Discover the delicious flavors of Vietnam with this mouth-watering recipe for pork hock cooked in a spicy, aromatic broth.
1. Ingredients (serves 5-6 people)
- 1 whole pork hock with trotter and meat (pork knuckle): approximately 1.5 kg
- 5 stalks of lemongrass
- 1 knob of galangal
- 2-3 chili peppers
- 3 teaspoons of turmeric powder
- 150 gr of fermented rice or rice bun
- 3 tablespoons of shrimp paste
- Seasonings: salt, pepper, fish sauce, and other desired spices
- Equipment: A pressure cooker or a regular pot.

Note when choosing pork hock: For this recipe, it is recommended to use the front trotter as it has more meat and tendons, resulting in a sweeter and more tender dish.
2. Prepare the ingredients
- Clean and finely chop the lemongrass.
- Peel and thinly slice the galangal, then blend or pound it into a paste.
- Thinly slice the chili peppers.
- Clean the pork hock by removing any hair and rinsing it thoroughly. Hang it to dry, then use straw to burn the skin until it turns golden-brown. Alternatively, you can use a blow torch or grill it over a gas stove. Rinse again and chop into bite-sized pieces.
- Marinate the pork hock with the galangal paste, turmeric powder, lemongrass, fermented rice, shrimp paste, 1 teaspoon of salt, and chili peppers for 45 minutes.

3. Cooking instructions for a delicious pork hock dish
Just follow these two simple steps:
Step 1: Boil the pork hock until tender
Heat a tablespoon of oil in a pan. Once hot, add the marinated pork hock and sear briefly. Then, add water until the meat is two-thirds submerged and simmer until the pork is tender.

Step 2: Finalize the dish for a perfect flavor
Once the water boils again, reduce the heat to low and let the meat absorb the spices without overcooking. And there you have it—a delicious and authentic-tasting pork hock dish!

This pork hock dish is best served hot, accompanied by rice or rice noodles. It also pairs exceptionally well with beer or rice wine, making it an excellent choice for a casual get-together with friends or family.
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