How to Make Delicious, Irresistible Vietnamese Caramelized Pork (Thit Kho Tau) from STAVI's Chefs

Thit kho tau (Vietnamese caramelized pork) is a familiar dish at Vietnamese family meals thanks to its rich, savory flavor. However, to make it well you need to know how to cook it so the pork turns golden and fragrant, tender and fully cooked, with the aroma of coconut, the sweetness of sugar, and the richness of the seasonings. Below, STAVI's chefs show you how to make thit kho tau with the fullest flavor!

1. Ingredients for thit kho tau

• Pork belly or crunchy pork shoulder: 500g

• 20 quail eggs or 6 chicken or duck eggs

• Coconut water: 400ml

• Shallot: 1 bulb

• Seasonings: fish sauce, pepper, seasoning powder, sugar, seasoning salt, MSG

How to make delicious, irresistible thit kho tau from STAVI's chefs

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2. How to choose fresh, tasty pork

To make delicious thit kho tau, you need to choose the right cut of pork. The best is pork belly with fat interspersed with lean meat, or it can be made from crunchy pork shoulder. When buying pork, choose pieces with a fresh pink color, that spring back when pressed, and with bright white fat.

For a delicious thit kho tau that does not feel greasy from a fat layer that is too thick or lean meat that is too dry, you should choose a piece with an even, alternating ratio of lean meat and fat.

Look for clean pork raised in the traditional way without lean-meat enhancers, so the meat is firmer and more fragrant, not mushy, and free of the smell of industrial feed.

Absolutely never choose pieces of meat with a strange smell, that do not spring back when pressed, or old meat that is slimy and spoiled, as this will affect the quality of your pot of thit kho tau.

How to make delicious, irresistible thit kho tau from STAVI's chefs

3. How to cook thit kho tau

Step 1: Make the caramel sauce from sugar

Put 2 spoons of sugar with a little water in a pan over medium heat, stirring with chopsticks until the sugar syrup turns a cockroach-wing brown, then turn off the heat.

Wait for the caramel to cool, when its color will darken, then add water to dilute it and add just enough to marinate with the pork.

Step 2. Prepare and marinate the pork

After buying the pork belly or crunchy pork shoulder, wash it with salt water and soak it in rice water for about 15 minutes to remove any odor. Then drain the pork and cut it into bite-sized cubes; choose pork from pigs raised for a long time so the meat is firmer and sweeter and the fat is not greasy.

Marinate the pork with the seasonings in turn: 2 spoons of good fish sauce, 1 spoon of seasoning powder, ½ spoon of seasoning salt, ½ spoon of MSG, 1 spoon of sugar, 1 spoon of ground pepper, finely chopped shallot, and the caramel sauce, then mix well. Wrap the pork in cling film, put it in the refrigerator, and marinate for at least 1 hour so the pork absorbs the seasonings evenly. Note: use only a little sugar so the pork does not burn when stir-fried.

How to make delicious, irresistible thit kho tau from STAVI's chefs​

Step 3: Prepare the eggs

While waiting for the pork to absorb the seasonings, boil the eggs and peel them. To give the eggs a richer, more fragrant taste and a nicer look when braised, you can fry them until golden on all sides.

Step 4: Braise the pork

After marinating the pork for 1 hour, stir-fry it in a pan until it firms up and a little fat renders out, then pour in the prepared coconut water.

Cover the pot and braise the pork over low heat for 30 minutes; when the liquid has reduced, add more water and put in the eggs. Keep the lid on until the pork is tender and has a beautiful golden color, then turn off the heat.

And there you have it: the delicious thit kho tau is done and ready to be enjoyed at your family meal. The dish has a very eye-catching cockroach-wing brown color and an irresistibly rich flavor.

The tender braised pork with its light richness, combined with the nutty duck eggs and the fragrant, sweet coconut water, goes perfectly with rice!

How to make delicious, irresistible thit kho tau from STAVI's chefs

4. Tips for making an appealing thit kho tau

To create a delicious thit kho tau, the first important step is choosing the right ingredients. The pork must be fresh and clean, freshly slaughtered, still springy when pressed and with a nice pink color. Choose a cut where lean meat and fat alternate so the dish is neither too dry nor too fatty.

If you do not have quail eggs, you can substitute chicken or duck eggs; for a better taste, fry the eggs until golden after boiling. Choose fresh eggs that are not stuck to the shell or rotten.

While braising the pork, you should occasionally open the lid and stir the pork and eggs so the finished dish is clearer and more attractive.

Thit kho tau can be stored in the refrigerator for about 2-3 days. At mealtime, you just need to heat it on the stove for a few minutes or warm it in the microwave, and the pork will be hot, tender, and as delicious as freshly cooked.

This is a familiar, delicious Vietnamese dish that goes perfectly with rice. Above, the chefs of STAVI industrial catering have given you detailed instructions on how to make delicious thit kho tau. Good luck!