Description
A flavorful Vietnamese Caramelised Pork Bowl featuring ground pork cooked with aromatic garlic, ginger, onions, and chili, caramelised with brown sugar and fish sauce, served over jasmine rice and garnished with fresh vegetables. This dish offers a perfect balance of sweet, savory, and spicy flavors in a quick stovetop recipe.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1 1/2 tbsp cooking oil (peanut oil recommended)
- 1/2 onion, finely diced (brown, white, or yellow) (~1/2 cup)
- 2 tsp ginger, grated or minced
- 2 garlic cloves, minced (2 tsp paste)
- 1 birds eye or Thai chili, deseeded and finely chopped (optional)
- 500g / 1 lb pork mince (ground pork)
- 5 tbsp tightly packed brown sugar
- 2 tbsp fish sauce
- 1 green onion stem, finely sliced
- Jasmine rice or other rice for serving
- Sliced red chili, tomato, cucumber (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
- Heat the oil: Place a large skillet over high heat and add the cooking oil, heating until shimmering.
- Sauté aromatics: Add the finely diced onion, grated ginger, minced garlic, and chopped chili to the skillet. Cook for 2 minutes until fragrant and slightly softened.
- Cook pork: Add the ground pork mince to the skillet. Stir and break up the meat with a wooden spoon, cooking until the pork is white all over, approximately 2 minutes.
- Add sauce and caramelise: Stir in the brown sugar and fish sauce. Allow the mixture to cook undisturbed until the pork releases its juices and starts to caramelise, about 2 minutes. Stir the mixture, then let it cook again without stirring for 30 seconds to deepen the caramelisation. Repeat this stirring and resting process two more times or until the pork is caramelised to your liking.
- Serve: Spoon the caramelised pork over cooked jasmine rice or vermicelli noodles. Garnish with sliced green onion and optional fresh vegetables like sliced red chili, tomato, and cucumber. For a low-carb variation, serve with cauliflower rice. Enjoy with chilled cucumber and carrot chunks on the side as a classic Vietnamese bowl accompaniment.
Notes
- You can omit the chili if you prefer a milder dish.
- The brown sugar is crucial for caramelising; do not skimp to ensure the best flavor and texture.
- Use peanut oil or a neutral cooking oil with a high smoke point for best results.
- For a low-carb option, substitute rice with cauliflower rice.
- Other garnishes such as tomato or sliced red chili complement the dish well.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Vietnamese
Keywords: Vietnamese caramelised pork, ground pork recipe, caramelised pork bowl, Vietnamese pork stir fry, easy pork mince dish, Asian skillet pork, brown sugar pork
