Cơm Tấm Sườn Que Recipe

Cơm tấm sườn que, aka Vietnamese broken rice with pork ribs, is a delicacy made with broken rice and flavorful roasted pork.

You can find cơm tấm on the menu of almost every Vietnamese restaurant, especially in the Southern part of the country. However, you don’t necessarily need to go to a restaurant to enjoy this dish. Today, let’s learn how to make this classic Vietnamese rice recipe in your kitchen!

Basic Information About Cơm Tấm

Cơm tấm, or “broken rice,” refers to fractured rice grains during the milling process. In the past, poor rice farmers in the Mekong Delta used this kind of inferior rice to substitute for high-quality rice during economic hardship.

However, since the first half of the 20th century, cơm tấm has become a popular dish for people from all walks of life, especially those who live in the Southern part of Vietnam. Food vendors have also adapted this dish to make it more appealing to foreign tourists.

Grilled or roasted pork, Vietnamese meatloaf, shredded pork skins, sunny-side-up eggs, and pickles are among the most common dishes to pair with cơm tấm. A bowl of sweet and salty fish sauce or Vietnamese hot and sour soup is also a good companion for this delicacy.

Tools of Making Cơm Tấm Sườn Que

Making Vietnamese broken rice with ribs at home doesn’t require overly expensive kitchen tools. Here’s a list of what you need.

Ingredients of Cơm Tấm Sườn Que

As for the ingredients, pork ribs and broken rice are the two most important ones. The rest are mostly common condiments and spices.

Instructions to Cook Cơm Tấm Sườn Que

This Vietnamese broken rice with pork ribs recipe is extremely easy to make. Follow these steps to make a delicious dinner for your family!

Step 1: Prepare The Ingredients

Clean the ribs under running water, then leave them to dry or pat them dry with paper towels.

Rinse the rice two times with water. Pour the washed rice into your rice cooker and add water in a 1:1 ratio. Drizzle in a little cooking oil and salt to make the rice more palatable. Cook the rice for 30 to 40 minutes.

Mince the shallots and garlic, then marinate the meat with the following ingredients.

Mix every ingredient well and marinate for at least 1 hour to give the pork ribs enough time to absorb the flavor and soften.

In the meantime, chop the scallion and fresh chili finely.

Use a peeler to peel and grate the carrot and white radish. Soak the grated carrot and white radish in a mixture of vinegar, water, brown sugar, and salt. Use your hand (remember to wear food prep gloves) to mix the ingredients well. Marinate for 15 minutes.

Step 2: Cook The Ingredients

Once the meat has been well-marinated, turn on your oven and preheat for a few minutes to ensure even heating.

Brush cooking oil on the grill plate to prevent the ribs from sticking. Arrange the pork ribs on the plate. Roast the meat for 15 minutes at 350°F.

Meanwhile, make your dipping sauce. Dissolve the brown sugar in a bowl of hot water and fish sauce.

After the 15-minute mark, take the meat out and brush it with the marinade (you can also add a little cooking oil/cashew oil to the marinade). Roast for another 5 minutes, then flip and brush the pork with the rest of the marinade. Continue roasting for 15 minutes at 350°F.

To make the scallion and oil garnish, pour some olive oil into a heated pan and add the chopped scallions. Stir evenly for 1 to 2 minutes, then remove from heat.

Your rice should be perfectly cooked at this point. Open the rice cooker and stir a little to prevent the rice grains from lumping together.

Break 2 eggs and make sunny-side-up eggs to serve with your broken rice. You can choose to keep the yolks runny or cook them for a little longer to make over-easy eggs.

Where’s that delicious smell coming from? Oh, right, it’s your pork ribs! Remove the pork from the oven and get them ready for serving.

Step 3: Arrange The Dish

Gently place the eggs on the prepared rice (be careful not to break the yolks). Sprinkle a bit of roasted black/white sesame seeds and some scallion and oil garnish on top.

Place the pickled white radish and carrot on a small plate to serve beside cucumbers and tomatoes. Finally, add some chopped fresh chili and garlic to your dipping sauce.

How To Store Vietnamese Broken Rice and Pork Ribs

You should keep the rice in your rice cooker (lid closed) until serving. Modern rice cookers with a “Keep warm” function can store your rice and keep it nice and warm for nearly a whole day.

Store the leftover rice and pork ribs in separate airtight containers and refrigerate for up to 3 days. However, remember that cơm tấm is best enjoyed right after cooking and won’t taste nearly as good after refrigerating.

Try This Delightful Cơm Tấm Sườn Que Today!

Warm, fluffy rice paired with flavorsome, tender pork ribs, it doesn’t get any better than this! The best thing is today’s recipe requires very little cooking skills, and I believe anyone can perfectly make it. Nothing is stopping you from enjoying this delicious dish.

What do you think about this cơm tấm recipe? Are you eager to try it at home? Let me know your thoughts by commenting. In addition, don’t forget to share this recipe with other food lovers! Have fun cooking, and see you next time!