Ingredients:
- 1.5 lbs pork belly, cut into 1.5-inch cubes
- 6 hard-boiled eggs, peeled
- 2 tbsp fish sauce
- 2 tbsp sugar (for caramelization)
- 1/4 cup coconut water (or water)
- 2 tbsp soy sauce
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 shallot, minced
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 2–3 whole star anise (optional, for extra flavor)
- 1 tbsp vegetable oil
- Chili peppers (optional, for heat)
- Green onions, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions:
- Parboil the pork belly:
- In a pot of boiling water, parboil the pork belly cubes for about 3–5 minutes to remove impurities. Drain and rinse the pork under cold water. Set aside.
- Caramelize the sugar:
- In a large pot or saucepan, add 2 tablespoons of sugar and 1 tablespoon of oil. Heat over medium heat until the sugar melts and turns into a golden caramel color. Be careful not to burn it.
- Sauté aromatics and pork:
- Add the minced garlic and shallot to the caramelized sugar, stirring until fragrant. Then add the parboiled pork belly cubes and stir to coat the pork with the caramel mixture.
- Add seasoning and liquid:
- Stir in the fish sauce, soy sauce, and black pepper. Then add the coconut water (or regular water) to cover the pork. Bring the mixture to a boil, then lower the heat to a simmer.
- Add eggs and simmer:
- Add the hard-boiled eggs to the pot along with the star anise and optional chili peppers. Cover and let it simmer on low heat for 45 minutes to 1 hour, until the pork is tender and the sauce has thickened. Stir occasionally and taste for seasoning, adding more fish sauce or sugar as needed.
- Serve:
- Garnish with chopped green onions and serve Thịt Kho Trứng with steamed jasmine rice and pickled vegetables (like pickled mustard greens or daikon radish).
Tips:
- Using coconut water gives the dish a subtle sweetness and enhances the flavor of the pork, but regular water works fine if you don’t have it.
- The dish tastes even better the next day as the flavors meld together overnight.
Thịt Kho Trứng is a comforting dish with rich flavors, making it a favorite in Vietnamese home cooking!