Wondering what delicious dishes you can create with pork cheeks? Here are 6 fantastic ideas to elevate your dining experience!

Recently, pork cheeks have become a favorite ingredient among many home cooks. This type of meat is extracted from the cheek of the pig, with just a small amount of tender flesh. Pork cheeks feature a perfect balance of lean meat and marbled fat, offering a delightful texture without overwhelming richness. Since its introduction to the market, this ingredient has been embraced by eateries of all sizes. From frying to grilling, braising, and stewing, pork cheeks can be transformed into a variety of dishes. Wondering what delicious dishes to make with pork cheeks? Check out the suggestions below by Mytour.

1. Pork Cheek Char Siu

Ingredients for Pork Cheek Char Siu

• 400g of pork cheeks
• 1 packet of char siu seasoning
• 1 tablespoon of honey
• 1 garlic bulb
• 1 dry shallot

Instructions for Making Pork Cheek Char Siu

Step 1: Massage the pork cheeks with sea salt, wash thoroughly, drain, and pat dry. Cut the meat into slices about 1-2cm thick.

Step 2: Marinate the meat with the char siu seasoning packet, honey, and let it sit for 2-3 hours to absorb the flavors. The addition of honey enhances the richness and appearance of the finished dish.

Step 3: Peel and wash the garlic and shallot, then crush. Place a pot on the stove, add the pork cheeks, along with the shallot, garlic, and a bowl of water. Simmer until the liquid is almost evaporated, then turn off the heat.

Step 4: Remove the pork cheeks from the pot. Heat a pan on the stove and brush a thin layer of oil onto the surface. When the oil is hot, add the pork cheeks to the pan and cook until evenly golden on all sides.

Step 5: Cut the pork into bite-sized pieces and drizzle with char siu sauce for a rich, tantalizing flavor.

• Discover more: How to make oil-free roasted pork

2. Thai-style Stir-fried Pork Cheeks

Ingredients for Thai-style Stir-fried Pork Cheeks:

• 300g of pork cheeks
• Garlic, fresh chili peppers
• Thai basil leaves
• Seasonings: Oyster sauce, soy sauce, food coloring

Steps to make Thai-style Stir-fried Pork Cheeks:

Step 1: After purchasing pork cheeks, rinse them with clean water, pat dry, and finely chop.

Step 2: Peel and finely chop the garlic. Wash and finely chop the fresh chili peppers and Thai basil leaves. Adjust the amount of chili according to taste preferences.

Step 3: Prepare the sauce mixture consisting of 1 tablespoon of oyster sauce, 1 tablespoon of soy sauce, and ½ tablespoon of food coloring.

Step 4: Heat a pan on the stove, add about 2 tablespoons of oil, and bring to a boil. Once the oil is hot, add the chopped garlic and chili peppers and sauté until fragrant.

Step 5: Stir-fry the pork until firm.

Step 6: Add the sauce mixture and toss well. Continue stir-frying until the pork is cooked, the sauce has thickened, and the pork is evenly coated. Then add the Thai basil leaves, quickly stir, and turn off the heat. Transfer to a plate and enjoy!

The tender and fatty pork, combined with the rich and aromatic sauce infused with basil and garlic, is sure to delight anyone who tries it. This dish pairs perfectly with hot rice.

3. Pork Cheeks Braised in Palm Sugar Fish Sauce

Ingredients for Pork Cheeks Braised in Palm Sugar Fish Sauce

• 500g of pork cheeks
• 2 stalks of lemongrass
• 2 fresh chili peppers, several cloves of peeled garlic
• A small piece of galangal
• 2 purple onions, spring onions
• Fish sauce, sugar, pepper

Instructions

Step 1: Cut the pork cheeks into small square pieces. Season the meat with 1 tablespoon of fish sauce, ½ teaspoon of pepper, and let it marinate for 15 minutes.

Step 2: Finely chop lemongrass, shallots, garlic, chili peppers, and galangal. Wash and chop spring onions.

Step 3: Heat a pan, add 3 tablespoons of cooking oil. Once the oil is hot, add lemongrass, shallots, garlic, and chili peppers. Stir-fry until fragrant. When the ingredients turn slightly golden and emit a fragrant aroma, add the pork cheeks.

Step 4: Stir until the meat is cooked, then adjust the seasoning to taste. Add about ½ cup of water, cover, and simmer over low heat.

Step 5: When the water has evaporated and the pork is firm, turn off the heat and transfer to a serving dish.

Succulent pork tenderloin simmered in a savory-sweet marinade, irresistibly enticing. For homemakers pondering what delectable dish to create with pork tenderloin, here's a perfect suggestion. Particularly delightful on chilly days.

Explore more: 9 Delicious Dishes Using Ground Beef

4. Pork Tenderloin Stir-Fried with Kimchi

Ingredients for Pork Tenderloin Stir-Fried with Kimchi

• 2 tablespoons of cooking oil
• 200g of pork tenderloin
• 1 onion, sliced
• 300g of kimchi
• Sugar, Korean chili paste
• Green onions

Steps to Make Pork Tenderloin Stir-Fried with Kimchi

Step 1: Rinse the pork tenderloin thoroughly, then cut into bite-sized pieces.

Step 2: Heat cooking oil in a pan, add the pork tenderloin and fry until it firms up, turns golden brown and visually appealing.

Step 3: Add kimchi to stir-fry together, you can add kimchi juice to enhance the flavor. Quickly stir and then add sliced onions and ½ teaspoon of sugar to stir-fry together.

Step 4: Continue stirring for 5 minutes until all ingredients are cooked, then add 1 tablespoon of Korean chili paste. You can replace Korean chili paste with chili paste and chili powder.

Step 5: When the ingredients are well-seasoned, turn off the heat. Add finely chopped green onions to make the dish more appealing.

5. Crispy Pork Tenderloin with Lemongrass

Ingredients for Lemongrass Fried Pork Tenderloin Dish

• 400g of pork tenderloin
• 2 stalks of lemongrass
• 1 bulb of garlic
• 1 bulb of shallot
• Cooking oil, sesame oil
• Seasonings: five-spice powder, oyster sauce, fish sauce, sugar, MSG, black pepper

Instructions

Step 1: Rinse the pork tenderloin thoroughly, pat dry, and then cut into long strips.

Step 2: Peel the tough outer layer of the lemongrass, wash thoroughly, crush the top part, and finely chop. Peel the shallots and garlic, finely chop along with the chili peppers.

Step 3: Marinate the pork with 1 tablespoon of oyster sauce, 1 tablespoon of fish sauce, ½ tablespoon of sugar, ½ tablespoon of MSG, ½ tablespoon of five-spice powder, 2 tablespoons of sesame oil, and chopped chili peppers, shallots, garlic, and lemongrass. Allow marinating for about 2-3 hours for the flavors to infuse into the meat.

Step 4: Heat cooking oil in a pan. Once the oil is hot, add the marinated pork for frying. Fry until the surface of the meat becomes firm, then reduce the heat.

Step 5: Continue frying until one side of the meat turns slightly golden, then flip to the other side. Each time you flip, you can use a brush to spread the marinade on the surface of the meat for a beautiful color.

Step 6: Once both sides are evenly cooked, use a fork to check the doneness of the meat inside. If the meat inside is cooked, increase the heat and fry each side for about 10 more seconds.

Step 7: Transfer the meat to a plate, let it cool, and slice thinly for serving.

When enjoying, you can mix in some garlic chili fish sauce, lime juice, or salt and pepper with lime for richer flavor. If you're wondering what delicious dish to make with pork tenderloin, don't overlook this lemongrass frying method.

• Digi Tip: How to Make Roast Pork Belly Using an Air Fryer

6. Pan-Seared Pork Tenderloin with Toasted Sesame Sauce

Ingredients Needed

• 400g of pork tenderloin
• Salt, MSG, ground pepper
• Toasted sesame sauce

Instructions for Making Pan-Seared Pork Tenderloin with Toasted Sesame Sauce

Step 1: Clean and slice the pork tenderloin into pieces about 1-2 cm thick.

Step 2: Marinate the meat with 1 teaspoon of salt, ½ teaspoon of MSG, ½ teaspoon of ground pepper, and let it sit for 5 minutes. Adjust the amount of salt and MSG according to taste preferences during the marinating process. However, avoid adding too much salt as the toasted sesame sauce already has a certain level of saltiness.

Step 3: Heat a sufficient amount of cooking oil in a pan until the surface is shimmering.

Step 4: Place each piece of meat evenly on the pan, ensuring they do not stick together. Remember to continuously flip the meat to ensure even and attractive browning.

Step 5: Arrange the meat on a plate and drizzle with the toasted sesame sauce.

The pork tenderloin is crispy golden on the outside while still moist, tender, and flavorful on the inside, undoubtedly leaving you impressed.

So, now you have the answer to the question of what delicious dish to make with pork tenderloin, right? Don't hesitate any longer to apply these recipes to treat your family to a truly delicious and comforting meal.

You might also be interested in:

• Discover the secret to making delicious Vietnamese caramelized pork

• Explore the authentic flavors of Lang Son-style grilled pork