Khao Yum – Thai Southern Beauty Salad

Bright, bold, and packed with serious benefits—this isn’t just a salad, it’s food as medicine. Purple Forgotten Husband rice brings a hit of anthocyanins (hello, antioxidants!) while keeping it low-carb and high-fiber. The fresh herbs? Think immune-boosting, digestion-loving, and metabolism-kicking goodness. This Southern Thai classic is a riot of crunch, color, and umami, now with a plant-based remix—fermented tempeh replaces traditional น้ำบูดู (Southern-style fermented fish sauce) for deep, rich complexity without the funk.

Khao Yum – Thai Southern Beauty Salad

Ingredients

The Dressing – The Soul of the Dish
- ½ cup fermented tempeh (blended smooth)
- 1 tbsp shallots, smashed
- 3 makrut lime leaves, roughly shredded
- 1 stalk lemongrass, smashed
- 3 tbsp coconut palm sugar
- ½ cup warm water
- 1 tbsp fresh lime juice

The Star Grain – Purple Hom Nil Rice
- 1 cup Purple Hom Nil rice, cooked until glossy & fluffy

The Crunch & Color Lineup
- ½ cup string beans, finely sliced
- ½ cup bean sprouts
- ½ cup shredded purple cabbage
- ½ cup shredded carrot
- ½ cup pomelo or grapefruit segments
- ½ cup pineapple, diced
- 2 tbsp dried salted sardine, air-fried
- 2 tbsp flossed dried shrimp

Instrcutions

How to Make It
1. The Magic Sauce
In a small pan over low heat, sauté shallots, lemongrass, and makrut lime leaves until fragrant.Add blended fermented tempeh, palm sugar, and a splash of water. Stir until glossy and rich.Finish with a squeeze of lime - balance is key.

2. The Perfect Grain
Cook Purple Hom Nil rice until tender (1:1.2 ratio), then let it cool slightly. That deep purple shine? Stunning.

3. Assemble the Symphony
In a large bowl, arrange the rice with crisp vegetables, fruits, and umami-packed toppings.

4. The Pour That Seals the Deal
Drizzle the dressing over everything, mix well, and let the flavors meld.

5. Dig In!

FROM THE THAI HEIRLOOM KITCHEN

Recipes

A little inspiration for your next meal.

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