Umami Squid and Pork Belly Braised Sauce: A Delicious and Easy Homemade Recipe

Braised pork with fermented squid sauce is a traditional dish loved by many Vietnamese families for its rich flavor and simple preparation. The combination of pure fermented squid sauce and the fatty, aromatic taste of pork belly creates an irresistibly delicious dish that goes perfectly with rice. In this article, let’s explore the detailed instructions on how to make braised pork with fermented squid sauce with Ola Squid!

What is braised pork with fermented squid sauce?

Braised pork with fermented squid sauce is a traditional dish from many coastal regions in Central and Southern Vietnam. This dish is prepared from fermented squid sauce made from naturally fermented fresh squid, which has a salty taste and a characteristic aroma, combined with fatty and tender pork belly or pork shoulder.

When braised together, these two ingredients blend to create a rich, pungent, and extremely appetizing dish. The flavor of the fermented squid sauce is slightly strong and salty, penetrating deep into each fiber of the meat, making it unforgettable for anyone who has ever tasted it.

Instructions for making delicious authentic braised pork with fermented squid sauce

Ingredients to prepare

To cook a delicious and rich dish of squid braised with pork belly, you need to prepare the following ingredients:

• Fermented squid sauce (Mắm mực)
• Pork belly
• 1 shallot and 3 cloves of garlic
• Seasonings including chili, MSG, sugar, and cooking oil

Instructions for ingredient preparation

First, when you buy pork belly, you should rinse it with water and then soak it in 100ml of vinegar to clean and deodorize it. Then rinse again with cold water, drain, and cut into bite-sized squares. In addition, you can soak the meat in rice water for 15 minutes or rub crushed ginger on the meat for a few minutes to make it more fragrant and cleaner. As for the chili, chop it, and for the garlic and shallots, peel and mince them finely or crush them.

Steps to braise fermented squid sauce with pork

• Step 1 – Marinate the pork belly: After preparing the pork belly, put the meat in a bowl and add minced garlic, chili, minced shallots, sugar, MSG, and pepper. Mix well and marinate the meat for about 10-15 minutes so the seasonings penetrate deep into each piece of meat. Note, you do not need to use fish sauce or seasoning powder because the fermented squid sauce is already salty enough.
• Step 2 – Sauté the meat: Next, take a pan and add a little cooking oil to heat it up. Add the minced garlic and shallots and fry until golden and fragrant. When the garlic and shallots are aromatic, add the pork belly and stir-fry until firm.
• Step 3 – Braise with fermented squid sauce: Then, add the fermented squid sauce to the pan with the meat, stirring well so the sauce coats each piece of meat. Finally, reduce to low heat and braise until the meat is tender and the sauce is perfectly blended, creating a characteristic rich flavor, then turn off the heat.
• Step 4 – Presentation and enjoyment: Scoop the braised pork with fermented squid sauce onto a plate, serve with hot rice, raw vegetables, and cucumber for a complete meal. With its rich flavor, this dish is enough to make a family meal attractive without needing many elaborate dishes.

Unique variations of braised pork with fermented squid sauce

In addition to the standard braised pork with fermented squid sauce, you can also vary it into the following dishes:

How to cook braised pork with fermented squid sauce without it turning black

Ingredients

• Pork belly
• Fermented squid sauce
• Minced shallots, garlic, and lemongrass
• Basic seasonings: Cooking oil, sugar, MSG, black pepper, chili sauce, boiling water.

Implementation

• Step 1 – Scald the fermented squid sauce: First, pour the fermented squid sauce into a bowl, add a little boiling water and stir gently, then drain the water. This method helps remove excess saltiness and limits the squid from turning black when braised, while keeping the natural aroma of the sauce.
• Step 2 – Sauté the meat: Next, place a pan on the stove and heat the cooking oil, then add the pork belly and stir-fry until firm and slightly charred on the edges to release its aroma.
• Step 3 – Sauté shallots, garlic, and lemongrass: Next, add the minced shallots, garlic, and lemongrass to the pan, stir well with the meat. Season with a little black pepper, a cup of water, sugar, 2 tablespoons of chili sauce, and MSG so the seasonings are evenly absorbed, creating a delicious flavor base. Note, depending on the saltiness of the fermented squid sauce, you can adjust the amount of seasoning accordingly.
• Step 4 – Braise the fermented squid sauce: Then, put the fermented squid sauce into the pot and braise over low heat. Simmer gently until the sauce thickens and penetrates evenly into the meat, then turn off the heat.

Savory braised squid sauce with pork (Kho quẹt style)

Prepare ingredients

• Fermented squid sauce: You should choose the type that is just ripe, with thick squid meat that doesn’t fall apart when braised, keeping its rich flavor.
• Pork belly: Choose fresh, firm pieces, cut into cubes so they absorb seasonings quickly.
• Satay, maltose or sugar
• Pepper, fresh chili

Detailed instructions

• Step 1 – Prepare ingredients: Cut the pork belly into bite-sized cubes. Slice the fresh chili thinly so that when braised, it has both a spicy taste and maintains a beautiful color.
• Step 2 – Sauté the meat and combine with satay: Place a pan on the stove and add a little cooking oil. When the oil is hot, add the pork belly and stir-fry until the meat releases fat and is slightly charred, creating a characteristic crispness and aroma. Then, add the satay and stir gently so the spicy flavor blends evenly with the meat.
• Step 3 – Braise the fermented squid sauce: Next, add the fermented squid sauce to the pan to stir-fry with the meat and satay, stirring well to absorb the seasonings. Add maltose or sugar, continue to stir gently so the sauce becomes smooth and mildly sweet. Then, let it simmer over low heat until the meat is evenly soaked with the sauce and it thickens slightly.
• Step 4 – Finish the dish: Finally, season with more pepper and add the sliced chili last, stir gently then turn off the heat. The final product is savory braised squid sauce with pork (kho quet style) with a thick sauce, balanced sweet and salty taste, and moderate spiciness. This dish can be used as a dip for boiled vegetables, grilled rice paper, or eaten with rice.

Secrets to making braised pork with fermented squid sauce more attractive

To make the braised pork with fermented squid sauce delicious and fragrant while maintaining a harmonious taste, you should keep in mind a few secrets:

• The fermented squid sauce should be made from whole squid, with thick meat, not too soft, clear sauce color, and a characteristic natural aroma, not pungent or foul.
• You should choose pork belly with a balanced ratio of fat and lean, so that when braised it will be both fatty and soft, not dry.
• Marinating the meat with seasonings for about 10-15 minutes before braising helps the meat absorb the flavor. Do not add fish sauce or seasoning powder to the marinade because the fermented squid sauce is already salty enough, preventing the dish from becoming too harsh.
• Always keep the heat low throughout the braising process, which helps the meat soften and allows the sauce to penetrate deeply, creating a rich flavor. If you want a beautiful color and smooth braising liquid, you can add a little sugar or maltose when simmering.

What is the best way to eat braised pork with fermented squid sauce?

Braised pork with fermented squid sauce has the fatty taste of pork combined with fermented squid sauce that penetrates deep into each meat fiber, creating a passionate, salty aroma that is extremely appetizing. This dish is best when eaten with steaming hot white rice. In addition, you can enjoy it with fresh vermicelli or rice paper rolled with raw vegetables, dipped in a bit of the thick, fatty, and fragrant braising sauce.

To make the meal more complete, don’t forget to prepare some refreshing side dishes such as cucumber, boiled vegetables, or pickled eggplants, which help balance the palate, reduce saltiness, and increase appetite.

See more:

• How to make rich fried squid with fish sauce, eat and get hooked

• How to make rich peppered braised squid, the more you eat the more you love it

• Revealing how to make rich fried squid eggs with fish sauce

How to preserve braised pork with fermented squid sauce after cooking

After braising, if you don’t use it all immediately, you need to preserve it properly to maintain the characteristic flavor of the dish.

• If you can’t finish it in one meal, you can let the sauce cool and then put it in a glass or plastic container with a tight lid.
• Store in the refrigerator cooler, the dish can be used deliciously for 3-5 days. When eating, you just need to reheat it on the stove until it simmers gently to enjoy.
• If you want to keep it longer, you can divide it into small portions and freeze them; when needed, just thaw and reheat. However, to ensure freshness and food safety, you should not store it for more than 2 weeks.

Where to buy delicious, authentic fermented squid sauce?

To have the best braised pork with fermented squid sauce, you need to prepare authentic fermented squid sauce. Therefore, you should choose to buy from reputable establishments specializing in Central Vietnam specialties because the sauce is usually made by salting fresh squid according to traditional methods. Here are some suggestions for reliable places to buy fermented squid sauce that you can consider:

• Specialty markets in coastal areas of Central Vietnam such as Phan Thiet, Nha Trang, Phu Yen, Quang Ngai – where the sauce is made fresh daily, preserving the full flavor of the sea.
• Reputable online specialty stores with clear origins and positive feedback from customers. When buying, you should notice that the sauce has a natural dark brown color, a gentle aroma of fermented squid, and no burnt or sour smell.
• If you want more convenience and speed, you can choose to buy homemade fermented squid sauce from trusted local specialty brands.

Braised pork with fermented squid sauce is a dish imbued with coastal flavors, a perfect combination of the salty-sweet taste of fermented squid sauce and the fatty aroma of pork. This is an excellent choice for those who love traditional cuisine and want to change the flavor of their family meals. If you want to explore more secrets of processing delicious squid or find more addresses providing quality whole dried squid, visit the Ola Squid website today!