THỊT KHO ĐẬU HỦ [Vietnamese Caramelized Pork with Tofu]

Yield

6

Author

Chef Tu David Phu

Prep time

19 Min

Cook time

45 Min

Total time

1 H & 3 M

Print

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THỊT KHO ĐẬU HỦ [Vietnamese Caramelized Pork with Tofu]

Cold weather always seems to have me reminisce about childhood favorites. Especially slow braises that perfume and warm the house as it cooks. Braises such as THỊT KHO ĐẬU HỦ is a common practice to [over] reduce the fish sauce & pork braise until it gets sticky and caramelized. As a result, the tofu soaks up all the flavor. And the pork melts in your mouth. I serve mine on a bed of Jasmine rice, topped with a fried egg; a great remedy for a bad day.

Ingredients

• 1½ cups Organic Sugar
• ¼ cup Son Fish Artisanal Sauce
• 2 tablespoons, high-heat cooking oil [avocado, sunflower, rice, or canola]
• ½ pound Stemple Creek Pasture Raised Pork Jowl (or Bacon) cut into 1/4” cubes
• 2 pounds, Stemple Creek Pasture Raised Pork Shoulder
• 4 oz., Hodo Firm Tofu, cut into 1” cubes
• 2 teaspoons, minced garlic
• 1 teaspoon, minced ginger
• 1/2 teaspoon, sesame oil
• 1 each, medium yellow onion, sliced
• 1 tablespoon, kosher salt
• ½ teaspoon, freshly ground black pepper
• 4 scallions, sliced,
• Alexandre Farms Fried Egg to Garnish

Instructions

Render Pork Jowl

1. Pre-heat a large a good quality heavy skillet or dutch oven [Anolon] with oil on medium heat. 
2. Once the oil is shiny add cubed pork jowl.
3. Render the pork jowl until becomes light brown and crispy.
4. Lightly season with salt and pepper.

Add Cubed Pork Shoulder

1. Lightly season with salt and pepper
2. Spread cubed pork shoulder chunks across skillet evenly. 
3. Brown on all sides.

Add aromatics

1. Add sliced onion, minced garlic, minced ginger. 
2. Cook until onions are translucent and caramelized. 
3. Remove roasted meat and aromatics from skillet, set aside to add later

Make Pan Caramel

1. In the same skillet, add 1 cup of sugar into the skillet. 
2. Make sure to cover the bottom completely and place it over medium heat. 
3. As the sugar melts (all sugar crystals dissolve) add fish sauce. [Note: Don’t burn the sugar.]

Add Vegetables and Meat Back In

1. Add firm tofu chunks, pan-roasted vegetables, and browned meat back to the pot.
2. Stir gently to incorporate fish sauce caramel with other ingredients in skillet
3. Add remaining fish sauce, sesame oil, salt, pepper
4. Lower heat to simmer and reduce the sauce for about 20 minutes while covered with a lid.
5. Is it caramelized? Pork should be caramelized; if not, raise heat and sauté while sauce further reduces.

Assemble

1. Serve in a large bowl. 
2. Garnish with shaved scallions

https://cheftu.com/recipes/thitkho

pork, stew, fish sauce, caramel, braise

Dinner

Vietnamese

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