How to Cook Laing

Step 1

Mix the coconut milk, pork, shrimp, ginger, onion, and garlic. Set a large cooking pot on the stove and pour 6 cups (1.4 l) of coconut milk into it. Add ½ cup (60 g) of shrimp paste ,1⁄2 pound (230 g) of thinly sliced pork shoulder, 1 sliced yellow onion, ½ cup (25 g) of sliced ginger, and 8 cloves of crushed garlic. Stir to combine the ingredients.Cut the pork, onion, and ginger into 1/4 in (6 mm) slices so they cook evenly.

Step 2

Bring the mixture to a boil and simmer it for 15 to 20 minutes over low. Turn the burner to medium-high so the coconut milk comes to a boil. Then turn the burner down to low so it bubbles gently. Put the lid on the pot and simmer the mixture so the meat cooks a little.Take the lid off and stir the mixture occasionally to prevent it from sticking to the bottom of the pot.

Step 3

Add the taro leaves and let them sit on the mixture for 20 to 30 minutes. Open a 3.5 ounce (100 g) package of dried taro leaves and pour the leaves on top of the coconut milk mixture. Avoid stirring them in at this point. Instead, keep the lid off of the pot and continue to simmer the coconut mixture under the taro.The taro leaves will soften as the steam escapes and the leaves absorb the coconut mixture.

Step 4

Stir the taro leaves and simmer the laing for 10 minutes over low heat. Once the leaves have softened, stir them into the coconut mixture so they're completely combined. Continue to let the laing simmer for 10 minutes.Stir the laing frequently to prevent it from sticking to the bottom of the pot.

Step 5

Stir in the coconut cream and red chilies. Add 2 cups (470 ml) of coconut cream and 5 red chilies. Stir until they're combined with the laing in the pot.Add up to 7 red chilies if you prefer the laing even hotter.

Step 6

Cook the laing for 10 to 12 minutes before serving. Let the laing bubble gently over low heat so the coconut cream warms. Then turn off the burner and spoon the laing into a serving plate.Refrigerate leftover laing in an airtight container for up to 3 days.