Cơm Tấm Sườn Nướng (Broken Rice with Grilled Pork Chops)
Local name: Cơm tấm sườn nướng
In short: Fragrant broken rice topped with a lemongrass pork chop grilled until sticky and charred, plus a fried egg, scallion oil and a sweet fish sauce dip. It takes about 55 min in total and makes 4 servings.
- Prep
- 25 min
- Cook
- 30 min
- Resting
- 2 h
- Total
- 55 min
- Servings
- 4
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 730 kcal
Cơm tấm, or broken rice, is a Saigon staple served at street stalls and small restaurants all day long. The rice grains are fractured and cook up soft and fragrant. The classic plate has a lemongrass-marinated pork chop grilled until sticky and charred, a fried egg, cucumber and tomato, scallion oil and a small bowl of sweet fish sauce dip. Jasmine rice works well if you cannot find broken rice.
Instructions
- Mix the garlic, shallots, lemongrass, fish sauce, sugar, honey, oyster sauce, oil and pepper. Nick the fat edge of each chop in two places, add the chops and turn to coat. Marinate at least 2 hours, or overnight in the fridge.
- Rinse the rice until the water runs nearly clear. Cook with 420 ml (1 3/4 cups) water in a covered pot over low heat for 12 to 15 minutes, then leave it covered for 10 minutes.
- Make the dipping sauce: stir the sugar into the warm water, then add the fish sauce, lime juice, garlic and chili.
- Put the spring onions in a small heatproof bowl with the salt. Heat the 3 tablespoons of oil until it shimmers, about 1 minute, and pour it over the onions. It will sizzle and turn bright green.
- Heat a grill or a heavy pan over medium-high heat. Cook the chops for 4 to 5 minutes per side until deeply browned and sticky, at least 63°C (145°F) inside. Rest for 3 minutes.
- Fry the eggs in the remaining tablespoon of oil over medium heat for about 3 minutes, until the whites are set and the edges are lacy.
- Pile rice on each plate and brush it with scallion oil. Add a chop, an egg, and slices of cucumber and tomato. Serve with the dipping sauce to spoon over the rice.
Tips
- Broken rice is sold in Asian grocery stores and cooks a little faster and softer than whole grains. With jasmine rice, rinse it well and keep the water measure slightly lower.
- For the full street-stall plate, add a slice of steamed pork and egg loaf (chả trứng) or shredded pork skin (bì). Pork shoulder chops also work and stay juicier than loin.
Questions and answers
What is broken rice?
It is rice whose grains fractured during milling. It cooks soft and a little sticky and soaks up sauce well, which is why it has a dish of its own.
Can I cook the pork chops in the oven?
Yes. Broil them on a rack for 5 to 6 minutes per side, or roast at 220°C (425°F) for 15 to 18 minutes, turning once, until charred in spots.
How long can the pork stay in the marinade?
Up to 24 hours in the refrigerator. Beyond that the salt starts to firm the meat and the flavor becomes too strong.
How long does it take to make Cơm Tấm Sườn Nướng (Broken Rice with Grilled Pork Chops)?
About 55 min in total: 25 min of preparation and 30 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Cơm Tấm Sườn Nướng (Broken Rice with Grilled Pork Chops)?
About 730 kcal per serving, with 40 g of protein, 80 g of carbohydrates and 28 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 730 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 40 g |
| Carbohydrates | 80 g |
| Fat | 28 g |
| Fiber | 3 g |
| Sugar | 20 g |
| Sodium | 1600 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
