Caramel Pork Ribs

– THIT KHO TO –

VIETNAM / CAMBODIA

Although people are generally becoming better aware of the subtleties across Asian cuisines, there are many who still expect some form of sweet, sticky stir-fry. While I hope to prove there is much more beyond that, ‘sweet, sticky stir-fries’ can be pretty amazing when done well. The Vietnamese thit kho to melts sugar over a low heat to create a caramel first, and uses fish sauce to add funky saltiness. What results is tender pork coated in a beautifully rich dark sauce that’s far from sickly.

Serves 4

• 500g free-range pork spare ribs
• 1 tablespoon groundnut oil
• 4 heaped tablespoons brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon fish sauce
• 2 cloves of garlic, chopped
• 2 bird’s-eye chillies, chopped
• a pinch of sea salt
• 1 spring onion, sliced

1. Get your butcher to divide the ribs up and chop them into 6cm pieces.
2. Set a wok over a low heat and add the oil. Pour the sugar evenly over the bottom of the wok and let it melt, stirring occasionally.
3. Once the sugar has melted and turns golden, turn the heat up to medium and stir in the pork ribs. Drizzle in the fish sauce, add the garlic and chillies, and toss to make sure the pork is well coated.
4. Add a dash of warm water and bring to the boil. Once boiling, add a pinch of salt, cover, and let simmer on a low heat for 20 minutes, until the pork is cooked and tender.*
5. Uncover and cook on a medium heat to reduce the sauce, until it thickens and becomes sticky enough to coat the pork. Finish with a sprinkling of sliced spring onions.

Note: Instead of ribs you can also use an equal weight of cubed pork belly or pork shoulder.