In a medium saucepan, bring chicken stock to a rolling boil. Add pork. Let mixture return to a boil, breaking up pork with a fork as it does. Reduce heat to low. Stir in the cooked rice. Cover and allow to simmer up to five minutes - stirring occasionally. Add nam pla to taste. Increase heat and bring soup back to boil.

(Warning from Mr Breakfast: This next step isn't recommended from a food safety standpoint. It's the authentic way to make this Thai dish. You may want to play it safe and pre-poach your eggs to assure they are fully cooked.)

Take 2 serving bowls and carefully break a whole egg in each dish. Ladle boiling soup over the eggs.

Add any of the following ingredients according to your tastes: Thai chili, ginger, green onion and/or cilantro.

Cover the bowls and allow soup to stand for two minutes.


Basically a thick and spicy chicken soup over poached eggs, kao tom is a traditional breakfast dish in Thailand.

Mr Breakfast would like to thank chinho for this recipe.

Overall Average Rating = 4 (out of 5)

Based on 6 votes.

From Bruwwa

Rating (out of 5):

This is absolutely a breakfast recipe... we had it in Thailand almost everyday. I have to say, I've made this for my breakfast for 4 days in a row now and I love it! Thanks for sharing.

Comment submitted: 8/17/2018 (#20611)



From el zopy (Team Breakfast Member)

I used to fly out of Bangkok quite often in the early mornings. My colleague and I always had this for breakfast before boarding the plane. It went on for almost five years that I was in Thailand. It was good, still is good, nothing wrong with the raw eggs. IT IS A BREAKFAST DISH, healthier than cooked eggs and fat pancakes drowned in syrup. Most of those people posting the contrary just do not have experience and appear to be one track minded novices.

Comment submitted: 9/21/2017 (#20408)



From Westerner

Rating (out of 5):

This dish sounds great! It may be a breakfast dish for some but I'm used to western practices of eggs with toast, sausage or bacon or maybe some cereal. I definitely would have it for lunch or dinner. The warning Mr Breakfast gives is a standard warning from the FDA regarding raw eggs especially for the young, elderly and sick people.

Comment submitted: 12/31/2015 (#19723)



From pennyhomestay (Team Breakfast Member)

Rating (out of 5):

I like to add chopped fresh veggies.

Comment submitted: 4/14/2012 (#13793)



From The scope

No, they actually do eat these types of meals for breakfast - much different from the American style - they eat all kinds of food during each meal.

Comment submitted: 11/4/2011 (#13110)



From needhelp

I don't think this is a breakfast dish so please could you put a traditional breakfast on the web page because I need it for my gcse studies.

Comment submitted: 6/20/2011 (#12844)



From Aspen

This is more kind of a lunch dish I think.

Comment submitted: 4/21/2010 (#10356)



From lalalalaa

I am gonna try this as soon as I get home! It luks reli nice!!!

Comment submitted: 9/11/2008 (#6432)



From zakman (Team Breakfast Member)

Rating (out of 5):

By Zakman - I agree w/ 41 yr old Aussie - I am 54 yr old Serb - What is the issue w non-fully cooked eggs - providing no cracks in shell or fecal matter if farm eggs? And other than provide large choices at awesome prices what is wrong w/ Safeway?

Comment submitted: 11/18/2007 (#4018)



From Bluenose

Rating (out of 5):

Hey, Ozzie - you have to look at what some of us have done to chickens over the last 20 years. I'll eat my omelettes bacuse anytime, and I love my Steak Tartare, but having seen some the chooks in cages in the Far East, I'd be hard pushed to eat a half-raw egg. And Aussie cage-laid eggs ? Give the chooks a break and do yourself a healthy favour, don't buy them, even when they outnumber normal eggs 20-1. I hate safeway, and the rest ............. grrrrrr

Comment submitted: 4/30/2007 (#2301)



From 41 Year Old Australian

Rating (out of 5):

Geez, what is the problem with eating a non-fully cooked egg, what are they doing to your eggs?

I am a 41 year old Australian in Australia and eat eggs every day and can't stand fully cooked eggs. I am aware of salmonella and never use an egg that has a crack. But gee whiz. Never heard that warning before.

Comment submitted: 3/19/2007 (#1884)

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