Easy and Delicious Pork Ear and Cucumber Salad Recipe

Pork ear and cucumber salad is a refreshing and appealing dish with a harmonious sweet and sour flavor and a characteristic crunch. Not only is it an effective palate cleanser, but it’s also very easy to prepare. Let’s explore how to make a perfect pork ear and cucumber salad through this article!

Preparation

• Preparation Time: 25 minutes
• Cooking Time: 35 minutes
• Difficulty: Easy

Ingredients for 4 servings:

• Pork ear: 300g
• Cucumber: 3 pieces
• Onion: 1/2 bulb
• Carrot: 1 piece
• Shallot: 3 bulbs
• Garlic: 2 cloves
• Chili: 2 pieces
• Vietnamese coriander: a small bunch
• Lime juice: 3 tablespoons
• Vinegar: 4 tablespoons
• Fish sauce: 4 tablespoons
• Common seasonings: Salt, sugar, MSG

Ingredients needed for pork ear and cucumber salad
Using fresh ingredients enhances the dish’s appeal.

Choosing Fresh Ingredients

Selecting Quality Pork Ear

• Choose pork ears that are bright white, feel firm, and have good elasticity.
• Avoid pork ears with a foul smell, dark bruises, or that feel soft and mushy.

Selecting Fresh Cucumbers

• Prefer cucumbers that are moderately long and slender, firm to the touch, and have a certain crunch.
• Avoid overly large cucumbers with rough skin, as they may have been treated with growth stimulants.

Steps to Follow

Step 1: Preparing the Ingredients

• Clean the pork ear with vinegar and salt to remove any odor. Then, boil the pork ear in a pot of water with crushed shallots, 1/2 teaspoon of salt, and a pinch of MSG. Once cooked, remove the pork ear, let it cool, and cut it into bite-sized pieces.
• Rinse the onion, slice it thinly, and soak it in a mixture of 4 tablespoons of vinegar, 2 tablespoons of sugar, and some ice cubes to reduce its sharpness while maintaining its crunch.
• Rinse the cucumbers, remove the seeds, and cut them into bite-sized pieces. Peel the carrot and shred it. Mince the garlic and chili. Rinse the Vietnamese coriander and let it drain.

Preparing ingredients for pork ear and cucumber salad
Thorough preparation ensures the perfect flavor of the dish.

Step 2: Mixing the Salad Dressing

• In a bowl, mix 3 tablespoons of sugar, 4 tablespoons of fish sauce, and 3 tablespoons of lime juice. Stir until the sugar is completely dissolved.
• Add the minced garlic and chili to the fish sauce mixture and stir well to blend the flavors.

Mixing delicious salad dressing
The salad dressing plays a crucial role in determining the dish’s flavor.

Step 3: Tossing the Salad

• Place the pork ear, cucumber, carrot, and onion in a large bowl. Pour the prepared fish sauce mixture over the ingredients and gently toss to ensure they are well coated with the dressing.
• Finally, add the Vietnamese coriander and toss again.

Tossing pork ear and cucumber salad
Gently toss the salad to maintain the crunchiness of the ingredients.

Step 4: Finishing and Enjoying

• Arrange the salad on a plate, and optionally sprinkle with fried shallots or garlic for added flavor.
• The pork ear and cucumber salad, with its blend of sour, spicy, salty, and sweet flavors, along with its appealing crunch, will surely captivate your family.

Finished pork ear and cucumber salad
The finished dish is visually appealing and full of flavor.

Conclusion

With this simple pork ear and cucumber salad recipe, you can easily prepare a delicious and nutritious dish for your family. Save this recipe and try it out today! Don’t forget to share your results with us.

References:

• Images and recipe from the YouTube channel Bếp Của Vợ.

Edited by: Sổ Tay Món Ăn
Updated: 2023