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Preparation
15 minutes
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Cooking
40 minutes
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Difficulty
Easy
Summer has arrived, which means the rambutan season is here. It’s surprising that not only can they be used to make desserts to beat the heat, but they can also be combined to create savory dishes with a unique taste that is one-of-a-kind! Let’s get cooking and try our hand at rambutan pork curry right now.
Ingredients for Rambutan Pork Curry Serves 4
Pork 500 gr Rambutan 300 gr (12 – 15 fruits) Pineapple 1/4 fruit (pineapple) Onion 1 bulb Ginger 1/2 bulb Bell pepper 3 fruits Garlic 5 cloves Coriander seeds 1/2 teaspoon Cilantro 5 sprigs Lime leaves 4 leaves Curry powder 1 tablespoon Turmeric powder 1/2 tablespoon Coconut milk 100 ml Broth 300 ml (chicken/vegetables/bones) Fish sauce 4 tablespoons Cooking oil 2 tablespoons Sugar/salt a little
How to choose fresh ingredients:
How to choose fresh pork:
- You should choose fresh pork pieces that have a bright color, with the fat being slightly off-white and translucent, the meat fibers are slightly firm, the surface is dry, and the skin is soft.
- Avoid selecting meat with unusual colors, pale colors, or overly dark colors. Do not choose meat that has an unpleasant odor or a strong fishy smell.
- Use your hand to press on the meat; if it bounces back well, do not buy meat that has a shiny surface or feels slightly slimy to the touch.
See details: How to choose fresh and safe pork
How to choose fresh rambutan:
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Fresh rambutan usually has a crispy shell, with beautiful red-green colors, and the tips of the spines can be either green or bright red.
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When you peel it, you will see the rambutan flesh is opaque white, looking juicy and has a distinctive fragrance.
- You should choose clusters of rambutan with fresh green leaves, tightly attached to the branch, which indicates that the rambutan has just been picked from the tree.
- Avoid selecting rambutan that is red but has an elongated shape, as they tend to be underdeveloped and may have no flesh.
See details: How to choose fresh rambutan
How to choose fresh and delicious pineapple:
- Ripe and delicious pineapple usually has an eye-catching yellow color, feels heavy in hand, has a moderate softness, and has a characteristic fragrance that is not too strong.
- Fruits that are slightly round and short will have more flesh compared to long ones; avoid buying those that are uneven in color.
- It is better to choose pineapples with larger and sparser eyes, as after peeling, you will have thick flesh and large eyes, indicating they are mature and naturally ripe.
See details: How to choose fresh pineapple
What are coriander seeds? Where to buy coriander seeds?
- Coriander seeds are the seed part of the coriander plant, also known as cilantro seeds.
- Coriander seeds have a spicy taste, warm properties, and are used to enhance the aroma of dishes with strong flavors such as curry. In addition, coriander seeds are a versatile herb used for making tea, combining with medicinal recipes, and making essential oils, etc.
- You can find coriander seeds at food stores, spice specialty shops, or herbal companies at a price of about 15,000 VND/25g (price updated 06/10/2021).
How to make Pork Curry with Rambutan
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Prepare the ingredients
For 5 cloves of garlic and 1/2 a ginger root, clean the skin and then finely chop. Peel the onion and dice it, and slice or cut the chili pepper into pieces.
Peel the rambutan and remove the seeds. Peel the pineapple, remove the core, and cut it into bite-sized pieces.
Wash the coriander and lime leaves thoroughly. Chop the coriander finely, and leave the lime leaves whole.
Wash the pork thoroughly with salt water and let it drain. Then cut it into bite-sized pieces, about 2 finger lengths.
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Stir-fry the pork
Place on the stove and add 2 tablespoons of cooking oil to the pot. When the oil is hot, add 1/2 teaspoon of coriander seeds and stir for about 30 seconds until the seeds change color and start to sizzle, then add the onion and stir well.
Continue to add ginger, garlic, and chili and stir-fry until fragrant.
After that, push all the ingredients to one side of the pot, add 1/2 tablespoon of turmeric powder and 1 tablespoon of curry powder, and stir quickly for about 20 – 30 seconds.
Add 4 lime leaves, then add all the pork to the pot along with 4 tablespoons of fish sauce and stir well until the meat is firm.
Tip:
- Stir-frying the spices first will enhance the fragrance and flavor of the curry compared to adding them in later steps.
- You should be careful when adjusting the heat (for gas stove) or temperature (for electric stove), it can be reduced if necessary and avoid stir-frying for too long to prevent burning the ingredients.
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Stew curry
Pour 200ml broth (chicken/vegetable/bone) into the pot and simmer for about 5 minutes for the meat to absorb the seasoning and avoid burning the pot. If you don’t have broth, you can substitute it with plain water.
After the meat is tender and absorbs the seasoning, add the remaining 100ml of broth, then add the chopped pineapple and seeded rambutan and stir well. Cover the pot and stew on medium heat for 20 minutes.
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Completion
After 20 minutes of simmering, the meat should be tender. You can open the lid, add 2 tablespoons of sugar and 100ml of coconut milk, stir well, and continue to cover and simmer for an additional 5 – 10 minutes. At this point, you can taste and adjust the seasoning to suit your and your family’s preferences!
Finally, you can serve it in a bowl or a plate and garnish with a little cilantro on top to complete the dish.
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Final Product
The pork rambutan curry dish brings a rich flavor with the aroma of lime leaves and coriander seeds, the spicy scent of chili, and the fragrance of turmeric and curry. The pork is stewed until tender, deeply infused with spices.
Additionally, there is the sweetness from rambutan and pineapple combined with the creaminess of coconut milk, creating an excellent dish that is sure to awaken all your taste buds.
Tips to enhance the curry flavor:
- Besides rambutan and pineapple, you can also use additional ingredients like eggplant or pickled eggplant… depending on your preference.
- After completing the curry, you can add some spices like cinnamon or cilantro… to enhance the curry’s aroma.
- If you want the curry to be softer, let it simmer for an additional 30 minutes for more tender meat. If you want a thicker sauce, add a little cornstarch to the broth and cook it.
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See more:
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*Refer to images and recipes from the YouTube channel Cuisine & Travel – Chef Ben Vado
