09/02/2025
How to Make Delicious Kho Quet (Vietnamese Caramelized Dipping Sauce)
Ingredients:
100g dried shrimp
200g pork belly
2 tablespoons fish sauce
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1 teaspoon honey (optional)
50ml water
2 shallots
3 cloves garlic
1 chili (or more if you like it spicy)
1/2 teaspoon ground pepper
1/2 teaspoon seasoning powder (optional)
Instructions:
1. Prepare the Ingredients
Soak dried shrimp in warm water for about 15-20 minutes until softened, then drain.
Mix fish sauce with brown sugar, honey, and water. If you like it spicy, chop the chili and add it to the mixture.
Cut pork belly into small pieces.
2. Render the Pork Fat
Place the pork belly in a pan and stir-fry over medium heat until the fat starts to render and the meat firms up.
If you like crispy pork cracklings, continue frying until golden and crispy, then remove them and keep a moderate amount of pork fat in the pan.
3. Sauté the Ingredients
Use the rendered pork fat to sauté the minced shallots and garlic until fragrant.
Add the soaked dried shrimp and stir-fry briefly.
4. Simmer the Kho Quet Sauce
Return the cooked pork belly to the pan.
Pour in the fish sauce mixture and stir well.
Add seasoning powder (if needed), chopped chili, and ground pepper.
Simmer over low heat until the sauce thickens into a rich, caramelized texture.
5. Serve and Enjoy
The perfect Kho Quet should have a deep amber color, a thick consistency, and an aromatic blend of shallots, garlic, fish sauce, and pepper.
Serve hot with steamed rice, boiled vegetables, or as a dip for crispy rice crackers.
Enjoy your meal! 🍲😋
