North Thai Tomato-&-Meat Sauce (Nam Prik Ong)

Stephen Ceideburg 1/4 lb Pork tenderloin *

2 ts Vegetable oil

1 tb Minced garlic (3 cloves)

1 lg Shallot, minced

2 Serrano chilies, with seeds,

-chopped 1 ts Tiny dried shrimp, minced,

-or 1/2 tsp. shrimp paste 1 ts Minced fresh lemon grass **

1 lb Ripe plum tomatoes, chopped

-or: *** 1/2 c Defatted chicken stock or

-water 1 tb Fish sauce

1 ts Sugar

* trimmed of fat and membrane and cut in chunks ** or 1 tsp. dried, soaked in warm water for 30 minutes, drained and minced *** 1 28-oz. can plum (Italian-style) tomatoes, drained and chopped Not unlike a That version of spaghetti sauce, this is from the regional cuisine of north Thailand. Note: Dried shrimp and shrimp paste give off a strong aroma during cooking, but the flavor mellows. Place pork in a food processor and using an on/off motion, process until it is ground. Alternatively, chop pork with a sharp knife. Set aside. In a heavy, medium-sized saucepan, heat oil over medium high heat. Add garlic and stir-fry for 1 to 2 minutes, or until browned. Add shallots, chilies, dried shrimp or shrimp paste and lemon grass and stir-fry for 30 seconds. Add the pork and stir-fry for about 1 minute, or until browned. Add tomatoes, stock or water, fish sauce and sugar and increase the heat to high. Cook, stirring frequently, for 2 minutes, or until the mixture boils vigorously. Reduce heat to low and simmer, uncovered, for 15 to 20 minutes, or until slightly thickened. Serve with sticky rice. Serves 4 as a main dish or 6 in combination with other dishes. 64 CALORIES FOR EACH OF 6 SERVINGS: 6 G PROTEIN, 3 G FAT, 5 G CARBOHYDRATE;

127 MG SODIUM; 15 MG CHOLESTEROL.

From "Eating Well", Jan/Feb, 1992.