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Vietnamese Caramelized Pork

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Vietnamese Caramelized Pork, or Thịt Kho, is a savory-sweet dish featuring tender pork simmered in a rich, caramelized sauce made with fish sauce, sugar, garlic, and black pepper. It’s deeply flavorful and traditionally served with steamed rice.

Ingredients

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  • 1.5 lbs pork belly or pork shoulder, cut into bite-sized pieces
  • 2 tbsp vegetable oil
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 small shallot, finely chopped
  • 1/4 cup fish sauce
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper
  • 2 hard-boiled eggs (optional)
  • Chopped green onions, for garnish
  • Cooked jasmine rice, for serving

Instructions

  1. Heat oil in a large pan over medium heat. Add sugar and stir until it melts and turns a deep amber color to form the caramel base.
  2. Immediately add pork and stir to coat evenly with the caramel. Cook for 4-5 minutes until the pork begins to brown.
  3. Add garlic and shallot, and stir for another 2 minutes until fragrant.
  4. Pour in fish sauce and water. Bring to a simmer, then reduce heat to low.
  5. Cover and simmer for 45 minutes to 1 hour, until pork is tender and sauce is thickened. Stir occasionally and add water if it reduces too quickly.
  6. If using, add hard-boiled eggs during the last 10-15 minutes of cooking to soak in the sauce.
  7. Garnish with chopped green onions and serve hot with jasmine rice.

Notes

  • For a richer flavor, use pork belly, but pork shoulder is a leaner alternative.
  • Let the caramel get dark but not burnt—this gives the dish its signature depth.
  • Leftovers taste even better the next day as the flavors deepen.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://ukfinda.com/vietnamese-caramelized-pork/