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Preparation
1 hour 45 minutes
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Cooking
1 hour
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Difficulty
Medium
Make your meal more flavorful with the delicious and aromatic coconut braised pork leg dish. What are you waiting for? Let’s join TasteVN get cooking and prepare this super attractive and unique braised dish for the whole family!
Ingredients for Coconut Braised Pork Leg Serves 4 people
Pork leg 1.2 kg Coconut milk 250 ml Fresh coconut water 500 ml Sticky rice 200 gr Split green beans 100 gr White wine A little (to eliminate the smell of pork) Shallots 5 bulbs Lemongrass 6 stalks Sesame seeds 4 tablespoons Five-spice powder 1 tablespoon Annatto oil 1 tablespoon Cooking oil 3 tablespoons Green onions/cilantro A little Common spices A little (sugar/salt/MSG/seasoning/ground pepper)
How to choose fresh and delicious pork knuckles
- You should choose the hind legs of the pig because the hind legs usually have more meat and higher nutritional value.
- Good quality pork knuckles usually have good elasticity, and the hooves are intact.
- It is advisable to buy pork knuckles at reputable supermarkets or grocery stores to ensure the quality of the pork knuckles.
- Pork knuckles that have unusual colors like green or purple, or have abnormal fluids leaking inside, indicate that they are from sick pigs that have been injected with antibiotics or pigs that have been dead for a long time; absolutely do not buy them for use as they will affect the health of the users.
Required tools
Steamer, non-stick pan, pot, bowl, bowl,…
How to prepare Pork Hock with Coconut Water
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Prepare the pork hock
To clean and eliminate any unpleasant odor, use a razor blade to scrape off any remaining hair on the pork hock.
Next, wash the hock with diluted white wine for about 5 minutes, then rinse thoroughly with water twice.
How to clean the hock to avoid odor:- You can ask the seller to chop the hock for convenience in preparation. Cut into pieces about 2 finger widths thick.
- Then just take about 1 – 2 teaspoons of salt or lemon juice (vinegar, wine) and rub it over the surface of the pork hock, let it sit for about 2 – 3 minutes, then rinse with cold water and you’re done.
See more: Tips to eliminate odors from various types of meat that women should know.
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Prepare other ingredients
Put white sesame seeds into a pan, roast over low heat for about 5 – 7 minutes until fragrant and golden, then pour into a bowl.
Green onions and cilantro should be cleaned, removing any bad leaves, cutting off the roots, washing thoroughly, and chopping finely. Peel the shallots, wash, and mince.
Lemongrass should be divided into 2 parts, one part minced and sautéed until fragrant. The remaining part should be cut into pieces about 1 finger length and smashed.
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Stew the pork leg
Put the pork leg into the pot, add 1 teaspoon of salt, 1 tablespoon of seasoning, 1 teaspoon of monosodium glutamate. Add water to cover the pork leg, stew for about 45 minutes on medium heat until the pork leg is tender.
Tip:
- If you have time, you can roast the pork leg briefly to brown the outside before stewing to enhance the flavor.
- Depending on whether you like the pork leg to be very tender or chewy, adjust the stewing time accordingly.
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Marinate the pork leg
Put the stewed pork leg into a bowl, drain the water then marinate with 1/2 tablespoon of salt, 3 tablespoons of sugar, 1 tablespoon of seasoning, 1 teaspoon of monosodium glutamate, 1 teaspoon of pepper, 1 tablespoon of five-spice powder, the sautéed minced lemongrass, 1 tablespoon of annatto oil, and half of the minced shallots. Mix well and marinate for at least 30 minutes for the pork leg to absorb the flavors.
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Cooking
Prepare a large pan or large pot, add 3 tablespoons of cooking oil, heat the oil and then add the remaining minced shallots along with smashed lemongrass, sauté for about 5 minutes.
Then add the marinated pork knuckle and stir-fry for 5 minutes, pour in 500ml of coconut water, and simmer for about 15 minutes.
Next, add 200ml of coconut milk and continue to simmer for another 10 minutes until the liquid thickens and covers the surface of the meat, season to taste ensuring a balanced salty-sweet flavor.
Finally, sprinkle with roasted sesame, chopped green onions, and cilantro to enhance the aroma of the dish, then turn off the heat.
Tip:
- You can also roast some peanuts, crush them lightly, and add them in for an even more appealing dish.
- If you want it spicy, add 1-2 finely chopped fresh chili peppers.
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Cook sticky rice
Soak 200g of glutinous rice and 100g of mung beans for about 3 hours (or preferably overnight), mix the rice with 1/2 teaspoon of salt and 50ml of coconut milk.
Then place it in a steamer over low heat for about 20 minutes. During the steaming process, stir the sticky rice every 10 minutes to ensure even cooking.
When you bite into the sticky rice, it should be chewy and the mung beans should be soft and creamy.
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Final product
The dish of pork leg cooked with coconut water takes quite a long time to prepare but will definitely bring you a delicious flavor that everyone will love.
The pork leg is tender and soft, combined with rich coconut water and fragrant white sesame. This dish goes perfectly with white rice, bread, or sticky rice.
What is “nấu hon”?
“Nấu hon” is a cooking method from the Central region of Vietnam, primarily using pork, duck, and chicken. This is a slow cooking method that uses distinctive ingredients such as lemongrass and turmeric to enhance the flavor and create an appealing color for the dish.
The cooking method is similar to braising; however, there are a few differences. Before “hon” cooking, the meat is briefly fried or grilled, then marinated to allow the flavors to penetrate before adding water or coconut water to simmer until the meat is tender.
When the dish is complete, you can add a little roasted peanuts or toasted sesame seeds to enhance the appealing aroma. The broth is cooked to a rich balance of salty and sweet flavors, combined with tender meat and the distinctive taste of lemongrass and roasted peanuts, served alongside sticky rice or bread.
This dish is often present at feast tables or during festive occasions. Although the preparation takes quite a long time, the distinctive flavor of this “nấu hon” will leave you enchanted and unforgettable when you enjoy it.
See more:
Above is the recipe for making pork knuckles in coconut water that is soft, delicious, and fragrant, yet simple. Let’s get started with TasteVN right away! Wishing you success!
*Source of the recipe and images shared from Facebook: Như Hà Nguyễn.
