Recipe for Eggplant and Minced Pork Stir Fry (Cà Tím Xào Thịt Băm)
Eggplant and Minced Pork Stir Fry (Cà Tím Xào Thịt Băm) is a delicious and easy-to-make dish, perfect for a traditional Vietnamese family dinner. This recipe features tender eggplants and savoury minced pork, seasoned with aromatic shallots and spicy Thai chilis. The eggplants are briefly soaked in salted water to enhance their flavour and texture, then stir-fried until just tender. Finished with a rich oyster sauce and fresh green onions, this stir-fry pairs beautifully with a bowl of hot steamed rice.Please refer to the video instructions at the end of the recipe if you’d like to see how to make Eggplant and Minced Pork Stir Fry (Cà Tím Xào Thịt Băm) in action.
Equipment
- 1 medium nonstick skillet
Ingredients
- 2 medium eggplants
- 325 grams minced pork
- Freshly ground garlic
- Freshly ground shallots
- Fresh Thai chilis
- 1 tbsp oyster sauce (mixed with a bit of water)
- For seasoning: Salt, ground pepper, MSG (or chicken bouillon powder)
Instructions
- Place the minced pork in a bowl and sprinkle a small amount of salt, MSG (or chicken bouillon powder), and ground pepper over the meat. Mix these seasonings thoroughly into the pork. Add the shallots to the seasoned minced pork and mix well.
- Slice the eggplants into bite-sized pieces.
- In a medium bowl, dissolve a small amount of salt in water. Add the cut eggplant pieces to the salted water and let them soak for about 10 minutes. This soaking process helps to draw out excess moisture and bitterness from the eggplants. After soaking, drain them well.
- Cut the green onions and Thai chilis into small pieces.
- Place a medium nonstick skillet on the stove over high heat and add cooking oil to the skillet. Then add the drained eggplant pieces to the hot oil. Stir-fry them quickly and be careful not to overcook them. Then remove the eggplants from the skillet.
- In the same skillet, add a bit more oil if needed, and then add the garlic and Thai chilis. Stir-fry these ingredients until the garlic becomes fragrant and golden, being careful not to burn them.
- Add the seasoned minced pork to the skillet with the garlic and chilis. Stir-fry the pork until it is fully cooked through and browned. Ensure the pork is broken up into small pieces for even cooking.
- Add the cooked eggplants back into the skillet with the pork and stir well to combine the ingredients. Pour in the oyster sauce mixture, stirring continuously to coat all the ingredients evenly.
- Turn off the heat and stir in the chopped green onions.
- Transfer the Eggplant and Minced Pork Stir Fry to a serving dish. Enjoy this delicious and flavourful meal while it's hot!