This Vietnamese Pork recipe is an epic Vietnamese food speciality that’s easy to recreate in your own home. Slow cooked tender pork pieces in a sticky savoury-sweet glaze, Vietnamese Caramel Pork is a magical way to transform pork shoulder into something exotic and spectacular. And it’s SO easy!
Complete your Vietnamese banquet with fresh Vietnamese Rice Paper Rolls to start and a side of fluffy coconut rice. And don’t miss the chicken version – Vietnamese Coconut Caramel Chicken!
Vietnamese Caramel Pork recipe
Vietnamese Caramel Pork is one of those gems that seem exotic, yet is unbelievably simple AND you can get everything you need at your local supermarket. The pork is braised until tender, and looks completely unimpressive until the last 5 minutes when it magically caramelises and turns into something that you’d pay serious $ for at a posh Asian restaurant.
It’s sweet yet savoury, and the pork is fork tender. It’s called Thit Kho To in Vietnamese, and it’s traditionally made with pork belly. Personally, I prefer making it with pork shoulder (butt) because I find pork belly too fatty.
I just realised – I call this “fork tender”, but I guess it’s more appropriate to say “chopstick tender”… 😂
The secret ingredient – coconut WATER
There is one ingredient in Vietnamese Caramel Pork that you may not have in your pantry but is sold in all major supermarkets nowadays – coconut water. If you’re into healthy smoothies, you may well have some stashed away!!!
It’s not expensive, $2 – $3 depending on where you get it (Asian grocer stores are cheaper), and it’s essentially the “secret ingredient” for this recipe.
It doesn’t really taste like coconut, it’s sort of salty and sweet. Which makes it ideal to use as the broth for this recipe.
Substitute for coconut water?
Make it with coconut milk! I’ve tried it, and it’s great. A little saucier, a little sweeter, with a slight coconut flavour and smell that you don’t get in the traditional recipe. See the Vietnamese Coconut Caramel Chicken recipe which is made with coconut milk.
How to make this Vietnamese Pork
I promised you this is simple – and it really is, which you’ll see in the video. It goes down like this:
Put brown sugar and water in a pot, bring to simmer to make a caramel;
Add pork, fish sauce*, garlic and eschallots**
Simmer for 1.5 hours until the pork is tender. Then magically, the pot of pale brown meat pieces in a murky liquid suddenly transforms into bronzed pieces of delectable, ultra tender pork that just melts in your mouth.
* NO it will not taste fishy! It’s the Vietnamese version of soy sauce!
** French shallots, shallots, depending on where you live. The baby onions. 🙂
How to serve Vietnamese Caramel Pork
Because the glaze has quite a strong flavour, I like to serve this with plain white rice. Steamed jasmine rice would be on point.
And for a fresh side, a crunchy Asian Slaw would be very fitting – and the fresh flavour will be great to balance the richness of the pork. Or toss steamed vegetables or a garden salad with this Asian Sesame Dressing or the Nuoc Cham in this Lemongrass chicken recipe.
“This Vietnamese pork recipe is a Vietnamese food speciality. One bite, and you’ll understand why!”
I love recipes like this. Forgiving, tastes exotic, kapow! flavours. It sounds and looks exotic, but the flavours are universally appealing.
Asian Food Lovers – this is for YOU! It’s an absolute ripper that I think you’ll love! – Nagi x
Get your Vietnamese fix!
Vietnamese Coconut Caramel Chicken – the chicken version of this recipe
Lemongrass Chicken – one of my favourite things to grill!
Vietnamese Caramelised Pork Bowls – the super quick version of the above
Browse all Vietnamese recipes
WATCH HOW TO MAKE IT
Vietnamese Caramel Pork recipe video!
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Vietnamese Caramel Pork
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup / 100g brown sugar, tightly packed
- 1 tbsp water
- 1 kg / 2 lb pork shoulder (butt) or boneless skinless pork belly, cut into 3 cm / 1.2″ pieces (Note 1a)
- 1.5 cups / 375 ml coconut water (Note 1b)
- 1 eschallot / shallot , very finely sliced (Note 2)
- 2 garlic cloves , minced
- 1 1/2 tbsp fish sauce
- 1/4 tsp white pepper
Garnishes:
- Red chilli and finely sliced shallots/green onions
Instructions
- Place sugar and water in a large pot over medium heat. Stir, then when it bubbles and the sugar is melted (it looks like caramel), add the rest of the ingredients.
- Stir, then adjust the heat so it is simmering fairly energetically. Not rapidly, not a slow simmer (I use medium heat on a weak stove, between medium and low on a strong stove).
- Simmer for 1.5 hours, uncovered. Stir once or twice while cooking.
- At around 1.5 hours, when the liquid has reduced down and the pork is tender, (see Note 3 if pork is not yet tender), the fat will separate (see video).
- Stir and the pork will brown and caramelise in the fat.
- Once the liquid is all gone and it’s now stuck on the pork pieces, it’s ready.
- Serve over rice, garnished with fresh chilli and shallots. Simple pickled vegetables are ideal for a side because the fresh acidity pairs well with the rich pork.
Recipe Notes:
Nutrition Information:
DON’T MISS…..
The chicken version made with coconut milk – Vietnamese Coconut Caramel Chicken!
LIFE OF DOZER
Still his favourite toy. I swear, I can feel the attitude reverberating off him every time I see him bounding around in the backyard with this toy.
Hi Jan, sounds like you had the heat up way too high, I make this on gas all the time and it works perfectly! N x
Hi Nagi, I only have pork loin in the freezer. Do you that would work in this recipe? Or should I wait until I have a fattier piece of meat?
Thanks in advance for any suggestions. I have made many of your recipes and they are on my permanent rotation! This would be super great served with your smashed cucumber salad!
Hi Pam, I talk about loin in the recipe notes – N x
Hi Nagi. How could I adapt this to be with pork leg? Is it possible to roast the pork to make crispy skin and make the caramel sauce separately?
I tried making this twice but both times the pork came out tough, even added an extra hour and extra liquid hoping the meat would soften with time. I used pork belly pieces. I’m not sure what went wrong??
Hi Andy, I haven’t tried to be honest but you could definitely roast the pork separately and make the sauce on the stove and bring it to a simmer until it caramelises! N x
Great recipe! Although I did find it a tad bit too sweet and felt like it needed a little something something to balance out the flavors, so I added a bit of light soy sauce, pinch of salt, chilli flakes, vinegar and some lime zest. Everyone loved the pickled veg recipe you suggested!
Hi Ciara, it is supposed to be on the sweeter side as it is “Caramel pork” however you can definitely balance with some chilli or lime if you prefer 🙂
Hi. Tried this recipe a few months ago and I am making it for the 2nd time right now.
Can i say, i had many doubts the first time when i was making it, cos the fish sauce simmering for the first hour really got me worried. I constantly texted my husband to say i think i screwed up dinner. and even at the last min, i was thinking there was no way the pork would caramelise. But then magic happened! LOL. it was so yummy i regretted only making half the receipe (only 2 of us). So this time, making the full recipe and I am looking forward to eating it in about 1.5 hours! Thank you so much for sharing this recipe. =)
Wahoo! It totally transforms in the last minutes, I’m so glad you love it! N x
Hi Nagi,
This sounds very much like a dish at a restaurant here in Melbourne called Red Spice Road. They tried to take it off the menu once and there was almost an uprising. People just love it. They serve it with a black vinegar dressing.
Silly question I’m sure but I just wanted to check that if I use pork shoulder I should remove the fat (crackling) and just use the meat as I would for the pork belly? Thanks.
Hi Daneille, sounds delicious!!! Yes remove the skin – it will go blubbery if left on in this recipe – N x
Really delicious recipe! It was a little on the sweet side for me, so I added about extra half tablespoon to tablespoon of fish sauce halfway through cooking. I also used coco soda instead of coco water.
I think it is best to make this the day before because when we had it the second day, the sauces got to seep in and it tasted so much more amazing!! Thank you for the yummy recipe!
I’m so happy you enjoyed it Cece!
Hi Nagi. I’ve made this recipe several times and my whole family loves it. In fact, nearly everything I cook nowadays is a recipe from you. Could I substitute the pork belly with pork scotch fillet?
Hi An, yes it will work well with scotch fillet as it’s a marbled cut of the shoulder 🙂 N x
This was delicious and has been added to my favorites. It was amazing how it comes together at the end.
I’m so glad you love it Elona!!
I love this recipe and have made it many times for my family of 4. Do you think this can be doubled or tripled if I want to make this for a bigger group? Thanks!
This was an excellent recipe!! I made it for the first time tonight. I did double the recipe and it turned out great. The family loved it! The only thing I did differently was, I added two thinly sliced Thai chilies while it was cooking. I think this helped offset some of the sweetness. I served it with a cilantro lime rice and also had Butter Lettuce leaves to do a lettuce wrap. I also pickled Daikon Radish, cucumber, carrot and red cabbage. This recipe will definitely be added to the favorites list!!
I have made this dish many times, but have never caramelized the pork. The pale pork on white rice just looked unappetizing. The caramelization just takes it to a new level! Love the pickled veggies with it too, far better than the wedges of hard boiled eggs I used to serve with it. Thank you so much, Nagi!
Hi Nagi, I have friends coming over and would like to cook in advance. Would it work? Many thanks
Yes definitely! Just reheat in the microwave!
Making this dish tonight, third time cooking it. Can’t believe how easy it is to make such a delicious dish. My family love it, which is a great compliment seeing that my husband is Vietnamese. Thanks Nagi for your wonderfully easy and tasty recipes.
Thanks so much for the great feedback Anita ❤️
Tried it loved it and I am making again tonight!
Thanks Nagi!
Enjoy Bonnie – N x
I am about to make this for the second time in a couple of weeks. It is so delicious and so easy to make.
Thank you for another great recipe Nagi
You’re so welcome Bev!
I’ve never had Vietnamese food before but this sounds right up my ally. However, is the fish sauce necessary? Does it give it a fishy taste?
I’ve been making Vietnamese food for a couple years. It’s fresh, and the fish sauce is a must. It does not lend a fishy taste, at all. It’s all about the umami. The dish will not be as good without it.
Fish sauce is a staple ingredient in Vietnamese food, it doesn’t make the dish taste fishy but seasons it perfectly! – N x
So kinda like Chinese 5 spice? Didn’t think I would like it by the smell but it actually complimented my char siu pork perfectly.
Give it a go, it’s definitely not overpowering in this recipe!
Anything Vietnamese- I’m there. I have just made this luscious dish. I used 2 methods; as per the recipe, and my short cut, IE the pressure cooker. Wow! That meat is so super tender and succulent. I cut one inch cubes, used all flavourings as per the recipe, pressure cooked on high for 15 mins, reduced the liquid and fried off the meat in the remaining fat, again as per the recipe. This was all completed in half an hour. The simmered one, although delicious was not as tender, as some pieces are a bit dry. The pressure cooker for me when I do this and many other recipes.
Thanks for the IP instructions. I made this tonight in my IP and it worked out great! Used pork belly and pork butt. I must say the pork belly made this dish stand out. Thank you so much. I am looking forward to trying your other recipes.
That’s good to know Angel, I’m so glad you loved it!
Can I use high pressure to cook this dish? If yes, what is the cooking parameters?
Thank you
Hi Nagi,
This was delicious. I’ve also made the coconut caramel chicken, which is also incredible. So easy to make, yet tastes complex!
My question is, how come we don’t add rice vinegar to the pork recipe, but we do add it to the chicken recipe?
Hi Lana, I use it in the chicken recipe to cut through the coconut milk as it’s quite rich. You could definitely add it to the pork if you like! – N x
Made this for dinner tonight, and it was fabulous! I traveled to Vietnam last year and since my return I have been obsessed with trying to cook Vietnamese cuisine. This recipe is hands down a keeper! Can’t wait to try more of your recipes! (Made the chicken noodle bowl last week and still dreaming about it). Thank you, Nagi!
I’m so glad you love it Carie!! Vietnamese is one of my faves!