Food & Receipts

Should caramel or white sugar be added to Vietnamese caramelized pork? 99% of people asked answered incorrectly

When it comes to cooking thịt kho tàu, many people often get the answer wrong when asked whether to use brown sugar or white sugar.

Administrator

1 March, 2024

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During cold days, sitting together with family and enjoying delicious food is something that everyone desires. Braised pork with eggs is a dish loved by many people, especially those with young children. However, not everyone knows how to make the “standard” braised pork dish. If you don’t know how to cook it properly, your dish may turn out too fatty or have a bitter taste. So, should you use white sugar or brown sugar for this dish?

The main ingredient for braised pork with eggs is good pork belly with a balanced ratio of lean meat and fat, so that the dish is not too fatty or too dry. After preparing the pork, you can cut it into bite-sized pieces.

One of the secrets to making delicious and not too fatty braised pork is to blanch the meat in boiling water before simmering it over medium heat to reduce the fat.

After blanching the meat, remove it from the pot, drain off the excess fat, and leave a little in the pot. Add brown sugar and stir-fry until the sugar turns a caramel color. Using brown sugar will give the braised pork a more beautiful color and a delicious aroma. On the other hand, if you use white sugar and don’t know how to control the heat well, the sugar is likely to burn and result in a bitter taste.

After caramelizing the sugar, you can add the pork back to the pot and stir-fry it together. Depending on your taste and preference, you can add a little star anise or Chinese cinnamon root and continue to stir-fry until the pork is cooked.

Next, you can pour a little rice wine into the pot and season with soy sauce and other spices to enhance the flavor of the dish. Add enough boiling water and 2 bay leaves, and a few slices of ginger. Cover the pot and simmer the meat on low heat until it is tender, the sauce thickens, and it has a caramel color.

Once the meat is cooked, you can remove the star anise, ginger slices, and bay leaves. Taste and adjust the seasoning if necessary, then simmer for about 1 more minute before turning off the heat and serving.

Depending on your preferences, you can also braise the pork with eggs, quails eggs, or add a little ground pepper, chili… to enhance the flavor of the dish.

Some tips when making braised pork with eggs:

– The best pork belly for braised pork with eggs is the type with a ratio of 3 parts fat to 7 parts meat, as it is not too fatty or too dry.

– If you don’t finish the braised pork with eggs, you can put it in a covered container and store it in the refrigerator for later use. However, it is not recommended to keep the pork for more than a week as it will lose its freshness.

– To reduce the “richness” of the dish, you can eat it with a little pickled vegetables, such as pickled cucumbers… to balance out the fatty taste and add a refreshing touch to the dish. Additionally, you can also enjoy braised pork with raw vegetables.

Frequently asked questions

Brown sugar is the preferred choice as it gives the dish a beautiful color and a delicious aroma. White sugar can burn easily if the heat isn’t controlled well, resulting in a bitter taste.

Before simmering, blanch the meat in boiling water to reduce excess fat. You can also serve the dish with pickled vegetables or raw vegetables to balance the rich flavor.

Yes, you can store it in a covered container in the refrigerator. However, it’s best consumed within a week to ensure freshness.

You can add a little star anise, Chinese cinnamon root, rice wine, soy sauce, bay leaves, ginger, or even a touch of ground pepper or chili. These ingredients enhance the flavor and add depth to the dish.