2 Ways to Prepare Delicious and Nutrient-Rich Smoked Pork, Overflowing the Pot with Rice – Mytour

Smoked pork is a renowned specialty of the mountainous and midland regions. If you want to savor this smoked delight at home, check out the recipe from Mytour. Rest assured, the resulting dish will boast the aromatic and delicious flavor, rivaling the authentic specialty of Northwest Vietnam. 

1. Northwest-style Smoked Pork – Famous for its delightful aroma

Northwest Vietnam is hailed as a culinary paradise with numerous delicious, unique, and extraordinary dishes. Among them, the most famous is the kitchen-smoked pork – smoked pork. This dish is meticulously crafted, offering a salty taste and a distinct aroma compared to ordinary dishes. Smoked pork can be prepared in various ways, from stir-frying to braising, making it a delightful addition to the family dining table.

Photo: Collected

Making this dish is not as challenging as it may seem, but it demands precision and patience. You can prepare it using a traditional wood-burning stove or a microwave at home. Let's dive into the kitchen with Mytour Blog right away.

2. How to smoke pork with a wood-burning stove

This dish can be stored for an extended period, so feel free to scale up the ingredients for more servings and future occasions. Here's the recipe tailored for two servings.

Prepare the Ingredients

• Pork: 1kg (opt for pork shoulder, pork butt, or pork belly)
• Black cardamom seeds
• Seasonings: Salt, pepper, bouillon powder, star anise, cinnamon, black cardamom, lemongrass, chili, honey

Photo: Collected

Cooking Steps

Step 1: Prepare the Ingredients

• Freshly purchased pork, thoroughly wash and cut into long pieces.
• Remove the aged bark, wash, and finely crush.
• Star anise, cinnamon, black cardamom, and chili finely crushed.
• Use flat strips or twine to tie the meat, wash, and air dry.

Step 2: Marinate the Meat

• Marinate the meat in a large bowl, add all the seasonings (salt, pepper, bouillon powder, star anise, cinnamon, black cardamom, lemongrass, chili, honey) and mix well. Let the meat absorb the flavors for about 3-5 hours.
• Adjust the seasoning to individual taste preferences. Particularly, use a moderate amount of black cardamom seeds as their strong flavor can easily overpower the smoked pork.
• During the waiting period, prepare dried wood or sugarcane bagasse for smoking.

Step 3: Smoke the Meat

• After 3-5 hours, take out the meat and thread it with flat strips, twine, and hang it on the stove rack. Then, ignite the wood and begin smoking the meat over the stove.
• The heat and smoke will cause the fat to melt, and the meat will firm up. The smoking time typically ranges from 5-7 days or longer depending on the thickness of the meat.
• Ensure a consistent and even burning of wood, allowing the smoke to penetrate each meat piece, ensuring quick drying and natural cooking.

Finished Product

The smoked pork, after completion, carries a distinctive smoky aroma. The meat is neither overly dry nor lacks the aromatic scent of black cardamom. It is beautifully pink from the outside to the inside, presenting an appealing hue.

Photo: Collected

• Digi Tip: How to make delicious smoked meat like a masterchef

3. How to Smoke Meat Using an Air Fryer

If you can't smoke using an open flame, you can utilize an air fryer or an oven to prepare this dish. 

Prepare the Ingredients

• Boneless pork leg meat
• 3 tablespoons sugar
• 3 tablespoons fish sauce
• 3 tablespoons soy sauce
• 1 teaspoon black pepper
• ¼ teaspoon five-spice powder
• Cinnamon, star anise, purple onion, lemongrass
• ½ cup rice
• ½ cup sugar
• ½ cup sweetened condensed milk

Photo: Collected

Cooking Steps

Step 1: Prepare the Ingredients

• Clean the pork leg meat and let it drain.
• Marinate the meat with finely chopped purple onion, lemongrass, and spices in the specified quantities (salt, pepper, soy sauce, fish sauce, sugar, five-spice powder). Let the meat marinate in the refrigerator for about 2 hours.

Step 2: Roll the Pork Leg, Boil the Meat

• Once the meat has absorbed the seasonings evenly, use a string to tie it into a round shape.
• Prepare a pot of boiling water with soy sauce, salt, star anise, and cinnamon.
• Boil the meat for about 20-30 minutes, then remove and let it drain.

Step 3: Smoke the Meat

• Mix green tea, mung beans, and rice evenly.
• Heat a pan, line the bottom with aluminum foil, and pour the mixture in. Stir continuously to melt the sugar.
• Skewer the meat or place it on a rack and position it over the pan.
• Continue heating on low flame, allowing the smoke from the pan to cook the outer layer.
• Smoke for 40-50 minutes, turning the meat to ensure even cooking and an appealing appearance.

Finished Product

The resulting meat has a crispy, evenly golden crust. The interior is tender and retains its natural sweetness, making it delicious when smoked over the stove.

Photo: Collected

4. Ways to Enjoy Smoked Pork

Depending on preferences and taste, you can savor smoked pork in various ways:

• Try the shot-and-wine method from the Northwestern region, where you embed the smoked pork into hot embers. Afterward, take the meat out, clean it, and shred it into strands for consumption.
• Steam the smoked pork for about 15 minutes. Take it out, shred it, and squeeze some lime to enjoy it similar to dried beef or pair it with pickled vegetables or spicy chili sauce. 
• Smoke the meat over a flame until tender, then dice it and serve with cucumber, banana flower, starfruit leaves, etc. Alternatively, cook it in various styles such as steaming, stir-frying, or braising. For example, stir-fry with fresh garlic leaves, sour starfruit, bamboo shoots, bitter melon, or braise with various vegetables.

5. Handy Tips for Making Smoked Pork

To ensure the perfect flavor of smoked pork, consider applying the following tips:

• For delicious smoked pork, use pork belly, pork butt, shoulder, or boneless leg meat. Each cut has its unique flavor, and there's no need to stick to lean meat.
• After purchasing the meat, soak it in diluted saltwater and a few slices of ginger to completely eliminate any unpleasant odor.
• Smoking with dried sugarcane bagasse provides a beautiful dark brown color and a more enticing aroma.
• To preserve the meat for an extended period, place it in a ziplock bag, vacuum-seal it, and store it in the freezer.

Photo: Collected

Smoked Pork with high levels of omega-3, vitamins, and beneficial minerals for health. With the simple method above, you can easily prepare a delicious dish to add variety to your meals. Treat your family to this quality smoked pork dish today.

Some delicious pork recipes:

• How to simmer succulent pork
• Creating tastier homemade grilled pork skewers