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Preparation
20 minutes
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Cooking
30 minutes
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Difficulty
Easy
If you are a cooking enthusiast, you surely cannot miss the incredibly delicious and nutritious dishes made from coconut heart, which are also very easy to prepare. Let’s get into the kitchen with TasteVN to learn a braised dish named coconut heart braised with meat for the whole family to enjoy!
Ingredients for Coconut Heart Braised with Meat For 4 people
Pork belly 500 gr Coconut heart 300 gr Shallots 3 bulbs Spring onions 3 stalks Chili 1 piece Fish sauce 4 teaspoons Coloring sauce 2 teaspoons Cooking oil a little Common spices a little (salt/sugar/MSG/seasoning powder/pepper)
How to choose fresh ingredients
How to choose fresh pork belly
- To buy good pork belly, you should choose pieces that have a balanced amount of lean meat and fat, with the outer skin thick, and the fat about 2/3 of your finger’s length, the lean meat tightly attached to the fat layer. However, be careful not to choose pieces with too thick a layer of fat and skin on the outside, as that indicates the pig has been raised for a long time.
- Additionally, fresh pork belly will have a dry outer membrane, light red or bright pink color. When cut, the meat will be bright pink, with white-pink soft skin. The fat interspersed with lean meat should be bright in color and firm.
- Absolutely do not buy pork belly that has an unusual smell or leaves a fingerprint when pressed.
How to choose fresh and delicious coconut heart. Where to buy coconut heart
- Coconut heart is found when removing the outer fibrous layer of the coconut tree’s top, the heart is the bulbous part shaped like a pyramid, with a pure white, tender appearance and the sweetest taste in the coconut tree.
- You should choose young coconut hearts that are medium-sized and feel firm in hand. The inner core should be bright white, fresh, and not dry.
- Avoid choosing coconut hearts that are too large and old, as they will be tough and fibrous when eaten.
- You can find coconut hearts at markets, large and reputable supermarkets.
Where to buy coloring sauce
- Coloring sauce for braising meat can be found at supermarkets or reputable grocery stores.
- When buying, pay attention to the packaging; the exterior label should be intact, not discolored, or torn. The product inside should not be moldy, leaking, or showing any abnormal signs.
- Additionally, you can also make coloring sauce at home to ensure safety for your family’s health.
See details: How to make coloring sauce – homemade coloring sauce
How to prepare Braised Coconut Heart with Meat
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Prepare the ingredients
Bring the coconut heart home and rinse it briefly with water. Use a knife to cut it into bite-sized pieces about the thickness of a finger, then soak it immediately in saltwater or diluted lemon juice for about 15 minutes, then remove and let it drain.
Tip:
- Avoid cutting the coconut heart too thin, as during the braising process it may break down and not taste good.
- After cutting, it is necessary to soak the coconut heart in saltwater or diluted lemon juice to keep it white and prevent browning.
Chives are washed, the heads are cut into pieces, and the leaves are chopped. Shallots are peeled and sliced. Chili peppers are sliced.
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Prepare the pork
To eliminate dirt and odor, after buying, rub the pork with salt, then rinse it several times with clean water and let it drain.
Use a knife to cut the meat into bite-sized pieces about the thickness of a finger.
How to eliminate the smell of pork
- To prevent the pork from smelling, before cooking, briefly blanch the pork in boiling water for about 3 minutes along with 1 smashed shallot, as the shallot will help significantly reduce the odor.
- Additionally, you can also add a bit of white wine to the boiling water before removing the meat, as the white wine effectively cleanses the smell in the meat.
- After that, rinse the meat again with cold water before proceeding with cooking, and the meat will no longer have an odor, making the dish more delicious.
See details: Effective tips to eliminate the smell of pork
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Marinate the pork
Marinate the pork with 2 teaspoons of sugar, 1.5 teaspoons of seasoning powder, 1 teaspoon of monosodium glutamate, 1/2 teaspoon of ground pepper, 2 teaspoons of fish sauce, 1.5 teaspoons of cooking oil, 2 teaspoons of caramel sauce.
Mix well and let the pork absorb the spices for about 15 – 20 minutes.
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Meat Stewing
Place a pan on the stove, add 1 tablespoon of cooking oil and heat it up, then add the shallots and sauté until fragrant.
When the shallots are golden and aromatic, pour in the marinated pork and stir-fry over high heat until the meat is sealed.
Next, pour 200 ml of filtered water (about 1 full cup) into the pot and continue to heat until the water boils.
Tip: During cooking, you should frequently skim off any foam (if any) to make the finished dish more visually appealing.
When the water starts to boil, add 1.5 teaspoons of sugar, 1 teaspoon of seasoning powder, 2 teaspoons of fish sauce, 1/2 teaspoon of monosodium glutamate, and a little ground pepper to the pan.
Reduce the heat to medium and continue to stew the meat for another 5 – 7 minutes until the meat is tender and absorbs the flavors.
Add the coconut heart into the pan, lower the heat, and continue to stew for another 5 – 10 minutes until the sauce thickens and the ingredients are evenly cooked.
Finally, add sliced chili and chopped green onions, stir well for another 1 – 2 minutes, then turn off the heat.
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Final Product
Scoop the stewed coconut core with meat onto a plate, sprinkle with chopped chili and green onions on top, and decorate it nicely to complete.
The stewed coconut core with meat is not too difficult to make, right? The pork has both lean and fatty parts, is tender and fragrant, rich in flavor without being greasy, and the coconut core absorbs the taste while still retaining its crispness and natural sweetness that stimulates the palate.
This dish is best served hot with white rice.
See more
Hope that with the recipe for braised coconut heart with meat that TasteVN just shared, your family’s meal will become more appealing and flavorful. Wishing you success!
*Refer to images and the recipe from the YouTube channel Cooking Together with You
