Vietnamese-style caramel pork
Vietnamese-style caramel pork from Vietnam.
Cook and rest are read from the method. Prep is estimated when the listing left it out. Optional overnight waits and leftover storage are not counted.
- Prep
- 10 min
- Cook
- 10 min
- Rest
- None
- Total
- 20 min
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Spice
- Mild
- Cost
- Weeknight budget$8–16 USD · indicative, not a store price
About
Vietnamese-style caramel pork is listed as pork from Vietnam. The steps below follow the imported method, not an editorial rewrite. Times shown were read from those steps.
What you'll need
11 ingredients. Tap each one once it's out on the bench.
Ingredients
- Groundnut oil22 ml
- Pork shoulder steaks500 g
- Ginger15 ml
- Brown sugar75 g
- Fish sauce15 ml
- Hot sauce9.9 ml
- Riceto taste
- Pak choito taste
Scaling multiplies the written quantities. Baking still prefers a scale.
Steps
Step 1
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.
Step 2
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.
10 min
Nutrition
Per serving · estimate
- Calories
- 519 kcal
- Protein
- 36.5 g
- Carbs
- 38.7 g
- Fat
- 24.3 g
- Saturated fat
- 8.3 g
- Fibre
- 5 g
- Sugar
- 26.1 g
- Sodium
- 410 mg
Calculated from canonical ingredient data (USDA FoodData Central averages and equivalent published tables). Estimates only.
Allergens
Informational only. Not a medical guarantee. Cross-contamination happens in real kitchens.
- Fish
- Gluten-free
- Dairy-free
- Nut-free
Adapt this recipe
The original recipe stays as it is. Personal versions are labelled. Serving changes are simple maths.
Adaptations · 0 / 15 used. Resets 12 November.
Substitutions
pork → mushroom
Chopped mushrooms plus a splash of soy. Different dish, same comfort.
chilli (paprika or chilli flakes) → paprika or chilli flakes
Paprika is milder and sweeter. Add cayenne if you still want heat.
fish-sauce (soy sauce + lime) → soy sauce + lime
Salty and bright, not funky. A mashed anchovy is closer if fish is acceptable.
onion → shallot
Shallots are sweeter. Use the same volume, or a little extra onion if that is what you have.
Tips
- Times on this listing were inferred from the imported method, not kitchen-tested.
History & culture
Inspired by the original
Provenance: Imported. Not developed or tested in our kitchen, so quantities and timings can be approximate. Times on this listing were inferred from the imported method, not kitchen-tested.
Questions about this recipe
Answers taken from this dish's times, amounts, swaps and tips.
How long does Vietnamese-style caramel pork take?
20 min all in — 10 min prep, 10 min cook. Cook and rest follow the method. Leftover storage and optional extra waits are not included.
How many does it serve?
The recipe is written for 4 servings. Scale the ingredient list on the page if you are cooking for a different number.
How hard is it?
Medium.
How spicy is it?
Mild.
What allergens should I watch?
This recipe is labelled for Fish. Labels are informational — check the packets in your kitchen. This is not medical advice.
Does it fit a diet?
The published recipe is labelled Gluten-free, Dairy-free, Nut-free.
8 more questionsFewer questions
What does it cost to cook?
Weeknight budget — about $8–16 USD, as a grocery budget for this recipe, not a restaurant price.
What equipment do I need?
Frying pan, Wok.
How much salt do I put in?
This recipe does not list salt as its own ingredient. Saltiness comes from Fish sauce — 1 tbsp. Taste at the end rather than adding a number we did not write.
How much brown sugar?
75 g of Brown sugar.
How much fish sauce?
1 tbsp of Fish sauce.
What can I use instead?
pork → mushroom. Chopped mushrooms plus a splash of soy. Different dish, same comfort. chilli (paprika or chilli flakes) → paprika or chilli flakes. Paprika is milder and sweeter. Add cayenne if you still want heat. fish-sauce (soy sauce + lime) → soy sauce + lime. Salty and bright, not funky. A mashed anchovy is closer if fish is acceptable. onion → shallot. Shallots are sweeter. Use the same volume, or a little extra onion if that is what you have.
Any tips from this recipe?
Times on this listing were inferred from the imported method, not kitchen-tested.
Can I use an air fryer?
This method is not written for an air fryer. The core technique on the page still applies.