Khao Piak Sen Noodle Soup with Pork and Bok Choy
A fragrant Lao-style rice noodle soup with pork broth, tender greens, and a touch of lemongrass. This asian-inspired soups ready in about 65 minutes pairs pork shoulder, rice noodles, bunch bok choy for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 520 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.
Ingredients
- 8 oz pork shoulder
- 6 oz rice noodles
- 1 bunch bok choy
- 1 stalk lemongrass
- 2 cloves garlic
- 2 tbsp fish sauce
- 1/4 cup coconut milk
- 4 cups chicken stock
- 4 lime wedges
Instructions
- Step 1: Thinly slice 8 oz pork shoulder against the grain. Finely mince 1 stalk lemongrass and 2 garlic cloves. In a large pot, combine 4 cups chicken stock, lemongrass, and garlic, and bring to a gentle simmer for 10 minutes.
- Step 2: Add pork shoulder to simmering broth and cook for 20 minutes until tender. Meanwhile, trim bok choy and cut into 1-inch pieces. Cook 6 oz rice noodles in boiling water for 5 minutes until tender, then drain.
- Step 3: Remove lemongrass from broth. Add 2 tbsp fish sauce and 1/4 cup coconut milk to broth, stirring until heated through. Add cooked noodles and bok choy, simmering for 3 minutes until greens wilt. Serve immediately with lime wedges.
Equipment for this recipe
Top-rated tools to make this recipe successfully.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Khao Piak Sen Noodle Soup with Pork and Bok Choy take to make?
Total time is about 65 minutes (30 min prep + 35 min cook). Most home cooks find this fits comfortably into a weeknight; double the batch on Sunday for two dinners.
How do I store leftover Khao Piak Sen Noodle Soup with Pork and Bok Choy?
Cool to room temperature within 2 hours, then store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat covered in a 350°F oven for 10-12 minutes, or microwave at 70% power in 60-second bursts to keep pork shoulder from drying out.
Can I substitute ingredients in Khao Piak Sen Noodle Soup with Pork and Bok Choy?
Yes — most ingredients in this recipe have flexible swaps. For oil, use any neutral high-smoke-point oil (avocado, grapeseed, refined coconut). For aromatics, dried herbs at ⅓ the volume of fresh work in a pinch. The full ingredient list is shoppable on Instacart so you can see substitutes in real time.
How do I scale Khao Piak Sen Noodle Soup with Pork and Bok Choy for a different number of people?
The recipe is written for 4 servings. Multiply each ingredient by (your serving target / 4). Cook time stays roughly the same up to 2x; for 3-4x batches, switch from a skillet to a sheet pan or stockpot so the food isn't crowded — overcrowding steams instead of browns.
What goes well with Khao Piak Sen Noodle Soup with Pork and Bok Choy?
Asian soups like this pair well with a simple grain (rice, couscous, or crusty bread), a quick salad with acid (lemon vinaigrette, pickled onions), and a pan sauce or yogurt-based dip. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" to get specific side suggestions.
What others are saying
- ★★★★★
Used half the salt and it was still plenty flavorful.
- ★★★★★
Used half the salt and it was still plenty flavorful.
- ★★★★☆
Very good for a 35-minute recipe. Would bump up the spice level though.
