Traditional Vietnamese Home-Cooked Dinner | A Vietnamese Balanced Family Meal

pork ribs

🥗Healthier: chicken thighs

💰Cheaper: pork shoulder

Chicken thighs are leaner, while pork shoulder is more economical.

fish sauce

🥗Healthier: soy sauce

💰Cheaper: salt

Soy sauce offers a similar umami flavor, and salt is the most basic seasoning.

sugar

🥗Healthier: honey

💰Cheaper: brown sugar

Honey adds a unique flavor, while brown sugar is often less expensive.

black pepper

🥗Healthier: white pepper

💰Cheaper: black pepper blend

White pepper is milder, while blends can be less costly.

Wash 2.5 pounds of pork ribs with salt and water, then dry them off.

Marinate the ribs with 4 cloves of minced garlic, 1 minced shallot, 1 tablespoon sugar, 2 teaspoons chicken granules, 2 tablespoons fish sauce, and 1 teaspoon MSG for about 15-20 minutes.

Over medium heat, add oil to cover the pan and spread a layer of sugar evenly in the pan.

Heat the sugar until it melts and caramelizes to a brown color, ensuring it is smoking.

Add the marinated meat to the pan and stir-fry until seared on all sides evenly.

Add coconut soda or coconut water to the pan, covering the meat just right, not all the way, to allow it to caramelize and reduce down.

Add extra fish sauce and black pepper, along with a few Thai chilies.

Simmer on low heat uncovered until the sauce reduces to a caramelized consistency.

In a small pot, add 3 cups of water and some dried shrimps for flavor, along with a couple teaspoons of chicken granules and about 1 ounce of raw sugar; bring this to a boil.

Add chopped squash to the boiling water and season to taste with fish sauce.

For the veggie dish, heat oil in a small pan and fry plenty of garlic and a bit of shallots for about a minute.

Add pre-washed chopped Rau muong and season with a couple tablespoons of oyster sauce, stir-frying until wilted down.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

Allergens