Vietnamese Caramelized Pork

Pork, green onions, and green chiles are tossed in hot caramelized sugar until golden brown. The sugar melts into a sweet and savory sauce.

• Preparation Time: 15 mins
• Cooking Time: 20 mins
• Total Time: 35 mins
• Calories: 657 Calories

Ingredients

• 1 cup white sugar
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• salt to taste
• 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 green chile pepper, chopped
• 2 shallots, finely chopped
• 1 teaspoon Asian (toasted) sesame oil
• 2 pounds pork spareribs, cut into 1-inch pieces
• 2 green onions, cut in 2-inch lengths
• 1 tablespoon green onion, thinly sliced and separated into rings

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Place a large heavy skillet or wok over high heat, drizzle the oil into the pan, and pour the sugar over the oil. Cook and stir constantly until the sugar dissolves and turns a light brown color. Be careful, the melted sugar is very hot. Stir in the pork, 2 green onions, chile pepper, black pepper, shallots, garlic, and salt, and toss them in the caramelized sugar until the pork turns golden brown. Drizzle the sesame oil over the pork and vegetables, reduce the heat to low, and let simmer to reduce the juices.

Step 2

When the juices have been mostly absorbed, turn the heat back up to high, and cook and stir the pork and vegetables until the sauce has thickened and coated the pork, about 5 minutes. Sprinkle with 1 tablespoon of green onion rings.