How to make dried shrimp Kho quẹt for dipping boiled vegetables
How to make Kho quẹt with dried shrimp for dipping boiled vegetables, boiled meat or burnt rice. Kho quẹt is richly flavored with fish sauce and sugary caramel intertwined with dried shrimp, fatty pork and aromatic garlic.
Ingredients
- Pork belly: 200g
- Dried shrimp: 50g
- Fish sauce
- White sugar
- Black pepper
- Green pepper (if available)
- Fresh chilli: 5-6 fruits
- Dried onion: 1 bulb
- Garlic: 1 bulb
- Green onion
Instructions
Preparing the Ingredients
Rinse dried shrimp, then soak them in warm water for about 15 minutes until they soften. Then, drain, rinse cleanly and let them air dry.
Clean the pork belly with salted water, let it air dry, then slice into either dice or pomegranate seed-like pieces.
Peel the onions and garlic, then finely chop.
Wash the green onions and chop them finely.
If you want a spicy flavor, crush the black and green peppercorns. If you prefer a more aesthetically pleasing dish, leave the peppercorns whole.
To make a delicious Kho Quẹt, you should choose pork belly. This part of the meat includes both lean and fat, so it won't dry out when braised. Also, when cutting the meat, avoid making the pieces too large. They should be about the same size as the dried shrimp.
According to many experienced cooks, besides using tasty fish sauce, Kho Quẹt is most fragrant when you use purple onions and Ly Son garlic. However, this is an everyday dish, so you don't need to be overly fancy with the ingredients. Just make Kho Quẹt using what's available in your kitchen to create a delicious and flavorful dish.
In the South and Central regions, green pepper is more popular than in the North. Therefore, it's quite rare to find green pepper in markets in the North, and it's mostly purchased online. In reality, having green pepper will enhance the flavor of Kho Quẹt. However, you don't need to be overly fancy. Simply making Kho Quẹt with black pepper is fine.
Mixing the Fish Sauce and Sugar
In reality, some people prefer a salty Kho Quẹt, while others like it slightly sweet. It also depends on the concentration of the fish sauce. Therefore, the amount of fish sauce and sugar used to cook Kho Quẹt needs to be adjusted according to each family's taste.
With the amount of dried shrimp and pork belly as mentioned, you can mix the fish sauce and sugar as follows:
- 2 spoons of fish sauce
- 1/2 or 1 spoon of sugar, depending on your sweetness preference
- 2.5 spoons of purified water
Stir until the sugar is dissolved.
Cooking Kho Quẹt
Place the pot on the stove, heat it up, then add the pork belly and stir-fry until the meat contracts and turns golden brown on all sides.
Since the meat will release fat, you do not need to add cooking oil at this stage.
Once the meat is lightly browned, remove it and place it in a separate bowl. Strain out the excess fat, leaving only a small amount for cooking the Kho Quẹt.
Add the chopped onions and garlic and cook until fragrant, then add the dried shrimp and stir-fry for about 2 minutes.
Next, add the pork belly, stir well, then pour in the fish sauce and sugar mixture prepared earlier. Reduce the heat, and let it simmer for about 2-3 minutes.
To give the Kho Quẹt a nice color, add a bit of chili sauce, stir well, then add the black pepper, green pepper, and chili. Continue cooking for another 3-4 minutes, until the Kho Quẹt sauce thickens to your liking.
