Chef critique
Grilled Isan Pork Nam Tok
This is a vibrant and well-structured recipe that captures the authentic techniques of Isan Nam Tok, though the pork requires a bit more salt during the pre-salting stage.
Score: 9/10
Suggested fixes
- Increase the Diamond Crystal kosher salt to 2 teaspoons in the ingredient list and in step 1.
Issues
- medium / flavor: The pork is underseasoned during the initial preparation. 1 1/4 teaspoons of Diamond Crystal kosher salt for 1 pound of boneless pork yields about 0.77% salinity. To reach the recommended 1.25% starting point for boneless meat, the salt should be increased to 2 teaspoons. While the dressing is flavorful, it does not fully replace properly seasoning the meat itself before cooking.
Strengths
- Excellent inclusion of toasted rice powder (khao khoua), which is essential for the authentic texture and flavor of Nam Tok.
- The target temperature of 140°F for the pork loin, followed by a brief rest, is perfectly tailored for a juicy and safely cooked result.
- Instructions are clearly structured, keeping prep separate from active cooking and effectively utilizing bulleted lists for the salad and dressing mixtures.