Moo Kratiem is a Thai stir fry with sliced pork and topped with crispy fried garlic for a comforting dish that’s loaded with flavor.

Feature image of Moo Kratiem on a plate.

If you enjoy eating garlic, then you will love Moo Kratiem. The Pork is tender and cooked in a savory sauce along with a homemade crispy garlic topping.

This dish is not spicy like Thai Basil Pork, instead, it has a mellow spice from the peppercorns.

Ingredients

The ingredients to make Moo Kratiem are easy to find, you don’t need to go to an Asian market for them.

Garlic Cloves
Pork
Cilantro Stems
Soy Sauce
Sugar
Whole Peppercorns

Substitutions

There are a few substitutions you can make for this dish, however, garlic and cilantro are necessary.

Pork- I used pork shoulder, but you can use pork loin or tenderloin for a leaner option. Chicken breast or thighs can also be substituted.
Soy Sauce- Substitute coconut aminos, liquid aminos, or tamari.
Sugar- Substitute coconut sugar
Whole peppercorns- If you don’t have a mortar or molcajete, use ground black or white pepper.

How to Make the Crispy Garlic

Place 15 or more garlic cloves in a food chopper or mini food processor. Pulse lightly to prevent the garlic from getting too fine.

Heat a non-stick skillet with oil over medium-low heat. Add chopped garlic and stir continuously until the garlic develops some color. Don’t step away from the pan, the garlic can burn quickly.

Once the garlic develops a golden color, drain it using a strainer under a cup or bowl. Save the oil, this is a garlic-infused oil.

How to Make the Paste

The aromatics need to be pounded to form a paste. This is traditionally done using a mortar and pestle. Which is similar to a molcajete.

If you don’t have either, then use a food chopper to pulse the cilantro stems and garlic. You can use ground black or white pepper to make it easier to pulse.

2 images of mortar grinding spices and cilantro stems.

For the mortar method, add garlic, cilantro stems, and whole peppercorns. Pound all the ingredients together until a paste forms. Set aside until you start cooking the pork.

How to Cook the Pork

In a medium bowl, add sliced pork 1 tablespoon of garlic oil, 1 teaspoon of sugar, and soy sauce. This can also be done ahead of time and kept overnight in the refrigerator.

4 images of pork being cooked in a skillet.

Add a tablespoon of garlic oil to the same pan you cooked the garlic in. Over medium-high heat, add the pork and cook until halfway done.

Add the paste to the pork and stir to combine. Then add oyster sauce, soy sauce, and fish sauce.

In the mortar add a quarter cup of water and swish it around to get all the leftover bits. Pour that into the pan with the pork.

Adding fried garlic to a plate of cooked pork.

Once the pork is fully cooked, taste to see if additional seasoning is needed. Add pork to a serving plate and top with the crispy fried garlic.

Serving and Storing

Garnish the Moo Kratiem with some cilantro stems and serve with Jasmine rice. You can also serve with a side of steamed broccoli or another vegetable.

Overhead view of Moo Kratiem on a plate with rice and some on a serving plate.