Red Curry Noodle Soup (Khaub Poob or Khao Poon)

Red Curry Noodle Soup (Khaub Poob or Khao Poon) is a Lao dish. Khaub poob or Khao Poon is pronounced as “Ka Poon.” This dish has spread to Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Cambodia, Singapore, and US. There are various versions of this dish.

This is one of my favorite comfort food. I grew up eating khaub poob and it always taste good. We would make enough to eat for lunch and dinner. I love the spicy and sour flavor of the curry. It looks delicious when the liquid is more red, but orange is alright too. I wouldn’t mind eating this for days.

Red Curry Noodle Soup (Khaub Poob or Khao Poon)

Recent studies have claimed that curry is one of the cures to attack the common cold and flu. Hot spices are a high source of vitamin C. This can help prevent and fight the common cold. I definitely agree. I always feel better after eating this curry soup when I have a cold.

This recipe is spicy so if you don’t like spicy, reduce the amount of Mae Ploy Curry Paste.

Ingredients:

  • 10-12 cups of water
  • 1 whole chicken or 4 thighs
  • 1 can of Coconut Milk
  • 1-2 tbsp Mae Ploy Red Curry Paste (determine the spiciness of the curry)
  • 2-4 oz Maesri Red Curry Paste (determine the spiciness of the curry)
  • 1-2 cans (5.6 oz each) Curry Gravy
  • 1/4 cup Garlic, minced
  • 2 cups Bamboo shoots, thinly sliced
  • 2 tbsp Chicken Bouillon
  • Salt, to taste
  • 32 oz Vermicelli Rice Noodles
  • 1 tbsp Olive oil
  • 1 can Quail Eggs
  • 8 Boiled Eggs (Instead of Quail eggs)
  • 2 tbsp Asian Paprika (Make the liquid red, Optional)
  • 1 tbsp Ground Chili Oil (Spicy, make the liquid red, Optional)
  • 1 tsp Crab Paste with bean oil (Make the liquid red, Optional)
  • 2-3 Ginger slices (Optional)
  • Sugar, to taste (Optional)

Condiments:

  • Green Onions
  • Cilantro
  • Limes
  • Cabbage
  • Lettuce
  • Mint
  • Basil
  • Bean Sprouts
  • Meatballs
  • Asian pork Viet-Hung or Gio-Bi
Directions:

In a medium pot, bring 8-10 cups of water to boil. Put the noodles in and stir occasionally to prevent the noodles from sticking to the bottom.

Vermicelli noodles

After the noodles are cook, drain the water and stir in cold water; draining several times until cool to touch.

Vermicelli Noodles

Grab a bunch of noodles using the thumb and index finger, smoothing out any stray noodles. Put the bunch noodles in a strainer. Some people like to put them in circles. My mom taught me how to put the noodles in by starting in the center and laying in a spiral. It is easier to grab the noodles when they are dry. If you just put the noodles in without making sections, then it will be stuck together when the noodles are dry.

Vermicelli Noodles

In another medium pot filled with 6 cup of water and bring to boil. While waiting for the water to boil, clean the chicken. Put the chicken into the pot. Scoop out the foams and toss it away. Save broth for later.

Boiled chicken

When the chicken is cook, let it cool and set aside.

These are the curry paste and sauces that I will be using to make the curry sauce.

Heat 1 tbsp of oil in a medium pot and sauté the garlic. Stir in the curry pastes and curry gravy until mixed.

saute garlicCurry sauce

Once mixed stir in coconut milk, crab paste, and paprika.

Curry sauce

Fill a large pot with 6 cups of water and chicken broth. Pour the curry mix into a bigger pot and stir in 2 tbsp of chicken bouillon.

Curry Sauce

Cut the bamboo shoots into thin strips and shred the chicken. Put them into the pot.

Chicken and bamboo

bamboos in curry

Serve warm and top with condiments.

condiments lettuce Red Curry Noodle Soup (Khaub Poob or Khao Poon)

You can find these sauces at any Asian grocery stores.

Or you can buy it on Amazon.

Red Curry Noodle Soup (Khaub Poob or Khao Poon)

Cook Time2 hours
Total Time2 hours
Cuisine: Asian
Servings: 10

Ingredients

  • 10-12 cups Water
  • 1 Whole chicken or 4 thighs
  • 1 can Coconut Milk
  • 1-2 tbsp Mae Ploy Red Curry Paste determine the spiciness of the curry
  • 2-4 oz Maesri Red Curry Paste determine the spiciness of the curry
  • 1-2 cans Curry Gravy 5.6 oz each
  • 1/4 cup Garlic, minced
  • 2 cups Bamboo shoots, thinly sliced
  • 2 tbsp Chicken Bouillon
  • Salt, to taste
  • 32 oz Vermicelli Rice Noodles
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 can Quail Eggs
  • 8 Boiled Eggs Instead of Quail Eggs
  • 2 tbsp Asian Paprika Make the liquid red, Optional
  • 1 tbsp Ground Chili Oil Spicy, make the liquid red, Optional
  • 1 tsp Crab Paste with bean oil Make the liquid red, Optional
  • 2-3 Ginger, slices Optional
  • Sugar, to taste Optional

Instructions

  • In a medium pot, bring 8-10 cups of water to boil. Put the noodles in and stir occasionally to prevent the noodles from sticking to the bottom.
  • After the noodles are cook, drain the water and stir in cold water; draining several times until cool to touch.
  • Grab a bunch of noodles using the thumb and index finger, smoothing out any stray noodles. Put the bunch noodles in a strainer. If you just put the noodles in without making sections, then it will be stuck together when the noodles are dry.
  • In another medium pot filled with 6 cup of water and bring to boil. While waiting for the water to boil, clean the chicken. Put the chicken into the pot. Scoop out the foams and toss it away. Save broth for later.
  • When the chicken is cook, let it cool and set aside.
  • Heat 1 tbsp of oil in a medium pot and sauté the garlic. Stir in the curry pastes and curry gravy until mixed.
  • Once mixed stir in coconut milk, crab paste, and paprika.
  • Fill a large pot with 6 cups of water and chicken broth. Pour the curry mix into a bigger pot and stir in 2 tbsp of chicken bouillon.
  • Cut the bamboo shoots into thin strips and shred the chicken. Put them into the pot.
  • Serve warm and top with condiments. Enjoy!

Notes

Condiments:
  • Green Onions
  • Cilantro
  • Limes
  • Cabbage
  • Lettuce
  • Mint
  • Basil
  • Bean Sprouts
  • Meatballs
  • Asian pork Viet-Hung or Gio-Bi

Chicken Larb (Laab or Laaj) Salad

Chicken Larb (Laab or Laaj) Salad

Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time30 minutes
Total Time40 minutes
Cuisine: Asian
Servings: 10

Ingredients

  • 1 Chicken breast
  • 4 Chicken thighs
  • 1 tbsp Laab-Namtok Seasoning Mix
  • 1 tbsp Rice
  • 1 Lime
  • 1/2 Shallot
  • 2 Stalk Green Onions
  • 1/2 cup Cilantro, Minced
  • Fresh Mint leaves
  • Fresh Basil leaves
  • 1 Cucumber
  • Lettuce
  • 1/8 cup Fish Sauce
  • Salt, to taste
  • Black pepper, to taste
  • Thai Chili peppers Optional

Instructions

  • In a pot, boil the chicken until cook.
  • Toasted Rice Powder: Put 1 tbsp of rice in a small pan. Stir for about 10 minutes until it turns brown. Using a mortar and pestle, pound the rice until it's a coarse powder. You can also use a food processor.
  • Rinse the lime, mint, basil, cilantro, and green onions. Minced the cilantro, cut the lime in half, cut the shallot in thin slices, and cut the green onions.
  • Peel and cut the cucumbers. Rinse and drain the lettuce.
  • When the chicken is cook, shred it. Most larb meat are grounded, but shredded meat is fine too.
  • Stir in laab-namtok seasoning mix, toasted rice powder, green onions, cilantro, mint, basil, salt, black pepper, and fish sauce. Squeeze out lime juice all over and stir. Add in the Thai chili peppers (optional).
  • Serve with lettuce and cucumbers. You can also serve with rice or sticky rice too.
  • Enjoy!

Chicken Larb (Laab or Laaj) salad is one of our favorite Asian dish. This dish is a very common dish throughout Thailand and Laos. Larb, Laab, or Laaj means salad. It can be eaten as the main dish or appetizer. There are variation types of larb: chicken, beef, duck, pork, and salmon.

One of the key ingredient is the toasted rice (khao kua). It gives a roasted fragrance and crunchy bite. You can purchase it at an Asian store or make it yourself. I’ll be showing you how below in the steps.

Ingredients:
  • 1 Chicken breast
  • 4 Chicken thighs
  • 1 tbsp Laab-Namtok Seasoning Mix
  • 1 tbsp Rice
  • 1 Lime
  • 1/2 Shallot
  • 2 Stalk Green Onions
  • 1/2 cup Cilantro, Minced
  • Fresh Mint leaves
  • Fresh Basil leaves
  • 1 Cucumber
  • Lettuce
  • 1/8 cup Fish sauce
  • Salt, to taste
  • Black pepper, to taste
  • Thai chili peppers (optional)
Directions:

In a pot, boil the chicken until cook.

Toasted Rice Powder

Put 1 tbsp of rice in a small pan. Stir until it turns brown. It’ll take about 10 minutes.

toasted ricetoasted rice

Using a mortar and pestle, pound the rice until it’s a coarse powder. You can also use a food processor.

toasted ricetoasted rice

Rinse the lime, mint, basil, cilantro, and green onions. Minced the cilantro, cut the lime in half, cut the shallot in thin slices, and cut the green onions.

laab ingredients

Peel and cut the cucumbers. Rinse and drain the lettuce.

cucumberslettuce

When the chicken is cook, shred it. Most larb meat are grounded, but shredded meat is fine too.

shredded chicken

Stir in laab-namtok seasoning mix, toasted rice powder, green onions, cilantro, mint, basil, salt, black pepper, and fish sauce. Squeeze out lime juice all over and stir. Add in the Thai chili peppers. If you don’t want it spicy, you can skip this step. I’m not adding in any since my kids can’t eat spicy yet.

Chicken Larb (Laab or Laaj) Salad

Serve with lettuce and cucumbers. You can also serve with rice or sticky rice too.

Chicken Larb (Laab or Laaj) Salad

You can find the laab seasoning at any Asian grocery store. If you don’t live by any Asian store like myself, you can order it on Amazon.

You can find mortar and pestle at any Asian market too or buy it on Amazon. Below are the smaller sizes.


Enjoy!