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Thịt kho tàu (kho): photo of the dish
Illustrative photo: Jason Hutchens — CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Meat

Thịt kho tàu (kho)

Kho is meat slowly braised in a caramelised sauce of fish sauce and brown sugar. The meat becomes tender and brown, coated in a sweet-salty juice. It is traditionally eaten with white rice, at home as well as at family meals.

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Ingredients

Ingredients

Spices & seasoning

Optional extras

On the side

Nutrition facts

381 kcal per serving

Protein
37.9 g
Carbohydrates
15.3 g
of which sugars
12 g
Fat
18.3 g
of which saturated fat
4.9 g
Fiber
1.3 g

Ecomely’s estimate, calculated from the ingredients with the ANSES Ciqual food composition table, excluding sides and seasoning added to taste.

Instructions

  1. Cut the meat into large 3 cm cubes, then brown them over high heat in the oil until well coloured on all sides.
  2. Add the brown sugar to the pot and let it melt over medium heat, stirring, until it becomes a golden brown caramel (about 3 minutes).
  3. Add the sliced onion, crushed garlic, whole shallots and star anise, then sweat for 2 minutes.
  4. Pour in the fish sauce, soy sauce and water, then bring to a gentle simmer. Add pepper and chilli if using.
  5. Cover and simmer over very low heat for 1 h 15 to 1 h 30, stirring from time to time, until the meat is tender and the sauce has reduced and thickened.
  6. Adjust the seasoning with salt if needed, then serve hot with the rice and coriander.

Variations and tips

With eggs. Add 4 hard-boiled peeled eggs during the last 20 minutes of cooking; they soak up the sauce and kids love them.

Using what's available here. Replace the chuck with shank or beef belly, and the fish sauce with light soy sauce if you don't have any.

More ideas

Bún bò Huế3 h · 4 serv.Hủ tiếu (Vietnamese rice noodles in broth)1 h 25 · 4 serv.Mì Quảng55 min · 4 serv.Cao lầu1 h 05 · 4 serv.Cơm tấm (Vietnamese grilled broken rice)55 min · 4 serv.Bún ốc (snail vermicelli soup)1 h 25 · 4 serv.Bún mắm (vermicelli soup with fermented fish paste)1 h 15 · 4 serv.Bún thịt nướng40 min · 4 serv.

Original Ecomely recipe.