Ingredients for Thit Kho Tau
Belly pork: 500g
Chicken eggs/duck eggs: 5 eggs (or 10 quail eggs)
Coconut water: 400ml
Puréed shallots: 1 tablespoon
Spring onions: 1 bunch
Puréed garlic: 1 tablespoon
Chili: 1 pepper
Cooking oil
Seasonings: fish sauce, pepper, chicken broth powder, sugar, salt, MSG
Useful Tips
To choose fresh belly pork without excessive fat, select pieces with 3 to 5 alternating layers, maintaining a balance between fat and lean meat. Avoid selecting overly lean meat as it may become dry after stewing. Additionally, fresh and slightly pink or light red colored meat ensures a better taste when cooked.
When selecting eggs, choose ones with a slightly rough outer shell, a thin layer of bloom, and a firm handfeel. Good eggs typically have translucent pink shells with a spot in the middle, and the air sac (air pocket) has a diameter of no more than 1cm.
How to Cook Flavorful, Tender, and Rich Thit Kho Tau
Step 1: Marinate the belly pork for Thit Kho Tau
Soak the pork in saltwater to reduce the odor, then rinse it with clean water and cut it into bite-sized square pieces. It’s best to select pork with thin skin for a tender and delicious final result.
Marinating the belly pork with a balanced marinade:
500g belly pork
1 tablespoon puréed shallots
1 tablespoon puréed garlic
3 tablespoons fish sauce
2 tablespoons sugar
1/3 tablespoon chicken broth powder
1 tablespoon pepper
Combine all the above ingredients together, then use plastic wrap to marinate the belly pork for at least 1 hour.
Step 2: Boil the eggs
While waiting for the pork to marinate, take the opportunity to boil the eggs. To achieve tasty and easy-to-peel boiled eggs, bring water to a boil and add a pinch of salt. Then reduce the heat and gently simmer the eggs for about 7-8 minutes. Finally, remove the eggs and soak them in cold water for 2 minutes to facilitate easy peeling.
Step 3: Prepare the caramel
To make delicious and visually appealing Thit Kho Tau, it’s important to prepare the right amount of caramel.
Place a saucepan on the stove, add 1 tablespoon of sugar, and heat it over medium heat. At the same time, continuously stir with a chopstick until the sugar turns a dark amber color. Then add enough water to create caramel. Note that while simmering, allow the sugar water to thicken before turning off the heat.
Step 4: Stew the pork
The next step is stewing the pork for Thit Kho Tau, which determines the tenderness of the meat and the richness of the dish.
Add the marinated 500g belly pork into the caramelized water in the pot, stir-fry until the pork becomes firm, then pour in 400ml of coconut water.
Cover the pot and simmer over low heat for about 30 minutes.
If the water dries up after 30 minutes, you can add more water.
Add the boiled eggs, cover the pot again, and continue simmering for another 30 minutes to allow the pork to become tender and the eggs to absorb the flavors evenly.
Step 5: Finished
After serving the Thit Kho Tau on a plate, garnish with spring onions for an extra appealing presentation. For enhanced flavor, it is best to enjoy Thit Kho Tau when it is still hot, accompanied by steamed rice or as a side dish. The tender and flavorful pork, combined with the well-marinated eggs, is extremely satisfying.
Notes for making an enticing Thit Kho Tau
To make delicious Thit Kho Tau, choose belly pork with good elasticity. When pressing on the meat, it should dent but not leave any marks when you remove your fingers, and the meat should be evenly distributed. Choose thick pieces with an equal balance of lean meat and fat for quick tenderness without drying out during stewing.
If quail eggs are not available, you can substitute them with chicken eggs or duck eggs. When selecting eggs, choose ones with a slightly rough and sticky surface, indicating freshness, while smooth and shiny shells indicate aged eggs.
During the stewing process, it is best to leave the lid off to create a more visually appealing dish with a flavorful pork broth.
Thit Kho Tau can be stored in the refrigerator for about 2-3 days. When it’s time to eat, simply heat it for a few minutes or use a microwave, and the pork will taste as delicious as freshly cooked.
Thit Kho Tau can be enjoyed with various types of traditional Vietnamese cakes, such as banh chung or banh tet, or served with hot steamed rice for a satisfying meal.
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