Aromatic Coconut Braised Pigs’ Cheeks with Lemongrass, Galangal and Kaffir Lime

Begin by coating the meat in the olive oil and the coarse sea salt and mix well with your hands ensuring that all the meat gets a good coating of oil and salt.

In a large oven proof tray add the meat, lemongrass, kaffir lime leaves, long red chillies, Thai shallots, two thirds of the julienne ginger, coconut cream, tamarind, fish sauce and the sugar then tightly wrap the tray in tin foil to protect the contents from direct heat of the oven, all ingredients should be completely submerged in the coconut cream.

Next place this tray on the middle shelf in an oven that is pre-heated to 190 degrees centigrade and cook for 2 hours.

Once the time has passed take the beef out and check that it is cooked correctly, you should be able to break up the piece of meat with a spoon as it is so tender. The trick to this dish is low and slow, let the heat of the oven do all the work and all you need to do is assemble all the ingredients into one tray.

Once the meat is ready to come out taste the coconut broth to ensure that you are happy with the seasoning. It should be delicately sweet from the coconut cream and moreishly salty from the fish sauce, add a little more of either if you think necessary.

Serve the stew in bowls topped with fresh coriander leaves, this is great served with Thai Taste sticky rice.