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Recipes by Category » Main Dishes » Thai Garlic Pepper Pork | Moo Gratiem

Published: Apr 29, 2022 by Nart · This post may contain affiliate links.

Thai Garlic Pepper Pork | Moo Gratiem

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Thai garlic pepper pork is an irresistible dish that is very easy to make and can be whipped up in 20 minutes! It’s great with rice or porridge. Add cucumber slices to the combo and there you have the perfect dinner for any evening.

Thai garlic pepper pork in a white bowl

Why This Recipe Works

If I have to name a Thai dish that pretty much every Thai kid and adult loves, Thai garlic pepper pork, known as moo gratiem (หมูกระเทียม) or moo tod gratiem prik thai (หมูทอดกระเทียมพริกไทย) in Thai, definitely comes to mind. Why this dish? Because it’s so tasty and such an easy pork recipe to make. Also, there’s no chili in it, so you don’t have to worry about it being too hot for kids.

For those who don’t eat pork, there are other variations of this dish as well. Here, people do make or order garlic pepper chicken, beef, seafood or even tofu. Most of the ingredients required are basic sauces for cooking Asian. There might be one or two that you may not be familiar with but they’re sure worth having if you love to cook Asian food.

Ooh, and make sure you enjoy it with this bael fruit drink, such a great combo!

Ingredients You Need

Here is a visual overview of the ingredients in the recipe. Scroll down to the recipe at the bottom for quantities.

ingredients for making Thai garlic pork or หมูกระเทียม

Ingredient Notes

White Peppercorns: This is a must. Pounded whole white peppercorns give a much stronger scent than white pepper powder and that’s what makes this dish delicious. 

Pork: I prefer to use the cut with just a bit of fat or none at all but you can use any cut you like.

Oyster Sauce: This sauce keeps the pork moist and also adds a bit of saltiness and thickness to all the other ingredients that will coat the pork. 

Sweet Soy Sauce: If you’ve read enough Thai recipes, you might have noticed we use sugar in our cooking. In Thai cuisine, we don’t always add sugar to actually sweeten food. A lot of times we just use it to round out the flavor. For this dish, though, we’re using sweet soy sauce instead of sugar because it helps us achieve that nice dark brown color that sugar won’t. 😉

Step-By-Step Instructions

process shots of how to make Thai garlic pepper pork

Step 1: Add white peppercorns to the mortar

Step 2: Pound with a pestle until fine.

Step 3: Add garlic to the mortar.

Step 4: Roughly pound the garlic while the pepper is still in the mortar.

process shots of how to marinate garlic pork

Step 5: Put the pork that has already been cut into pieces in a bowl and season with salt.

Step 6: Add the pounded white peppercorns and garlic mixture.

Step 7: Massage to mix everything with your hand for about a minute and set aside.

Step 8: Set a pan over medium heat.

process shots of how to make Thai garlic pork

Step 9: Add oil to the pan.

Step 10: Fry the marinated pork in the pan.

Step 11: Add oyster sauce.

Step 12: Add soy sauce.

process shots of how to make moo gratiem

Step 11: Add sweet soy sauce.

Step 12: Continue to fry the pork for another few minutes or until done.

What To Serve With This Dish

a piece of Thai garlic pepper pork being picked out of a bowl with chopsticks

When it comes to serving Thai garlic pork, you can serve it with steamed rice or porridge. If you’re sharing it with other people, serve it in a bowl or dish and use a spoon to take some of the pork to your own dish/bowl. If you’re having this dish on your own, simply place it over or on the side or rice and enjoy with cucumber slices.

I have to mention that Sriracha sauce goes so well with moo tod gratiem. If you already have the sauce at home, be sure to try this dish with it!

Storage

Thai garlic pork garnished with cilantro in a white bowl

If you don’t finish this dish in one go or you want to prepare it in advance, you can put it in an airtight container and store it in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.

When you’re ready to eat, simply microwave it at the highest heat for 1-2 minutes.

Thai garlic pepper pork in a white bowl

Thai Garlic Pepper Pork Recipe

Thai garlic pepper pork is an irresistible dish that is very easy to make and can be whipped up in 20 minutes! It's great with rice or porridge. Add cucumber slices to the combo and there you have the perfect dinner for any evening.
5 from 24 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Main Course, Main Dishes
Cuisine: Thai
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes
Servings: 2 people
Calories: 395kcal
Author: Nart

Equipment

  • Mortar and pestle

Ingredients

  • 1 teaspoon white peppercorns
  • 2 ½ heads garlic pealed
  • 200 grams pork cut into pieces
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 tablespoon oil
  • ½ tablespoon oyster sauce
  • ½ tablespoon soy sauce
  • ½ teaspoon sweet soy sauce
  • 3 cilantro leaves for garnish
  • cucumber slices
US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  • Add the white peppercorns to the mortar and pound until fine.In a mortar, pound the white peppercorns until fine with a pestle. Add the garlic and give it a few pounds. The garlic doesn't need to be fine.
  • With the pounded white peppercorns still in the mortar, add the garlic to it and roughly pound. Make sure the garlic is not too fine.
  • Place the pork in a bowl and season with salt and the garlic and pepper mixture. Massage to mix everything together for about 1 minute.
    Heat the oil in a frying pan over medium-high heat and fry the pork once the oil is hot.
  • Set a pan over medium heat and add oil to the pan.
  • Place the pork in the pan to fry.
  • Season the pork with oyster sauce, soy sauce and sweet soy sauce.
  • Remove from heat when the pork is done and serve with rice or porridge or let cool and store in the refrigerator.

Video

Notes

  1. Don't use replace whole white peppercorns with pepper powder. Pounded whole peppercorns give a much stronger scent than white pepper powder and that's what makes this dish delicious. 
  2. You can use any cut of pork you like. I recommend one with just a bit of fat or none at all.
  3. Don't omit this sauce because it keeps the pork moist and also adds a bit of saltiness and thickness to all the other ingredients that will coat the pork. 
  4.  
    A lot of times we use sugar to round out the flavor of Thai dishes. But for Thai garlic pepper pork, it's better to use sweet soy sauce it helps us achieve that nice dark brown color sugar won't.

Nutrition

Calories: 395kcalCarbohydrates: 15gProtein: 20gFat: 28gSaturated Fat: 8gPolyunsaturated Fat: 4gMonounsaturated Fat: 14gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 72mgSodium: 1045mgPotassium: 441mgFiber: 1gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 10IUVitamin C: 12mgCalcium: 87mgIron: 2mg
Tried this recipe?Mention @cookingwithnart or tag #cookingwithnart!


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Comments

  1. Kim says

    September 26, 2022 at 10:13 am

    5 stars
    This was so dang good! Tasted just like at Thai restaurants! I made it with textured soy protein aka TVP aka soy curls. After rehydrating TVP, I squeezed the water out, then airfried the pieces for a bit to remove some moisture, then pan fried them with the garlic and plenty of oil to draw out excess moisture and prevent sticking to the pan. Texture came out great this way. Thank you so much, Nart! I’ve also shared this with my mom, as this is her fav dish at Thai restaurants.

    Reply
    • Nart says

      October 18, 2022 at 10:09 am

      Hi Kim! So happy to hear this. Thank you so much for your kind words!

      Reply
  2. NorCal Nymph says

    September 16, 2022 at 6:44 am

    5 stars
    This is the first Thai dish that I fell for some 30-odd years ago, and I’ve search for a recipe for years. Soooooo delicious!! And just how I remember it. Thanks, Nart!

    Reply
    • Nart says

      October 18, 2022 at 10:08 am

      You’re welcome!

      Reply
  3. Mino says

    September 06, 2021 at 8:16 am

    Thanks for recipe. Please can you advise which part of pork do you use?

    Many thanks

    Reply
    • Nart says

      October 13, 2021 at 10:51 am

      Oh, actually any you want but I normally go with the loin 🙂

      Reply
  4. Charla says

    December 14, 2020 at 4:18 pm

    5 stars
    What a beautiful close up shot. My sister in law will love this recipe.

    Reply
  5. Jacqueline Meldrum says

    December 14, 2020 at 4:11 pm

    5 stars
    I’ve never tried white peppercorns before. I will have to try them and see if it makes a difference.

    Reply
  6. Amanda Wren-Grimwood says

    December 14, 2020 at 3:21 pm

    5 stars
    Looks so easy and delicious. Can’t wait to make this.

    Reply
  7. Chenée Lewis says

    December 14, 2020 at 2:38 pm

    5 stars
    This looks so easy and delicious!!! Pinning for later!

    Reply
  8. Jessie says

    December 14, 2020 at 12:00 pm

    5 stars
    This sounds amazing and so easy to make. Trying this for dinner this week.

    Reply
  9. Sivaranjani says

    June 17, 2020 at 5:07 pm

    Spicy and yummy one…

    Reply
    • Nart says

      June 23, 2020 at 2:58 pm

      Thank you!

      Reply
  10. kalyon munnaluru says

    June 15, 2020 at 5:18 pm

    5 stars
    Very Simple yet looks tasty dish !

    Reply
    • Nart says

      June 23, 2020 at 2:37 pm

      Thank you so much!

      Reply
  11. Patrice says

    June 14, 2020 at 3:31 am

    5 stars
    I love Thai food but don’t make it nearly enough at home. This recipe looks both delicious and easy to make.

    Reply
    • Nart says

      June 15, 2020 at 4:03 pm

      Thank you so much! It is 🙂

      Reply
  12. Ana says

    June 13, 2020 at 3:29 am

    5 stars
    Oh wao, I’d love to eat those with some mashed potatoes and asparagus!!!!!!
    Thanks for sharing this.

    Reply
    • Nart says

      June 15, 2020 at 4:07 pm

      Great choices! You’re very welcome 🙂

      Reply
  13. Renee says

    June 13, 2020 at 1:32 am

    I love garlic, I love Thai, and I love pork. I totally can’t wait to make this

    Reply
    • Nart says

      June 15, 2020 at 4:08 pm

      Enjoy then!

      Reply
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I'm Thai born and bred and I love cooking for my family, friends and myself. I'm here to share with you my Thai and other Asian recipes with a bit of baking and Western recipes thrown in here and there. More about me →

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