HKDave wrote:Here's a basic naem recipe I learned in school in Thailand. Use at your own risk; naem has some obvious food safety issues:
500g mince pork
250g pork skin, cooked, sliced - variations use 50% or 100% skin
125ml cooked rice - variations use sticky rice, but I don't think this is critical
10-20 Thai "prik kee noo" chiles (the small hot ones), whole
1/4c garlic, chopped
1/2 t salt
Wrap in banana leaves + cling film (very tight; no exposed meat) or multiple layers of banana leaves, let age at Thai room temp for 3 days, then throw out unless you know someone from Isarn (Northern Thailand) who will love it.
Some recipes call for fresh lime juice, typically +/- 4T for the above qty.
There are less traditional variations that add some curing salt. This would improve safety, although Thai people add cure (or baking soda) primarily for colour. But they believe in reincarnation, and I don't, so I'd use it.
These days some call for hanging naem in the 'fridge. This gives a different result but would probably be safer. If you go this route, definitely add the lime juice and give it 5-7 days.
Thanks Dave, good information. I appreciate the health risks with relying on the rice/salt combination to ferment the sausage. For safety's sake, I'll add some cure no.1, and leave in the fridge for a few days. I might try a small quantity "au naturel" at the same time, see what the difference is.
Cheers, John.