BRAISED TOFU IN CARAMEL SAUCE
This is a vegetarian take on a classic of Vietnamese restaurants, ca kho, or fish braised in caramel sauce. Here, tofu, firm and rich, absorbs the velvety sauce and heightens its flavor. Vietnamese caramel sauce - nuoc mau - is easier to make than you might think, though it can be a dramatic process. In essence what you're doing is melting sugar in a pan, then allowing it nearly to burn and finally adding water and soy sauce in order to arrest the process at a dark and golden bittersweet flavor that is at the heart of Vietnamese cooking.
Provided by Sam Sifton
Categories dinner, main course
Time 1h15m
Yield 4 servings
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Slice the tofu in half along its length and then each portion into two thick slices. Place the slices between paper towels to drain, replacing towels as needed.
- Meanwhile, dissolve the sugar in 1/4 cup water and cook in a small saucepan over medium-low heat until small bubbles begin to appear around the edges of the pan. Carefully swirl the solution, but do not stir. Continue to heat, as bubbles move inward toward the center of the pan and the solution turns darker, 20 to 35 minutes, until the syrup has become a deep, golden caramel color. Carefully add 1/2 cup water to this mixture. (It will sputter violently. If some sugar crystallizes at this point, carefully stir the mixture with a metal spoon. The sugar will remelt.) Turn off the heat and allow to cool slightly.
- Transfer the caramel sauce to a wide saucepan, turn the heat to medium and add the shallots, cooking for about 2 minutes. Add the garlic and ginger and stir again, cooking for about 1 minute. Now stir in the soy sauce. Simmer and stir until the mixture is viscous and the vegetables are well coated, about 10 minutes.
- Place the tofu in the sauce in a single layer and simmer uncovered for 7 minutes. Using a spatula, turn the pieces over. Simmer for 3 or 4 minutes more and then transfer to a warmed platter. Pour the sauce over the tofu and sprinkle with scallions and black pepper. Serve with white rice.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 431, UnsaturatedFat 8 grams, Carbohydrate 71 grams, Fat 10 grams, Fiber 6 grams, Protein 21 grams, SaturatedFat 1 gram, Sodium 688 milligrams, Sugar 56 grams
THIT HEO KHO TRUNG (PORK AND EGGS IN CARAMEL SAUCE)
Tet is for savoring abundance, which explains why this rich, savory braise of pork and eggs in bittersweet caramel sauce is a must-have on many southern Vietnamese Lunar New Year menus. It's an extravagant treat. Pork leg with the skin attached (fresh ham) is the cut of meat traditionally used, but pork shoulder or belly also offers the delicious balance of fat and lean meat. The eggs lend an interesting contrast of chewy white and buttery yolk, while the sauce featuring coconut water is softly sweet. Searing the meat and including peppercorns are modern touches that induce greater complexity. The cook time can be cut nearly in half by making the braise in a pressure cooker. Crunchy pickled bean sprout salad is the traditional accompaniment, along with plenty of rice. Stir-fried greens can be served alongside too.
Provided by Andrea Nguyen
Categories dinner, meat, main course
Time 2h
Yield 4 servings
Number Of Ingredients 11
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.
SHRIMP IN COCONUT CARAMEL SAUCE FROM VIETNAMESE FOOD ANY DAY
Reprinted with permission from Vietnamese Food Any Day by Andrea Nguyen, Ten Speed Press. 2019. Photo credit: Aubrie Park. "My niece Paulina requested this savory-sweet comfort food from southern Vietnam, a region where cooks use coconut milk and coconut water for a sunny array of dishes. I happily obliged because it's delicious and involves a nifty technique-coconut water is reduced with other ingredients until it caramelizes a bit to create a lovely syrupy sauce. Enjoy tôm rim nước dừa with rice and a simple vegetable, like the charred brussels sprouts on page 170. Choose a large skillet or sauteuse pan with a light interior to easily monitor the color changes during cooking."
Provided by Food.com
Categories Vietnamese
Time 50m
Yield 4 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 14
Steps:
- SHRIMP:.
- Pat the shrimp with paper towels to remove excess moisture, and set aside.
- In a medium bowl, combine the coconut water, sugar, caramel sauce, and fish sauce and stir to mix; taste and make sure it's pleasantly salty-sweet. It will cook down later and intensify but use this opportunity to check the flavor. If needed, add up to 1½ teaspoons sugar or fish sauce, or both. Set aside.
- In a skillet or sauteuse pan over medium heat, melt the coconut oil. When the oil is barely shimmering, add the shallot and garlic and cook, stirring frequently, for 3 to 4 minutes, until the garlic is pale blond. Remove from the heat and, once the cooking action subsides, add the coconut water mixture.
- Return the skillet to high heat and bring to a boil. Cook, without stirring, for 10 to 14 minutes, until reduced to between ⅓ and ½ cup, a bit thickened, and slightly darkened. Add the shrimp and continue cooking at a swift simmer, stirring frequently, for 3 to 5 minutes, until the shrimp curls up and cooks through and the sauce is slightly syrupy. (Expect the shrimp's natural juices to release, thin out, and flavor the sauce.) If the shrimp cooks too fast, remove it from the pan, let the sauce cook down, and then return the shrimp. Remove from the heat, season with lots of pepper, and stir in the green onion. Let sit for 5 minutes for the flavors to settle and deepen.
- Transfer the shrimp to a shallow bowl or plate and serve.
- About the Caramel Sauce:.
- This key Viet ingredient is simply nearly burnt sugar; it's not at all the caramel sauce for topping ice cream. Vietnamese caramel sauce is stealthily employed in savory dishes to impart a lovely mahogany color and build savory-sweet depth. You've likely had caramel sauce in clay-pot (kho) dishes but didn't know it. Like molasses, it can be added to grilled-meat marinades to enhance the appearance of the final dish.
- Don't fear the caramelization process. It's not overly dramatic, and the vinegar prevents crystallization, which can result in crusty failed batches. Employ cane sugar, such as C&H brand, because it caramelizes consistently better than beet sugar. The result is an inky, bittersweet Vietnamese staple. I keep a jar of caramel sauce to cut down on prep work. If you don't have time to make a batch, use the work-arounds in the recipes to make some on the spot. Select a small, heavy-bottomed saucepan with a long handle and a light interior (such as stainless steel) to observe the caramelization. If you wish, use strained fresh lemon or lime juice in place of vinegar.
- Caramel Sauce Directions:.
- Fill the sink (or a large bowl or pot) with enough water to come halfway up the sides of the saucepan.
- In the saucepan, combine the 2 tablespoons water, vinegar (if using), and sugar. Set over medium heat and cook, stirring with a heatproof spatula or metal spoon; when the sugar has nearly or fully dissolved, stop stirring. Let the sugar syrup bubble vigorously for 5 to 6 minutes, until it takes on the shade of light tea. Turn the heat to medium-low to stabilize the cooking. Turn on the exhaust to vent the inevitable smoke. (Don't worry if sugar crystallizes on the pan wall. But if things get crusty in the bubbling sugar syrup, add another drop of vinegar to correct it.) For even cooking, you may occasionally lift and swirl the saucepan.
- Cook the syrup for about 2 minutes longer, until it is the color of dark tea. The next 1 to 2 minutes are critical because the sugar will darken by the second. Monitor the cooking and, to control the caramelization, frequently pick up the saucepan and slowly swirl the syrup. When a dark reddish cast sets in-think the color of Pinot Noir-let the sugar cook a few seconds longer to a color between Cabernet and black coffee. Remove from the heat and place the pan in the water to stop the cooking. Expect the pan bottom to sizzle upon contact.
- Leaving the pan in the sink, add the remaining ¼ cup water. The sugar will seize up, which is okay. When the dramatic bubbling reaction stops, return the pan to medium-high heat, and cook briefly, stirring to loosen and dissolve the sugar.
- Remove the pan from the heat and return to the water in the sink for about 1 minute, stirring, to stop the cooking process and cool the caramel sauce to room temperature.
- Use the sauce immediately, or transfer to a small heatproof glass jar, let cool completely, and then cap and store in a cool, dark place indefinitely.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 292.7, Fat 8.3, SaturatedFat 6, Cholesterol 178.5, Sodium 1334.9, Carbohydrate 35.1, Fiber 0.1, Sugar 31.4, Protein 20
VIETNAMESE CHICKEN (CARAMEL CHICKEN)
This recipe for Vietnamese chicken includes sugar to create a sweet and savory dish with a hit of spice from generous amounts of fresh ginger, red pepper, and black pepper.
Provided by Bouthaina
Categories World Cuisine Recipes Asian Vietnamese
Time 1h10m
Yield 2
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add water and sugar and cook until sugar starts to melt and turn brown, about 5 minutes. Cook, stirring frequently, for 15 minutes. Remove from heat and pour caramel into a bowl.
- Rinse the skillet with hot water and return to medium heat. Add olive oil, onion, ginger, and garlic. Cook for 5 minutes; transfer mixture to a bowl.
- Season chicken breasts with salt and black pepper and add them to the hot skillet. Cook for 10 minutes. Add caramel, soy sauce, and ginger mixture to the skillet. Reduce heat to low and cook 20 minutes more.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 523.7 calories, Carbohydrate 68.6 g, Cholesterol 64.6 mg, Fat 16.6 g, Fiber 2.9 g, Protein 27.1 g, SaturatedFat 2.7 g, Sodium 2584.4 mg, Sugar 55.6 g
VIETNAMESE CARAMEL CHICKEN
Asian-style chicken with steamed rice.
Provided by Dan Wentzel
Categories World Cuisine Recipes Asian Vietnamese
Time 35m
Yield 6
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Combine sugar, fish sauce, and black pepper in a shallow plate and turn chicken in the marinade. Set aside for 10 minutes.
- Combine water, fish sauce, sugar, and rice vinegar in a bowl. Set caramel sauce aside.
- Heat a cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat. Add 1 tablespoon oil and pan-fry chicken, skin-side up, until bottoms turn slightly crispy and brown, about 5 minutes. Turn and cook until skin is slightly charred, about 5 minutes. Remove chicken from skillet and transfer to a plate.
- Add remaining 2 tablespoons oil to the skillet and cook garlic for 30 seconds. Return chicken to the skillet and add caramel sauce. Reduce heat to a simmer and cook until chicken is no longer pink at the bone and the juices run clear. Caramel sauce should be reduced and turn amber in color. Add jalapenos and cook for 1 more minute.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 463.8 calories, Carbohydrate 6.7 g, Cholesterol 141.4 mg, Fat 30.4 g, Fiber 0.2 g, Protein 38.7 g, SaturatedFat 7.7 g, Sodium 675.6 mg, Sugar 5.6 g
VIETNAMESE FISH SIMMERED IN CARAMEL SAUCE (CA KHO TO)
This is one of my favorite dishes at a local Vietnamese restaurant. I searched around the internet for the recipe and this is what a came up with. I just made this tonight and am quite surprised how close it taste to the restaurant version. It is normally made in a clay pot but a 2-quart saucepan will suffice. Beware, fish sauce is a very pungent ingredient.
Provided by angelcakes
Categories Catfish
Time 50m
Yield 3-4 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- In a heavy 2-quart saucepan, cook the sugar over low to medium heat, swirling the pan constantly, until brown and caramelized.
- Remove pan from heat and stir the fish sauce into the caramel.
- It will smoke slightly.
- Return the pan to low heat and gently boil for about couple minutes while stirring until the sugar is completely dissolved.
- Stir in the shallots, chili and ginger.
- Add the fish in the caramel sauce and sprinkle with black pepper.
- Bring to a boil.
- Reduce the heat to low and cover the pan.
- Simmer for 30-45 minutes, turning the fish occasionally and carefully.
- Serve with rice.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 375.2, Fat 13.5, SaturatedFat 3, Cholesterol 124.7, Sodium 225.6, Carbohydrate 26.7, Sugar 22.2, Protein 35.2
VIETNAMESE-STYLE CARAMEL PORK
Stir-fry chunks of pork with shallots, ginger and chilli in a wok then add fish sauce and brown sugar for a sweet, sticky and spicy sauce
Provided by Katy Greenwood
Categories Dinner, Main course
Time 30m
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Heat 1 tbsp of the oil in a wok over a high heat and stir-fry the pork in batches until browned all over. Remove with a slotted spoon and set aside.
- Turn the heat right down and add the remaining oil, then stir in the shallots, ginger and chilli. Cook over a low heat for a couple of mins until just starting to soften. Add the sugar, fish sauce and 200ml water to the pan and stir everything together. Bring to the boil, stirring, so that the sugar dissolves, then return the pork to the pan. Bubble vigorously for 8-10 mins until the sauce thickens to coat the meat and become glossy. Taste and stir in a little more fish sauce, if needed, along with the chilli sauce. Sprinkle with the spring onions and serve with steamed rice and pak choi.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 350 calories, Fat 20 grams fat, SaturatedFat 6 grams saturated fat, Carbohydrate 19 grams carbohydrates, Sugar 19 grams sugar, Protein 24 grams protein, Sodium 0.9 milligram of sodium
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VIETNAMESE CARAMEL SAUCE RECIPE (NướC MàU) - HUNGRY …
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5/5 (9)Total Time 12 minsCategory Dipping SaucesCalories 186 per serving
- This recipe is tailored to cook one batch of my Thịt Kho Recipe, and results in a more watery sauce. If you want a thicker sauce, halve the amount of water. If you want to store a larger amount of this in the fridge also, halve the water and you can easily triple or quadruple this recipe.
- On medium heat, add sugar to your pan. Carefully watch over your pan and stir the sugar evenly to prevent your sugar from burning. The sugar will start to melt and continue cooking as it reaches a caramel color. This process can take up to 8-10 minutes depending on how high hot your stove is. The hotter it is, the faster you have to stir to keep it even.
- When the sugar becomes very dark brown and begins to smoke, you know it's almost done. Keep stirring constantly, until it gets darker maybe 20-40 seconds. Then shut off the heat or remove off the heat immediately and add the warm water to stop the cooking process. Stir until the sugar dissolves.
- Add this sauce to your Thịt Kho or other recipe or let it fully cool, pour into a jar and store in the fridge.
VIETNAMESE CARAMEL SAUCE - A FAMILY FEAST®
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Reviews 8Estimated Reading Time 7 minsServings 1Total Time 20 mins
- Heat a tea kettle or small pan with water. You will be using ½ cup of this hot water later in the recipe. Keep this hot water on the back burner of your stove.
- Also have a pan of ice cold water nearby with ice cubes. (This will be used if the sauce starts to turn too dark and you need to cool the pan off a bit before continuing.)
- In a stainless steel sauce pan (do not use a nonstick pan) mix all of the sugar and ¼ cup of tap water and bring to a boil stirring just to combine, then turn heat down to a simmer. Once it starts to boil, DO NOT STIR this mixture at all. It must not be touched for the full cooking time. (We learned this the hard way; three times!) If you stir, it will not caramelize so just let it sit. Set the timer for ten minutes and keep your eyes on it. It will start to turn amber in color. If it looks like it is turning too dark on one side and not the other, just swirl the pan a bit but again do not let anything touch the mixture. If sugar crystals form on the inside of the pan, you can brush them down with a wet pastry brush but again, do not let the brush touch or disturb the mixture.
- As the sauce begins to turn brown – at this point you need to watch it VERY closely! Over the next five minutes or so it will turn darker and darker until finally it is dark amber in color (almost to the point of burning, but pull it from the heat just before it gets too dark) and a syrupy consistency. If it turns too brown too quickly, set the saucepan in the pan with the ice bath to cool then back on burner to finish.
VIETNAMESE CARAMEL SAUCE RECIPE VIDEO - VIET WORLD …
From vietworldkitchen.com
5/5 (5)
- Fill the sink (or a large bowl or pot) with enough water to come halfway up the sides of the saucepan. In the saucepan, combine the 2 tablespoons water, vinegar (if using), and sugar. Set over medium heat and cook, stirring with a heatproof spatula or metal spoon; when the sugar has nearly or fully dissolved, stop stirring.
- Let the sugar syrup bubble vigorously for 5 to 6 minutes, until it takes on the shade of light tea. Turn the heat to medium-low to stabilize the cooking. Turn on the exhaust to vent the inevitable smoke. (Don’t worry if sugar crystallizes on the pan wall. But if things get crusty in the bubbling sugar syrup, add another drop of vinegar to correct it.) For even cooking, you may occasionally lift and swirl the saucepan.
- Cook the syrup for about 2 minutes longer, until it is the color of dark tea. The next 1 to 2 minutes are critical because the sugar will darken by the second. Monitor the cooking and, to control the caramelization, frequently pick up the saucepan and slowly swirl the syrup. When a dark reddish cast sets in—think the color of Pinot Noir—let the sugar cook a few seconds longer to a color between Cabernet and black coffee.
- Remove from the heat and place the pan in the water to stop the cooking. Expect the pan bottom to sizzle upon contact. Leaving the pan in the sink, add the remaining ¼ cup water. The sugar will seize up, which is okay. When the dramatic bubbling reaction stops, return the pan to medium-high heat, and cook briefly, stirring to loosen and dissolve the sugar. Remove the pan from the heat and return to the water in the sink for about 1 minute, stirring, to stop the cooking process and cool the caramel sauce to room temperature.
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