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Vietnamese Caramelized Pork Bowls Recipe

Vietnamese Caramelized Pork Bowls (Thịt Băm Kho)

Are you seeking a quick and tasty treat? Put this Vietnamese caramelized pork bowls recipe, a flavor-packed dish that'll keep you coming back for more, on your to-do list right away!
5 from 2 votes
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Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Vietnamese
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 433kcal

Ingredients

  • 1.1 pounds (500 grams) ground pork
  • 1 coconut, for draining about 4 ounces of coconut water
  • 0.7 ounces (20 grams) minced garlic
  • 0.7 ounces (20 grams) minced shallots
  • 0.7 ounces (20 grams) grated ginger
  • 1 chili pepper

Spices and sauces

  • 1.7 ounces fish sauce
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon brown sugar
  • 2 teaspoons ground pepper
  • 3 teaspoons soy sauce
  • 3 teaspoons oyster sauce
  • 5 teaspoons Vietnamese caramel sauce (Nuoc Mau)

Instructions 

  • Use a knife or the sharp end of scissors to pierce through one of the coconut eyes on top.
  • Drain the coconut water.
    Drain The Coconut Water
  • Add olive oil to a heated pan.
  • Add the minced garlic and shallots, then fry them until fragrant.
  • Add the ginger and chili pepper. Stir the mixture well for 1 to 2 minutes or until it becomes aromatic.
  • Add the ground pork and give it a good stir.
    Ground Pork And Give
  • Pour in the coconut water and season the mixture with salt, brown sugar, caramel sauce, soy sauce, oyster sauce, ground pepper, and fish sauce. Stir well.
    Coconut Water And Season
  • Simmer your pork in the coconut juice over low heat for 10 minutes or until the sauce slightly thickens.
    Vietnamese Caramelized Pork
  • When the pork becomes tender, your pork is ready.
  • Sprinkle some scallions over the meat.
  • Spoon some hot rice into a bowl or plate and spread the ground pork over it. Serve the pork bowl with boiled vegetables. Enjoy!
    Bowl With Boiled Vegetables

Video

Notes

  • The cooking time is based on 4 servings of Thit Kho Bam.
  • The nutrition facts below don't include the accompanying rice or vegetables.
  • To fully enjoy your Thit Bam Kho, you should master how to cook perfect rice using a rice cooker.
  • You can also use the caramelized pork as Banh Mi's (Vietnamese baguette) filling.
  • Feel free to add more or reduce the quantities of spices to fit your preference.
  • You can replace ground pork with ground beef or even ground turkey. Note that the cooking time might differ.
  • During cooking, the ground pork will gradually absorb the sauce, resulting in a truly flavorsome treat. However, if you cook it for too long, the sauce will dry out, and you might burn the dish.
  • Covering the pan while simmering it's a good idea to prevent the sauce from drying out too quickly.

Nutrition

Calories: 433kcal | Carbohydrates: 17g | Protein: 24g | Fat: 30g | Saturated Fat: 13g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 12g | Cholesterol: 90mg | Sodium: 2013mg | Potassium: 599mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 132IU | Vitamin C: 18mg | Calcium: 45mg | Iron: 2mg