Thai

Pla Pao

Name: Pla Pao
Total time: 50 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: Thai
Ingredients: 1 whole tilapia or sea bass (about 1.5 lbs), scaled and gutted; 2 cups coarse sea salt; 1 large egg white; 3 stalks lemongrass, bruised; 6 kaffir lime leaves; 1 inch galangal, sliced; 1 bunch pandan leaves (optional)

A whole salt-crusted fish stuffed with lemongrass and grilled until the skin is crackling and the flesh is silky.

50 minutes

Serves 4

Dinner

Contains common allergens

Egg Fish Seafood

In the app, Listahan checks these against your household automatically.

Instructions

5 steps

1
Rinse and pat the fish dry, then stuff the cavity tightly with the bruised lemongrass, kaffir lime leaves, galangal, and pandan to perfume the flesh from the inside.

2
In a bowl, mix the coarse salt with the egg white until it resembles wet sand, then pack this mixture firmly all over the outside of the fish to form an even crust.
3
Heat a grill to medium (about 375°F) and grill the fish for 12-15 minutes per side, until the salt crust hardens, browns, and the flesh reaches an internal temperature of 145°F.
4
Let the fish rest for 5 minutes, then crack and peel away the salt crust, which lifts off the skin and reveals moist, fragrant meat.
5
Serve with a Thai seafood dipping sauce of lime, garlic, chili, and fish sauce.

Unlock the full recipe

Get every step for Pla Pao — plus exact amounts and 2,000+ more recipes — with Listahan Pro.

Unlock in app Get Listahan free

30-day free trial · cancel anytime

Plan it in Listahan

Add Pla Pao to your week, check it against your household's allergens, and build the shopping list automatically.

Open in app iOS (Beta) Android (Beta)

More Thai recipes

Thai

Pad Thai

Classic stir-fried rice noodle dish balancing sweet, salty, and sour flavors.

30 min Serves 2 Kid-safe

Egg Fish Peanut +3

Thai

Tom Yum Goong

Plump prawns swim in a fiery, citrus-bright broth of lemongrass, galangal, and kaffir lime — Thailand's most iconic soup, bold and addictive in every sip.

30 min Serves 4

Fish Seafood Shellfish

Thai

Green Curry

Spicy, aromatic Thai curry featuring a bright green chili and herb base.

40 min Serves 3

Fish Dairy Seafood

Browse all Thai recipes