Learn how to make the best spicy and sweet Thit Ram Vietnamese Caramel Pork recipe.
This traditional Thit Ram recipe features brown sugar, garlic, onion, fatty pork belly, lean tenderloin, red chili, fish sauce, scallions and cilantro.
Our quick & easy Caramel Pork Stir Fry is a delicious crowd-pleasing entree to serve at a Vietnamese-themed dinner party.
The authentic Vietnamese pork dish takes less than 30 minutes to make. We suggest doubling the recipe so you can enjoy these sweet and spicy Vietnamese leftovers all week long!
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What Is Thit Ram?
Thit Ram is a traditional Vietnamese entree or main course that is both spicy and sweet.
The decadent dish is also known as Vietnamese Caramel Pork and is typically served with steamed rice, noodles and a fresh salad.
Thit Ram can be prepared with a variety of pork cuts. In our simple recipe we’ve paired fatty pork belly with lean pork tenderloin. Other popular Thit Ram recipes feature bacon, spare ribs and even pork chops.
Thit Ram is famous for offering a unique flavour profile that features a sticky “caramel sauce” that is sweet (brown sugar) and spicy (red chili).
Travel to Vietnam by Cooking Thit Ram at Home
I love traveling through Asia.
My first visit to Asia had me living in South Korea for a year as a teacher and it’s where I was first introduced to fermented vegetables like kimchi.
After my contract ended in Seoul I travelled throughout southeast Asia for 6 months, visiting the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam.
I spent over a month traveling by bus through Vietnam. I started in the south, spending a few days in Saigon before exploring the floating markets in the nearby Mekong Delta. I then took a series of night buses north making stops in Nha Trang, Hoi An, Hue, Halong Bay and Hanoi.
What I found most fascinating is Vietnam’s distinct regional food cultures. Much like the regional cuisines found in France, Germany, Italy or Spain, each town in Vietnam had its own local speciality.
I fell in love with the exciting street food culture while eating in bustling cities like Hanoi and Saigon. Some of my most memorable Vietnamese meals featured spicy Thit Ram gobbled up with chopsticks at a plastic table teetering on the curb of a busy intersection.
Where To Eat Vietnamese Caramel Pork
If you live in a large city in Canada or America you’ll likely have access to a local Southeast Asian restaurant that serves Vietnamese Caramel Pork.
Haven’t traveled to Vietnam before? It may be helpful to first sample Thit Ram at a local Vietnamese restaurant to better understand how the dish is served. You can assess the types of pork cuts used in the stir fry, ideal spicy heat level and perfect side dishes to compliment the meal.
In Toronto, popular Vietnamese restaurants that may serve their own authentic Thit Ram recipe include Pinky’s Ca Phe, Pho Phuong, Pho Vistro, Anh Dao, Pho Hung, Pho Asia 21 or The Golden Turtle.
Health Benefits
Our easy Thit Ram recipe is packed full of healthy ingredients!
Onions are a humble vegetable packed with vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals. Regular consumption of onions can help boost digestive health and reduce the risk of developing heart disease.
It is only recently that scientists have begun to identify the components responsible for garlic’s myriad health benefits. Rich in phytochemicals and potassium, garlic helps boost your immune system, fight cancer and protect your heart.
Chili has been proven to help reduce the duration of sickness, prevent heart disease, and promote weight loss.
Pork is an excellent source of protein and provides several important vitamins and minerals. It’s an excellent source of thiamin, selenium, niacin, vitamin B-6 and phosphorus, zinc, riboflavin and potassium.
A good source of bone-strengthening vitamin K, cilantro is also rich in antioxidants that help protect the eyes from damage by free radicals.
Thit Ram Cooking Tips
This yummy Thit Ram Caramel Pork recipe is quick and easy to make at home. We’ve included a few tips for first time Vietnamese cooks!
- Use a well-seasoned large wok to prepare Thit Ram to avoid splatter on the stove when cooking.
- We’ve used red long chilies in this recipe but you can substitue for any of your favorite hot chilies. Remove the seeds if you can’t tolerate spicy foods or add them to the wok if you’re keen for a fiery experience.
- We’ve used brown sugar in this recipe as it is easy to find in grocery stores but you can substitue for palm sugar for a more authentic taste.
- We’ve used a Spanish cooking onion but you could substitute with half a large sweet Vidalia onion.
- The best Thit Ram pairs low fat lean pork tenderloin and a fatty cut like pork belly. If you can’t find pork belly you can substitute for thick bacon. We’ve prepared Vietnamese Caramel Pork with smoked bacon before and it adds a delicious flavour to the dish.
- We’ve used cilantro as a garnish in this dish but you could substitute for Thai Basil if you prefer.
What To Serve with Sweet & Spicy Vietnamese Pork
Vietnamese Thit Ram is typically enjoyed as a main dish for lunch when it is served with a fresh salad and steamed rice.
If you’re hosting a Vietnamese dinner party or potluck, we suggest pairing this easy Thit Ram recipe with Bun Cha Vietnamese Noodle Bowls, Vietnamese Grilled Pork “Bun Thit Nuong”, Goi Xoai Vietnamese Mango Salad, Goi Ga Vietnamese Salad, Shrimp & Pork Vietnamese Egg Rolls, and Vietnamese Crepe Bánh Xèo.
Caramel Pork keeps well in the fridge for 3-4 days so store it in an airtight container and enjoy as leftovers.
You May Also Enjoy Cooking These Asian Recipes…
- Laos Papaya Salad Tum Mak Hoong
- Singaporean Shrimp & Fish Soup
- Singaporean Bak Chor Mee Minced Pork Noodle Soup
- Vegan Citrus “Rojak” Singapore Salad
- Penang Prawn Noodle Soup Hokkien Mee
- Vegetarian Roti Canai Curry
- Filipino Spicy Coconut Chicken Wing Stew
- Osaka Okonomiyaki Japanese Cabbage Pancake
- Buchimgae Buchu-Jeon Korean Chive Pancake
- Spicy Gukbap Korean Rice & Beef Soup
- Spicy Pork Bibimbap
- Baked Korean Gochujang Chicken Wings
- Singapore Chow Mei Fun Noodles
- Spicy Szechuan Hot and Sour Soup
- Chinese Wonton Egg Drop Soup
- Chinese Ginger Garlic Soup Recipe for Colds
- Green Onion Cake Cong You Bing
Thit Ram Vietnamese Caramel Pork Recipe Video
Thit Ram Vietnamese Caramel Pork
Equipment
- Wok
- measuring cups
- measuring spoons
- French knife
- Wooden spoon or spatula
Ingredients
- 5 tbsp Brown Sugar
- 3 tbsp Water
- 2 Garlic Cloves minced
- 1 Spanish Onion minced
- 1/4 lb Pork Belly cut into 1/4 inch slices
- 1 lb Pork Loin cut into strips
- 1 Red Chili minced
- Black Pepper
- 3 tbsp Fish Sauce
- 2 Scallions chopped
- 2 tbsp Cilantro Leaves
Instructions
- Combine the sugar and 1 tbsp of water in a wok. Set over medium heat and boil until the sugar turns into a deep amber caramel colour.
- Increase heat to medium high, then add the garlic, onions, and pork belly. Cook, stirring constantly for 5 minutes.
- Add the pork loin strips and red chili, then season with black pepper. Stir well to coat all the ingredients with the caramel. Add the remaining water and the fish sauce, and keep cooking, stirring frequently, until the sauce has become a syrupy texture.
- Serve immediately garnished with green onions and cilantro.
Nutrition
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You Should marinate the meat with a little garlic, fish sauce, and sugar… sometime soy sauce for the aromatics… a few hours before or leave overnight… that’s the viet style of cooking … marinated before cooking. Before putting in the meat you need to oil the pan and add garlic for aromatics until it is slightly golden then add the meat to firm it…i like mine looking like it’s past the golden stage on the meat and about to be burned before adding sugar and other stuff in to finish. Try this way and see if you like it more