Nam Prik Ong- the non Prik Chicken way

Prik means Pork, not your brother-in-law

This is a Thai dish that is normally made with fresh ground pork (Not sausage), but to make it much lighter I have made it with ground chicken breast.  The calorie difference is 200 for pork and only 120 for chicken.  If you don’t care about calories use the pork, it is better.

1 inch of ginger root –peeled

½ cup of cilantro stems

4 dried red chilies – they are small about 1 inch each

1 shallot

4 cloves garlic

1 lb. of ground chicken or pork

2t. Soy sauce

1 pint of cherry tomatoes -halved

4 green onions chopped- both green and white parts

Green cabbage leaves

Put the ginger, cilantro stems, chilies, shallot and garlic in a food processor and run it until everything is mashed up but not quite a pulp.  Add the meat and mix well.

Heat a skillet on medium high and if you are using chicken, spray with Pam, pork has enough fat not to need Pam.  Dump the meet mixture in the skillet and add soy sauce.  Cook, for about 6 minutes, stirring often.  Add the cherry tomatoes and continue cooking for another 2-3 minutes, mashing them into the meat.  Remove from heat.

Cut the head of cabbage in half and separate the leaves carefully into cups.  Wash and dry.  Sprinkle with sea salt and spoon meat mixture into cup.  Top with a little green onion.