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Ca Tim Kho To

Cà Tím Kho Tộ Recipe (Vietnamese Braised Eggplant)

Cà tím kho tộ, or Vietnamese braised eggplant with minced pork, is a great way to turn bland eggplants into a savory delicacy. Follow along to discover how you can create this dish at home.
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Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Vietnamese
Keyword: Braised Eggplant with Minced Pork, Ca tim kho to, Cà Tím Nhồi Thịt Kho Tộ, Vietnamese Braised Eggplant
Level of Difficulty: Easy
Dietary Preference: Dairy-Free, Gluten-free
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes
Servings: 4
Calories: 195kcal

Equipment

  • Skillet
  • Knife
  • Chopping Board
  • Tongs
  • Mixing Bowl
  • Eco-friendly disposable plastic gloves

Ingredients

  • 5.29 ounces of minced pork
  • 2 medium eggplants
  • 15 ml of lime juice with a tablespoon of salt
  • 1.41 ounces of chopped shallot, garlic, and chili
  • 0.52 ounces of green onion
  • Vegetable oil
  • 100 ml of freshwater

For Marinating The Minced Pork

  • 1.5 teaspoons of brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon of salt
  • 1 teaspoon of ground pepper

For Braising The Dish

  • 1 tablespoon of oyster sauce
  • 1 tablespoon of dark soy sauce
  • 1 tablespoon of fish sauce
  • 1 teaspoon of red pepper powder
  • 1.5 teaspoons of caramel sauce
US Customary - Metric

Instructions 

  • Clean the vegetables like green onions and eggplants before leaving them to drain
    Combine water, 15 ml of lime juice, and a tablespoon of salt.
    Soak the Eggplant
  • Cut the eggplants using a knife into slices of 2 inches. Then, continue to cut those slices lengthwise before giving each piece 5 to 6 slices that are not all the way through.
    Soak the eggplant pieces in a blend of lime juice and salt to prevent browning.
  • In a mixing bowl, combine minced pork with 1 ½ teaspoons of ground pepper, 1 teaspoon of brown sugar, and 1 teaspoon of salt.
    Mix Thoroughly The Minced Meat
  • Fill the cracks of the eggplant pieces with the minced pork filling. Make sure not to overfill, or else you may burst the eggplant pieces.
    Eggplant Cracks with the Meat Filling
  • Put sufficient oil into a pan, ensure it’s not too hot to prevent splashing, and then start frying the eggplant pieces.
    Place Eggplant in Pan
  • Fry the eggplants at a medium-low temperature for 10 minutes and gently flip each side for an even golden brown color.
    Fry the Eggplants
  • After frying, stir-fry a mixture of shallot, garlic, and chili with freshwater before introducing the seasoning of 1 tablespoon of oyster sauce, 1 tablespoon of fish sauce, 1 tablespoon of dark soy sauce, 1 teaspoon of red pepper powder, and 1 ½ teaspoon of caramel sauce.
    Put the fried eggplant pieces into the skillet with the sauce and cover with a lid to cook for 10 to 15 minutes.
    Stir Fry the Shallot Garlic and Chili
  • Present the dish with the sauce alongside sprinkles of green onion and ground pepper. Serve with rice or bread.
    Add Fried Eggplant to the Sauce

Video

Notes

  • While frying the eggplants, I suggest maintaining a medium-low temperature to prevent the oil from splashing everywhere.
  • You can customize the seasoning volume according to your liking.
  • Try pairing cà tím kho tộ with salad dishes for interesting flavors.

Nutrition

Calories: 195kcal | Carbohydrates: 22g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 27mg | Sodium: 1160mg | Potassium: 719mg | Fiber: 8g | Sugar: 14g | Vitamin A: 309IU | Vitamin C: 8mg | Calcium: 42mg | Iron: 1mg