Vietnamese Com Tam Recipe (Broken Rice)

The richly flavored grilled pork chop broken rice, shared below, will transport you back to the flavors of home. This famous Saigon specialty is surprisingly easy to make, allowing you to impress your family with your culinary skills.

Broken rice is a beloved dish in Southern Vietnam, often enjoyed for breakfast and dinner. Its appeal lies in the fragrant rice grains, the aromatic, flavorful grilled pork chops, and the accompanying fresh cucumber, tomato, scallion oil, and perfectly balanced sweet and sour fish sauce. This recipe will guide you to successfully recreate a broken rice experience right in your own kitchen.

Ingredients for Preparing Cơm Tấm with Grilled Pork Chops

The components of cơm tấm with grilled pork chops can vary depending on individual preferences. Here are the ingredients needed to prepare this delicious dish:

Ingredients for Grilled Pork Chops:

• 6 pork chops
• 6 tablespoons finely chopped lemongrass
• 2 tablespoons minced garlic (about 6 cloves)
• 120g honey
• 4g salt
• 3g ground black pepper
• 3 tablespoons sugar
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce
• 2 tablespoons fish sauce
• 4 tablespoons cooking oil
• 30g barbecue sauce

This list provides the essentials for making a savory and aromatic grilled pork chop that complements the broken rice perfectly. Adjust the quantities as needed to suit your taste.

Accompanying Vegetables:

• 1 tomato, sliced
• 1 cucumber, sliced
• 6 lettuce leaves
• 3 tablespoons scallion oil

Ingredients for Fish Sauce:

• 3 tablespoons fish sauce
• 3 tablespoons sugar
• 3 tablespoons warm water
• 1 tablespoon vinegar
• Chopped chili and garlic

These fresh vegetables provide a crisp, refreshing contrast to the savory pork chops, while the flavorful fish sauce enhances the overall taste of the dish. Adjust the ingredients to your liking for the perfect balance of flavors.

How to Make Authentic Vietnamese Cơm Tấm with Grilled Pork Chops

Preparation and Marination of Pork Chops:

1. Clean the pork chops under running water and rub them with salt to eliminate any unpleasant odor, then let them drain.
2. In a bowl, mix all the prepared marinade ingredients, stirring well to dissolve the sugar and MSG. Add the barbecue sauce to the mixture.
3. Add the pork chops to the bowl, ensuring they are well-coated with the marinade. Let the meat sit for about 3 hours to absorb the flavors fully.

Cooking Cơm Tấm

To cook a delicious pot of cơm tấm, you need to select high-quality broken rice from reputable supermarkets or stores that clearly indicate the origin and packaging location.

Since broken rice grains are quite small and fragmented, soak the rice for about 20 to 30 minutes to enhance its flavor and texture. Then, place the soaked rice into a rice cooker, adding water according to your preference for dry or moist rice. A good rule of thumb is to use a ratio of 1.5 cups of water for every cup of rice. For example, if you are cooking 1 cup of rice, add 1.5 cups of water.

When you start cooking the rice, add half a teaspoon of salt and one teaspoon of cooking oil to the pot. This prevents the rice from sticking to the bottom and gives it an appealing color. Once the rice cooker switches to the ‘keep warm’ setting, let it sit for an additional 15 minutes before unplugging it. Allow the rice to steam for another 10 minutes. This method ensures that the cơm tấm is evenly cooked and not underdone.

Grilling the Pork Chops

Grill the pork chops on a BBQ, spacing them about 1 cm apart. Start on high heat until the meat turns golden brown or grill marks appear, then reduce the heat. Flip the chops frequently until fully cooked.

If using an oven, preheat it to 190°C and grill the meat for 15 to 20 minutes. Lower the temperature, then turn the meat regularly to ensure even cooking.

Making Sweet and Sour Fish Sauce

Bring fish sauce, sugar, warm water, and vinegar to a boil, stirring until the mixture bubbles. Turn off the heat and let it cool. Once cooled, add half a tablespoon of vinegar and half a tablespoon of fish sauce, adjusting the seasoning to taste.

Wash the chilies, cover them with just enough water, and bring to a boil until they are soft. Mash the chilies finely.

Heat cooking oil and sauté the garlic until fragrant. Add the cooked chilies, one tablespoon of sugar, and one tablespoon of vinegar. Boil the mixture for about 5 minutes, then turn off the heat and let it cool. Mix this with the prepared fish sauce for a perfect sweet and sour flavor.

Final Dish

Once all the ingredients are ready, serve the rice on a plate and top it with the grilled pork chops and scallion oil. Arrange the vegetables and cucumber slices neatly around the plate. Prepare a bowl of sweet and sour fish sauce to accompany the meal. When eating, drizzle the fish sauce over the rice, mix well, and enjoy your delicious cơm tấm.

Nutritional Value of Vietnamese Cơm Tấm with Grilled Pork Chops

Vietnamese cơm tấm is a traditional dish that has been adapted to suit various tastes. Depending on the region, the preparation methods vary, with some versions including pickled vegetables, fried eggs, shredded pork skin, and meatloaf to diversify the ingredients. A plate of cơm tấm provides a balanced mix of proteins, carbohydrates, fiber, and fats.

For those on a weight-loss diet, paying close attention to daily meals is crucial. Consuming large quantities of cơm tấm can lead to weight gain due to its high calorie and fat content. Regular consumption can also disrupt nutritional balance and potentially lead to health issues such as cardiovascular diseases and diabetes.

To enjoy cơm tấm healthily while maintaining nutritional balance, it’s important to adjust your portion sizes. Reduce the amount of meat, scallion oil, and rice, and increase your intake of vegetables. The best time to eat cơm tấm is in the morning or at lunch, as it provides essential energy for a productive day and helps burn off the excess calories. Conversely, avoid eating it at night before bed, as the digestive system slows down, leading to fat accumulation and weight gain.

We hope these insights from Foodvietnamese.com help you create delicious cơm tấm with grilled pork chops that rival those from your favorite restaurants. With just a few hours of preparation, you can enjoy a visually appealing and irresistibly tasty dish that will evoke a sense of nostalgia for anyone far from home.