Caramelized Pork and Egg (Thit Kho Trung) Recipe

At first glance, Thịt Kho Trứng might seem simple, but it’s a dish steeped in Vietnamese familial warmth and tradition. Often served during Tết, the Vietnamese Lunar New Year, this dish symbolizes prosperity, happiness, and the unity of family.

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Ingredients

Pork and Egg:

• 300 grams of pork belly or pork shoulder
• 5 fresh chicken or duck eggs

Liquid

• 500 ml of coconut water or 500ml of still water.

Seasoning and Spices

• 3 tablespoons of fish sauce, an indispensable element of Vietnamese cooking, giving depth and umami.
• 2-3 tablespoons of sugar for caramel and additional seasoning. The caramelized sugar provides color and a foundational sweet taste.
• A pinch of salt to balance out the flavors.
• 2 shallots, minced, which add a slight pungency and depth.
• A sprinkle of black pepper for a gentle kick.

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Marinating the Pork: a. In a mixing bowl, combine the bite-sized pork pieces with the minced shallots, fish sauce, a pinch of salt, and black pepper. Mix well, ensuring that each piece is well-coated with the marinade. Cover the bowl and let the pork marinate for at least 30 minutes to an hour.

Hard-boiling the egg: Bring the water to a boil over medium-high heat and simmer the eggs in boiling water in at least 10 minutes.

Preparing the Caramel Syrup: You can opt for heating sugar and water until caramelization or heating sugar only until caramelization, then add water. Read more here.

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Stir-fry the Pork: Heat a large pot or deep pan over medium-high heat. Once hot, add the marinated pork pieces, ensuring they are spread out and not overcrowded. Stir them evenly until it's cooked, which should take about 5-7 minutes. While waiting for the pork to be cooked, peel the eggs.

Cook the pork: Add the coconut water (or regular water if you're using that) to the pot. Increase the heat and bring the mixture to a gentle boil. Once boiling, reduce the heat to low, allowing the mixture to simmer. Cover the pot partially with a lid. Let it simmer for about 30 minutes, occasionally stirring to prevent sticking and ensure even cooking.

Adding the Eggs and caramel syrup: After the pork has been simmering for about half an hour and has become tender, gently introduce the hard-boiled eggs to the pot. Ensure the eggs are submerged in the sauce so they can soak up the flavors. Add caramel syrup in the bring a luscious brown color to the pot. Continue simmering the mixture for another 1-1.5 hours.

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Taste the broth for seasoning balance. Adjust with more fish sauce, sugar, or salt if required.The end result should be a harmonious balance between savory, sweet, and umami flavors.

Read full article" how to make thit kho trung