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Preparation
10 minutes
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Cooking
15 minutes
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Difficulty
Easy
A bowl of hot rice and a pot of braised eggplant with rich flavors during rainy days is simply the best, isn’t it? Today, TasteVN will introduce you to how to make this delicious braised dish. Let’s get cooking together!
Ingredients for Braised Eggplant For 4 people
Pork belly 200 gr Eggplant 100 gr Fermented rice 30 gr Basil 2 branches Green onions 5 branches Garlic 3 cloves Chili pepper 2 fruits Galangal 20 gr Turmeric powder 1/2 teaspoon Cooking oil 1 tablespoon Fish sauce 1 tablespoon Sugar/msg a little
How to choose fresh ingredients
How to choose fresh pork belly
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Choose a piece of meat with a dry outer layer, light red or bright pink color, with a balanced ratio of fat and lean meat.
- Good quality, clean pork belly, not raised with lean meat enhancers, usually has a firm texture, with the meat and fat tightly attached to each other, and when held, it does not feel too loose.
- Choose pork belly that has good elasticity, without any rancid, foul, or any other strange odors.
How to choose fresh and delicious eggplant
- Choose fruits with fresh stems, not infested, and avoid shriveled eggplants as they will not be crispy and tasty when stir-fried.
- There are quite a few types of eggplants; however, you should choose the small white-skinned ones as they will be crispier and absorb flavors better when stir-fried.
- To buy the best quality eggplants, you should purchase them from reputable stores, supermarkets, or large markets.
What is fermented rice? Where to buy it
- Fermented rice, also known as “com me,” is a basic spice in Vietnamese cuisine, with a sour taste and a very distinctive aroma, often used in many dishes such as hot pot, various stir-fried dishes,…
- You can buy fermented rice at liquor stores, grocery stores specializing in Northern foods, large supermarkets, or you can make it at home using the recipe from TasteVN.
How to prepare Braised meat (stewed) with eggplant
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Prepare the ingredients
Buy pork belly, wash it thoroughly with water, drain, and then cut it into bite-sized pieces.
Peel the garlic, chop it finely, and then mince it. Peel and slice the galangal into thin strips. Wash the green onions and cut them into pieces about 2 finger lengths long.
Pick the leaves from the basil and wash them clean with water, then drain. After that, use a knife to chop them finely.
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Stir-fry the meat with fermented rice and spices
Place a pan on the stove, add 1 tablespoon of cooking oil and 1 tablespoon of sugar, then stir well until the sugar dissolves completely and turns golden brown, then add minced garlic.
After the garlic in the pan is fragrant, add the galangal and pork to stir-fry until the meat is browned. Next, add 30g of fermented rice, 1 teaspoon of monosodium glutamate, 1 tablespoon of fish sauce, 1/2 teaspoon of turmeric powder, 80ml of water, and 2 chili peppers to the pan and stir-fry until the liquid in the pan boils.
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Stewed Meat with Eggplant
When the water in the meat pot has boiled, add the eggplant and continue to stew until the water in the pot reduces and thickens.
Finally, season to taste, then add the green onions to the pot and turn off the heat, serving everything onto a plate. Garnish the plate with a little chopped basil on top to complete.
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Final Product
The stewed meat (braised) with eggplant is completed with a beautiful golden color. The dish has the fragrant smell of basil, a moderate sourness from the fermentation, and the meat is tender and infused with seasoning, while the eggplant is crispy and delicious.
This flavorful, rich dish will be amazing when served with a bowl of hot white rice. Let’s make it and enjoy right away!
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A pot of braised pork with eggplant will be a great choice for the family meal on rainy days. Try making it to invite your family members. Wishing you success with the recipe shared by TasteVN.
*Refer to images and recipes from the YouTube channel: TasteShare
