This Vietnamese caramelized pork is tender, savory, and coated in a rich, sticky caramel sauce. An easy stovetop braised pork recipe perfect for family meals and batch cooking. My instructions include both cooking on the stove and pressure cooker.
Cut the pork into 1-inch cubes and pat them dry with an absorbent paper towel
If using multi-cooker with pressure cooker function:
Press saute and when it's hot, add brown sugar and 1 Tbsp of water over medium-low heat until the brown sugar starts to melt and begins to bubble.
Once it starts bubbles, DO NOT stir. Let it cook until the color deepens into amber color, about 2-3 minutes. Watch it closely so you won't burn the sugar.
Add the pork and start to stir. The caramel may harden or seize, but don't worry, just keep stirring and it will melt again
Add coconut water, fish sauce, soy sauce, shallots, garlic, freshly ground black pepper and stir everything to combine
Turn off the saute mode and give the mixture a final stir to make sure nothing catches at the bottom of the pot. Cover with a lid and press "pressure cooker" and set the timer to 30 minutes and then do natural release
Turn the saute mode back on, to cook off the liquid.
Give it a stir every now and then especially when the liquid has mostly evaporated to make sure the caramel sauce doesn't get burnt
Continue to the serving step
If cooking on the stove:
In a heavy-bottom pot, add brown sugar and 1 Tbsp of water over medium-low heat until the brown sugar starts to melt and begins to bubble.
Once it starts bubbles, DO NOT stir. Let it cook until the color deepens into amber color, about 2-3 minutes. Watch it closely so you won't burn the sugar.
Add the pork and start to stir. The caramel may harden or seize,but don't worry, just keep stirring and it will melt again
Add coconut water, fish sauce, soy sauce, shallots, garlic, freshly ground black pepper and stir everything to combine
I only use 1 cup (240 g) of coconut water when cooking with pressure cooker because not much liquid is loss during cooking (Unlike cooking on the stove)
Bring the mixture to a boil and then lower the heat slightly to let it simmer uncovered until the pork is tender and the liquid has mostly evaporated and the sauce thickens. This may take about 1 to 1 1/2 hours. You should be able to pierce through the pork with a fork without much resistance. If it's still not tender enough to your preference, add another 1/2 cup of coconut water or water and let it simmer again until the pork is tender and liquid has evaporated.
Bring the mixture to a boil and then lower the heat slightly to let it simmer uncovered until the pork is tender and the liquid has mostly evaporated and the sauce thickens. This may take about 1 to 1 1/2 hours. You should be able to pierce through the pork with a fork without much resistance. If it's still not tender enough to your preference, add another 1/2 cup of coconut water or water and let it simmer again until the pork is tender and liquid has evaporated.
Give it a stir every now and then especially when the liquid has mostly evaporated to make sure the caramel sauce doesn't get burnt
Just before serving:
Remove from the heat and garnish with fresh cilantro leaves, few slices of red chilis, and some shredded scallions
Serve warm or at room temperature
Notes
I use pork shoulder for this recipe, but you can use pork belly or a combination of both.