Delicious Braised Pork with Straw Mushrooms for Family Meals

Braised pork is a familiar dish in Vietnamese cuisine. However, when combined with straw mushrooms, the dish becomes even more special with the light flavor of the mushrooms blending perfectly with the rich, fatty pork belly. Let’s explore the easy yet enticing recipe for braised pork with straw mushrooms to treat your family!

Preparing the Ingredients

To make braised pork with straw mushrooms, you will need the following ingredients:

• Pork belly: 300g
• Straw mushrooms: 200g
• Shallots: 1-2 bulbs
• Green onions: a few stalks
• Seasonings: fish sauce, seasoning powder, sugar, pepper, salt, coconut caramel

Main ingredients for braised pork with straw mushrooms
Prepare fresh ingredients to make the dish more appealing.

Steps to Make Braised Pork with Straw Mushrooms

Step 1: Preparing the Pork Belly

Wash the pork belly with diluted saltwater, then let it drain and cut into bite-sized pieces. The pieces should be slightly smaller than usual, about the size of two finger joints, to better absorb the flavors.

Cutting pork belly into bite-sized pieces
Smaller pieces of pork belly help the dish absorb flavors more evenly.

Step 2: Preparing the Shallots and Straw Mushrooms

• Peel the shallots, wash them, crush them, and finely chop them.
• Wash the green onions, trim the roots, and finely chop them.
• Remove the stems from the straw mushrooms, wash them, and soak in saltwater for about 20 minutes to remove impurities. If you have rice water, use it to soak the mushrooms, as it helps them stay whiter and cleaner.

Thoroughly preparing straw mushrooms
Straw mushrooms need to be washed and soaked thoroughly after preparation.

Step 3: Marinating the Pork

Marinate the pork belly with 1 teaspoon of seasoning powder, 1/2 teaspoon of pepper, 1 teaspoon of sugar, 1 tablespoon of coconut caramel, and finely chopped shallots. Mix well and let it marinate for about 15-20 minutes to allow the flavors to penetrate the meat.

Marinating pork with seasonings
Marinating the pork thoroughly enhances the dish’s flavor.

Step 4: Braising the Pork

Place a pot on the stove, add the pork, and stir-fry until it is browned. Once the pork is browned, add about half a cup of boiling water to the pot and simmer on low heat for about 10-15 minutes.

Braising pork on low heat
Braising the pork on low heat makes it tender and well-flavored.

Step 5: Adding Straw Mushrooms

After the pork has become tender, add the straw mushrooms, stir well, and continue to simmer for another 10-12 minutes. Do not overcook the straw mushrooms to maintain their crispness and natural sweetness.

Adding straw mushrooms to the braised pork
Straw mushrooms add a light touch to the dish.

Step 6: Finishing the Dish

Turn off the heat, add finely chopped green onions and 1/2 tablespoon of good fish sauce to the pot. Stir well and adjust the seasoning to taste. The braised pork with straw mushrooms is now ready to be enjoyed!

Finished braised pork with straw mushrooms
The finished dish is flavorful and visually appealing.

Conclusion

With the simple recipe for braised pork with straw mushrooms above, you can easily prepare a delicious and nutritious meal for your family. This dish not only complements rice but is also rich in nutrients, suitable for all ages. Try it out today and share your thoughts!

Final product of braised pork with straw mushrooms
Show off your cooking skills and enjoy this enticing dish!