This Vietnamese Caramel Pork is tender pork in a sticky, sweet and savory glaze. It looks like a special dinner, but the ingredient list is short and easy to shop for.
Featured photo: Vietnamese caramel pork by Nagi, RecipeTin Eats
The recipe behind it is written in a way that gives confidence to any cook, with notes that explain each ingredient.
Vietnamese Caramel Pork
You’ll need: brown sugar, coconut water, fish sauce, garlic, pork shoulder (or boneless pork belly), a shallot, water and white pepper. To garnish: red chilli and sliced shallots or green onions.
Serves: 4 · Time: about 1 hour 40 minutes, mostly hands-off simmering
Get the full recipe and method from RecipeTin Eats →
Thanks to Nagi of RecipeTin Eats for this recipe.
Good to know
- Pork shoulder or belly? Shoulder gives you tender meat with less fat. Belly is richer and more indulgent. Both suit a long, slow simmer.
- Don’t fear the fish sauce. It smells strong in the bottle, but in a cooked glaze it turns into a deep, savory flavor rather than a fishy one.
- Out of brown sugar? Our brown sugar substitute guide has a chart of easy swaps.
- Coconut water, not coconut milk. They’re different products, so check the label when you shop.
- Keeping green onions fresh for the garnish is easy. See how to store fresh herbs.
What to serve with it
Plain steamed rice is the classic partner, because it soaks up the glaze. A quick cucumber salad or steamed greens keep the plate fresh. For a bigger spread, pair it with easy fried rice. And if you love sweet and savory pork, try our caramelized brown sugar garlic pork too.
