There are so many recipes for pork belly in Vietnamese cuisine, but this one is my absolute favorite. Vietnamese caramel pork belly infused with garlic and ginger and dipped an a sweetened fish sauce is absolutely DELICIOUS! I'm going to share with you how I make this recipe that the Vietnamese call Thit Heo Chien Nuoc Mam.

Pork belly is not only for roasting, but it's also for frying and drizzling with delicious sweet fish sauce! This scrumptious recipe comes from the central region of Vietnam. It is rich in flavor with both a sweet and salty flavor.

The Vietnamese name for this dish is Thịt Heo Chiên Nước Mắm Giòn. Here's how that translates into English:

• Thịt means meat of pig.
• Chiên means to fry.
• Nước Mắm means fish sauce.
• Giòn means crunchy.

So that's why this recipe is called "Crunchy Vietnamese Pork Belly with Fish Sauce."  Ginger and garlic is not mentioned in this recipe, but it is absolutely one of the reasons why this dish is absolutely divine.

In western palettes, most often the roasted pork belly with the crackling skin recipe is synonymous with Vietnamese pork belly. This recipe is different than the roasted pork belly that is ever so popular. This pork belly has a savoury-sweet glaze and an amazing way to transform pork belly into a sweet, but savory meal that is then made a little salty with the fish sauce. So many flavors in one small bite!

I'm going to share with you exactly how to make this delicious recipe that will be guaranteed a fan pleaser.

Make sure you pair this recipe with an appetizer, like my authentic Vietnamese spring rolls.

Vietnamese Caramel Pork Belly Infused with Garlic and Ginger

This Vietnamese dish is so simple. Even better, you can get everything you need at your local grocer without having to make a trip to your Asian supermarket! 

The only caveat to that is sometimes, you can't find pork belly at your local grocer, so you might need to make a special visit for that.

I love how the ginger and garlic melded together in this dish brings together a delicious flavor that just can't compare to anything else.

This recipe is also relatively inexpensive, as most of these ingredients for this Vietnamese dish is probably already in your cupboard somewhere. This meal is absolutely delicious, easy to cook without too much time and effort!

How to Make this Vietnamese Caramel Pork Belly Stir Fry

For the Pork Belly

• 2 pounds belly pork
• 1 tablespoon  all purpose flour
• 1 tablespoons salt
• 2 tablespoons white sugar
• 1 serrano pepper, optional
• 5 cloves garlic, minced
• 3 tablespoons of ginger, minced
• 2 tablespoon of cooking oil

Dipping Sauce Ingredients

• ¼ cup of fish sauce
• ¼ cup of sugar
• 5 cloves of garlic minced

How to Make this Vietnamese Pork Belly Stir Fry

Step 1 | Boil the Pork Belly

Boil a pot of water and boil pork until it is about 50% done. This will allow the pork to remain juicy during the remaining cooking phase.

Step 2 | Dry the Pork Belly and Slice Length Ways

Take the pork out of the pot of water, and pat the pork dry with a paper towel. Drying the pork will ensure that the pork will get crispy!

Step 3 | Cover the pork with flour

Next, take a powl and put the 3 tablespoons of flour in it. Allow the pork to be covered with the flour completely.

Step 4 | Garlic and Ginger

Heat a pan at medium high heat. Add the 2 tablespoons of cooking oil (I normally use vegetable oil). Add in the garlic and ginger and smell the delicious aroma! Next, add it the sliced hot pepper (leave out to remove the heat).

Step 5 | Meld in the sugar and salt

Once the garlic and ginger start browning on the dges, meld in the sugar and salt. Turn down to low to medium heat.

Step 6 | Fry the Pork belly

Next, add in the pork belly and cooking for about 20 minutes. Keep turning until the pork is fully cooked.

Step 7 | Prepare the Sauce

Mix all of the ingredients for the sauce well: fish sauce, sugar, and garlic.

Step 8 | Serve

Serve the pork belly with the sauce on the side for dipping along with jasmine rice.

How to Serve Crunchy Vietnamese Fried Pork Belly with Fish Sauce (Thit Heo Chien Nuoc Mam)

Because the garlic and ginger flavor is absolutely flavorful, this dish is typically served with plain jasmine rice along with the fish dipping sauce in a separate dish. This is a delightful dish that allows you to transform pork belly (or any fatty pork cut really) into something spectacular dinner. The beauty of this dish is how easy it is to make!

Recipes like this provide a rich flavor balanced with sweet and tart (of the fish sauce). The sweetness of it with the sugar makes it universally appealing, especially with kids.

Other Vietnamese Pork Recipes You Might Like

If you liked this recipe, you might also like some of the other recipes I have using pork.

• Vietnamese Thit Nuong - Pork Lemongrass Recipe
• Vietnamese Thit Heo Quay - Crispy Crunchy Pork Belly Roast
• Vietnamese Chayote and Pork Stir Fry
• Vietnamese Ga Roti Sweet and Savory Chicken

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Vietnamese Garlic and Ginger Infused Pork Belly with Fish Sauce

Yield: 4

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 40 minutes

This delicious Vietnamese dish infused garlic and ginger with pork belly is bound to make your guests craving more. You can dip it in a savory sweetened fish sauce to bring out extra flavor.

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Ingredients

Pork Belly

• 2 pounds of pork belly
• 1 tablespoon all purpose flour
• 1 tablespoons salt
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 1 hot pepper, optional
• 5 cloves garlic, minced
• 3 tablespoons of ginger, minced
• 3 tablespoons of cooking oil

Dipping Sauce Ingredients

• ¼ cup of fish sauce
• ¼ cup of sugar
• 5 cloves of garlic, minced

Instructions

1. Boil a pot of water and boil pork until it is about 50% done. This will allow the pork to remain juicy during the remaining cooking phase.
2. Take the pork out of the pot of water, and pat the pork dry with a paper towel. Drying the pork will ensure that the pork will get crispy!
3. Cover the pork with flour. Next, take a powl and put the 3 tablespoons of flour in it. Allow the pork to be covered with the flour completely.
4. Heat a pan at medium high heat. Add the 2 tablespoons of cooking oil (I normally use vegetable oil). Add in the garlic and ginger and smell the delicious aroma! Next, add it the sliced hot pepper (leave out to remove the heat)
5. Once the garlic and ginger start browning on the dges, meld in the sugar and salt. Turn down to low to medium heat.
6. Next, add in the pork belly and cooking for about 20 minutes. Keep turning until the pork is fully cooked.
7. Prepare the sauce: Mix all of the ingredients for the sauce well: fish sauce, sugar, and garlic.
8. Serve the pork belly with the sauce on the side for dipping along with jasmine rice.
   

Notes

Other proteins/cuts: This recipe is great for slow cooking other cuts of pork like shoulder and butt. Don't try it with pork tenderloin only because there is not enough fat in those recipes.

Tenderness of Pork: The time it takes for the liquid to reduce down is based on whether your pork is tender enough. Keep adding ¼ cup to ½ cup of water until the pork is tender and cooked through.

Calories: The calories below may be understated because we're estimating what has cooked down during the cooking process.

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 4 Serving Size: 6 oz
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 864Total Fat: 60gSaturated Fat: 18gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 39gCholesterol: 191mgSodium: 3223mgCarbohydrates: 26gFiber: 1gSugar: 20gProtein: 54g