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Preparation
15 minutes
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Cooking
35 minutes
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Difficulty
Easy
Today TasteVN will introduce you to a braised dish that is super delicious and appealing with simple steps. That is the dish of pork knuckle braised in Coca-Cola, let’s cook and immediately make this new and appetizing dish to change the flavor for your family meal!
Ingredients for Coca-Cola Braised Pork Knuckle Serves 4
Pork knuckle 500 gr (pork hock) Coca-Cola 330 ml (1 can) Five spice powder 1/2 packet Star anise 5 pieces Dried pineapple 5 leaves Chopped shallots 2 tablespoons Fresh coconut water 60 ml Vinegar 50 ml Cooking oil 50 ml Common spices a little (salt/ monosodium glutamate/ ground pepper/ seasoning powder)
How to choose fresh ingredients
How to choose good quality pork knuckle
- When buying pork knuckle, you should prioritize selecting parts with a healthy pink skin that is tightly attached to the meat.
- Use your hand to touch and feel that the meat has good elasticity, not leaking water or feeling soft and mushy, and does not emit an unpleasant odor.
- To make this Coca-Cola braised pork knuckle dish even tastier, you should choose the hind leg of the pig, as this part will always have more meat and is richer in nutritional value than the front leg.
- Avoid choosing pork knuckles that are heavily scratched on the outside and have a pale white color with many marks on the surface, as this may indicate that the pork knuckle is no longer fresh and has been stored for a while!
What is star anise? Suggestions on where to buy
- Star anise, also known as “dại hồi,” is a type of flower commonly grown in the provinces of Lạng Sơn, Bắc Cạn, Cao Bằng,…
- Star anise is often used as a spice in cakes, stews, and braised dishes in Vietnamese cuisine.
- In addition, this flower is also used as a medicinal herb, spice, and cosmetic, and is loved by many for its warm and fragrant aroma with antibacterial effects and immune-boosting properties.
- You can buy star anise at supermarkets, grocery stores, or on reputable e-commerce websites, with prices ranging from 120,000 VNĐ to 150,000 VNĐ for 1kg of dried star anise (price updated in October 2021).
How to cook Pork Leg Braised with Coca-Cola
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Prepare and Marinate the Pork Leg
To eliminate the unpleasant smell of the pork leg, after cleaning, soak it in a mixture made of 50g of salt and 50ml of vinegar for 30 minutes, then rinse thoroughly with water.
Next, use a knife to scrape off and remove any remaining hair on the pork leg, then rinse again with clean water and let it drain.
Then, place a pot on the stove, add the pork leg into the pot containing 300ml of water, and boil for about 10 minutes over medium heat until the pork leg meat firms up. Turn off the heat and rinse again with water and let it drain.
Tips for cleaning and deodorizing the pork leg
- Step 1: After buying the pork leg, use a knife to scrape off any remaining hair, then use coarse salt, lemon, or crushed ginger to rub all over it and let it sit for about 5 minutes. Rinse with water and let it drain.
- Step 2: Place the drained pork leg on a cutting board, and use a knife to chop the pork leg into bite-sized pieces.
- Step 3: Blanch the pork leg in boiling water for about 10 – 15 minutes until the pork leg firms up, then remove it and soak it in cold water for 2 minutes, then let it drain.
After the pork leg has drained, place it in a bowl along with half a packet of five-spice powder, 1 tablespoon of minced shallots, 1 tablespoon of seasoning powder, 1 teaspoon of ground pepper, 1 teaspoon of monosodium glutamate, and 1/2 teaspoon of salt.
Mix well and marinate for 30 minutes to allow the pork leg to absorb the spices.
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Make coca braised pork knuckle
Put a pan on the stove, add 50ml of cooking oil, then add 5 dried fragrant leaves, 5 star anise, and 1 tablespoon of minced shallots, stir well to release the aroma of the ingredients before adding the pork knuckle.
Fry briefly over medium heat for about 5 minutes until the pork knuckle is seared. Next, pour in 300ml of coca and cook for another 3 minutes until the coca boils.
Lower the heat and add 60ml of fresh coconut water, simmer for about 30 minutes until the pork knuckle is tender. You just need to season the spices to taste and then turn off the stove.
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Final Product
Pork knuckle braised in coca is delicious, flavorful, and beautifully colored. The pork knuckle is braised until tender, juicy, and absorbs the spices, making it incredibly appealing.
The braising sauce has a fragrant aroma of star anise, and coca gives a feeling that is both novel and attractive, making it super appetizing. For a better experience, you should enjoy this dish while it’s still hot!
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Finally, we have completed the braised pork knuckle in coca, which is delicious and helps make family meals more diverse. TasteVN wishes you success in making this dish and having warm moments enjoying delicious meals with your family!
