Pressure Cooker Vietnamese Caramel Pork And Eggs Recipes

PRESSURE COOKER VIETNAMESE CARAMEL PORK AND EGGS

Steps:

• Make a caramel sauce: In a small saucepan, stir together the sugar, vinegar and 1 tablespoon water over medium heat until the sugar nearly dissolves, 60 to 90 seconds. Cook without stirring until champagne yellow, about 3 minutes, then continue cooking for another 1 to 2 minutes, frequently picking up the pan and swirling it to control the caramelization. When the mixture is a dark tea color (expect faint smoking), turn off the heat and keep the pan on the burner. Let the caramelization continue until the mixture is burgundy in color, 1 to 2 minutes. Slide the pan to a cool burner and add 3 tablespoons water, stirring to dissolve the sugar. Warm over medium heat to loosen, if needed.
• Cut the pork into chunks about 1-inch thick and 2 to 3 inches long, making sure each piece has both lean meat and fat. Warm the oil in a 6-quart multicooker on the highest heat setting, such as "Saute." Working in 2 or 3 batches, cook the pork on all sides until lightly browned, about 2 minutes per side, holding the seared meat on a plate. When done, return all the pork and any accumulated juices to the pot, then add the caramel sauce, fish sauce, onion, garlic, peppercorns and coconut water. Lock the lid, then set to high pressure for 12 minutes.
• Naturally depressurize for 10 minutes before releasing pressure. Use tongs to retrieve the pork and hold in a bowl, loosely covered to prevent drying. If peppercorns cling to the pork, leave them for zing, or knock them off and discard. To quickly filter and remove fat from the cooking liquid, set a mesh strainer over a large heatproof bowl, line with a double layer of paper towels and pour the liquid through. After most of the liquid passes through and a layer of fat remains above the solids, set the strainer aside. (Save the fat for cooking if you like.)
• Return the liquid to the pot, bring to a boil on the highest heat setting (Saute) and cook until reduced to 1 cup, 15 to 18 minutes. Lower the heat to maintain a simmer, then add the pork and eggs. Cook, gently stirring now and then, to heat through and coat with the dark sauce, 3 to 5 minutes. Turn off the heat and let rest 5 minutes, uncovered, to concentrate flavors. Taste and add up to 1 1/2 teaspoons of fish sauce or 1 1/2 teaspoons sugar, or both, as needed for a pleasant savory-sweet finish. Transfer to a shallow bowl for serving. Invite diners to halve the eggs themselves. If you'd like spicy heat, gently smash the chiles in individual dishes for dipping sauce with some sauce from the pot, and use it to dip the pork and egg or to drizzle into the bowls.

INSTANT POT CARAMELIZED PORK AND EGGS / THIT KHO TRUNG

Steps:

• Transfer the eggs into the inner pot placing them on top of an egg rack or steamer basket. Add 2 cups hot water (1 cup if using the 6 or 3 quart Instant Pot).
• Cover with the pressure cooker lid and set the steam release handle to "Sealing".
• Press the "Manual" button and set the cook time for 5 minutes on High Pressure. When the cook time is completed, allow for a 5 minute natural pressure release. Release the remaining pressure.
• Transfer the eggs into a bowl of ice water. Let rest for 5 minutes.
• Peel the eggs and set aside for now.
• Fill the inner pot halfway with hot water. Place into the Instant Pot and cover with a glass lid. Press the "Sauté" button to start heating the water.
• Sprinkle salt and vinegar all over the pork. Gently rub the solution onto the meat. Wash the pork well under cold running water. Pat dry with paper towels.
• Trim off an excess fat. Cut the pork sirloin and pork belly into chunks, approximately 2 inch cubes.
• Once the water comes to a boil, add the pork pieces and gently stir together. Cover with a glass lid and let the water come to a boil again.
• Transfer the pork into a large colander. Rinse the meat under cold running water, washing away any loose bits of meat and residue. Drain well and transfer into a large bowl.
• Drizzle fish sauce on the pork. Allow to marinate while continuing with the next steps.
• Wash the inner pot with soap and water and dry well. Put the inner pot back into the Instant Pot.
• Press the "Sauté" button to heat the inner pot. Sprinkle sugar into the inner pot coating it evenly.
• Cook the sugar until it caramelizes and becomes a honey color, approximately 10-15 minutes. Let the sugar cook while continuing with the next step.
• Peel and smash the garlic cloves. Cut the brown onion into thick wedges.
• Add the pork and quickly combine together, coating it in the caramel sauce. Press the "Keep Warm/Cancel" button to stop the "Sauté" mode.
• Add the hard-boiled eggs along with the coconut water and 2 cups hot water. Rearrange everything making sure the eggs are covered with liquid. Add more hot water if needed.
• Add the onions, garlic and black peppercorns. Add any remaining fish sauce from the marinade.
• Cover with the pressure cooker lid and set the steam release handle to "Sealing". Press the "Manual" button and set the cook time for 30 minutes on High Pressure. When the cook time is completed, allow for a 15 minute natural pressure release. Release the remaining pressure.
• Serve the Caramelized Pork and Eggs with Pickled Bean Sprouts (Dua Gia) or Pickled Mustard Greens (Dua Cai Chua) and hot white rice.
• Store any remaining portions in the refrigerator and enjoy within the week.

THIT HEO KHO TRUNG (PORK AND EGGS IN CARAMEL SAUCE)

Steps:

• Make the caramel sauce: In a small saucepan over medium heat, stir together the 1/4 cup sugar, vinegar and 1 tablespoon water until the sugar nearly dissolves, 60 to 90 seconds. Cook without stirring until the mixture turns champagne yellow, about 3 minutes, then continue cooking for another 1 to 2 minutes, frequently picking up the pan and swirling it to control the caramelization. When the mixture is a dark tea color (expect faint smoking), turn off the heat and keep the pan on the burner. Let the caramelization continue until the mixture is burgundy in color, 1 to 2 minutes. Slide the pan to a cool burner and add 3 tablespoons water, stirring to dissolve the sugar. Warm over medium heat to loosen, if needed.
• Cut the pork into chunks about 1-inch thick and 2 to 3 inches long, making sure each piece has both lean meat and fat. Warm the oil in a medium pot over medium-high heat until shimmering. Working in 2 or 3 batches, cook the pork on all sides until lightly browned, about 1 minute per batch, holding the seared meat on a plate. When done, return all the pork and any accumulated juices to the pot, then add the caramel sauce, fish sauce, onion, garlic, peppercorns and coconut water. Bring to a boil over high heat, skim the scum, then adjust the heat to maintain a simmer. Cover and cook until a knife tip inserted 1/4 inch into the pork meets little resistance, about 1 1/4 hours.
• Use tongs to retrieve the pork and hold in a bowl, loosely covered to prevent drying. If peppercorns cling to the pork, leave them for zing, or knock them off and discard. To quickly filter and remove fat from the cooking liquid, set a mesh strainer over a large heatproof bowl, line with a double layer of paper towels and pour the liquid through. After most of the liquid passes through and a layer of fat remains above the solids, set the strainer aside. (Save the fat for cooking if you like.) You should have about 1 1/2 cups cooking liquid.
• Return the liquid to the pot, bring to a boil over high heat and cook until reduced to 1 cup, about 5 minutes. Lower the heat to maintain a simmer, then add the pork and eggs. Cook, gently stirring now and then, to heat through and coat with the dark sauce, 3 to 5 minutes. Turn off the heat and let rest 5 minutes, uncovered, to concentrate flavors. Taste and add up to 1 1/2 teaspoons of fish sauce or 1 1/2 teaspoons sugar, or both, as needed for a pleasant savory-sweet finish. Transfer to a shallow bowl for serving. Invite diners to halve the eggs themselves. If you'd like spicy heat, gently smash the chiles in individual dishes for dipping sauce with some sauce from the pot, and use it to dip the pork and egg or to drizzle into the bowls.

VIETNAMESE PORK AND EGGS ("TIT KO")

Steps:

• For the colored sauce, boil 3 tablespoon of water and the sugar. Set aside remaining water.
• Wait until the mixture boils until there is almost no liquid left and the mixture turns a dark almost black liquid.
• Remove from fire immediately and add a little of the water that was set aside.
• After the bubbles settle down, add the rest of the water.
• Mix salt, sugar, fish sauce and pepper with pork and place in a medium saucepan.
• Add boiled eggs.
• Add colored water.
• Add water until it covers the pork and eggs completely.
• Cook on medium or medium high for about 45 minutes or until there is only about 1 inch of water left.

VIETNAMESE CARAMELIZED PORK (THIT KO) - INSTANT POT VERSION

Steps:

• Place eggs into the instant pot on a wire rack. Pour in 1 cup of water and set on high pressure for 5 minutes. Do a quick release and put the eggs in an ice bath. Peel and set aside.
• Combine the pork with garlic, shallot, salt, black pepper, msg, soy sauce in a large bowl. Let this marinate while you make the caramel sauce. You can also do this step ahead of time and just let it sit overnight in the fridge.
• Set the pot to Saute mode on high. Add in the marinated pork and saute for 5-7 minutes until the garlic and shallots are soft and the pork has some color. Deglaze with 1 cup of water making sure to scrape up all the bits. Turn off the pot.
• Time to make the caramel sauce! In a separate small frying pan, caramelize the sugar until it reaches a dark golden brown. Careful not to burn it. Watch it carefully! Slowly pour in ¼ cup of water and stir to make a sauce. Add to the instant pot. (You can also caramelize the sugar while your meat browns.).
• Add the hard boiled eggs, coconut soda, star anise pods and (if needed) just enough water to cover the pork. It should not take more than 2 cups. Cook it on high pressure for 30 minutes and NPR for 15 minutes.*.
• Add the fish sauce and salt to taste (if needed). Serve with rice and pickled vegetables!
• *OPTIONAL - Once you remove the lid, set it to Saute mode on high for 15 minutes to reduce the liquid by 1/3. You don't have to worry too much with the instant pot overboiling or over reducing because it will maintain the heat level and switch to "keep warm" when the timer shuts off.

PORK AND EGGS SIMMERED IN COCONUT JUICE AND CARAMEL SAUCE

Steps:

• Examine the pork skin for any stray hairs and use a sharp knife to scrape and remove any you find. Cut the meat into long chunks about 1 inch thick and 2 to 3 inches long. Each piece should have some fat and skin attached. Put the pork into a 3- or 4-quart saucepan and add the caramel sauce, fish sauce, and sugar. Give everything a stir with a rubber spatula or spoon to coat the meat with the seasonings. Set aside to marinate for 45 minutes, turning the meat every 15 minutes.
• Cover the pan and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Uncover and stir to ensure that each piece of meat is well exposed to the bubbling seasonings. Re-cover and simmer for 5 minutes, or until the pork is a gorgeous golden brown.
• Add the eggs, coconut juice, and water just to cover. Bring to a boil, uncovered, over medium-high heat. Use a spoon to skim and discard any scum that rises to the surface and then lower the heat to a simmer. Cover partially and cook for 1 1/4 hours, rotating the pork and eggs occasionally to ensure that they cook evenly. Uncover and continue simmering for 15 minutes after uncovering, or until the meat is tender when pierced with the tip of a knife and the sauce is reduced by half.
• Remove from the heat and let stand for a few minutes so that the fat collects on the surface, then use a ladle or spoon to skim it off. (Or, let cool, cover, and refrigerate overnight to congeal the fat, making the task much easier; reheat before continuing.) Return to a simmer and taste the sauce. Add extra fish sauce and/or sugar to create a deeper savory, sweet flavor, or water to lighten the flavor.
• To serve, transfer the pork, whole eggs, and sauce to a shallow bowl. Let diners halve the eggs as they eat them, using their soup spoon (or provide a knife) to cut them. Or, halve the eggs in the kitchen and serve the pork in a large, deep dish with the halved eggs rimming the meat.
• This chapter, like the chapters on poultry and seafood, includes recipes for kho, savory-sweet dishes in which meat, poultry, seafood, or tofu is usually simmered in a caramel-based sauce. The reddish brown dishes that result are deeply flavored and perfect with rice. They are traditionally cooked in clay pots, which is why the kho recipes include tips on preparing them in the earthenware vessels.
• Quick kho preparations, such as the ones that feature chicken (page 82) and shrimp (page 105), are ideal when you don't have much time to put a meal on the table. Others, like the three recipes in this chapter, require long simmering to yield tender, succulent meat, and while certainly fit for everyday eating, are also served on special occasions. For example, a meal during Tet, the Vietnamese Lunar New Year celebration and the most important holiday of the year, would be incomplete without at least one kho. Southerners like to simmer pork with eggs, as is done here. Raised by northerners, I always offer two kho for Tet: one with pork riblets and the other with beef flank and ginger (pages 148 and 149, respectively). All of them deliver a true taste of Vietnam.