablespoons soy sauce
- 3 cups water
Directions
- Begin by gathering all the necessary ingredients for Kai Pa Lo.
- Pound the garlic, cilantro roots, and black pepper until they are thoroughly combined.
- Set a soup pot over medium-high heat. Once it’s hot, add the cooking oil, followed by the garlic and cilantro root mix. Stir until fragrant, then add the palm sugar.
- Add the pork belly and stir until it is coated with the sauce.
- Continue stirring the pork belly until it is half-cooked. Then, add the cinnamon stick.
- Add 3 cups of water and allow the sauce to simmer for about 5 minutes.
- Once the soup starts to boil, add the boiled eggs. Then, continue to boil the soup for about 25 minutes.
- When the meat becomes tender and the eggs turn brown, reduce the heat. Now, you can serve the dish with Jasmine rice and the dish is completed. Congratulations!
