Cơm Tấm, or broken rice, is an iconic dish of Vietnamese cuisine, especially popular in southern Vietnam. It mainly consists of broken rice served with various toppings such as grilled pork chops, Vietnamese egg meatloaf, and fried eggs, and is often accompanied by pickled vegetables and fish sauce. Here is a detailed guide to preparing this delicious dish.

Ingredients for 4 people

For the Broken Rice

• 500 g broken rice
• 750 ml water

For the Grilled Pork Chops (Sườn Nướng)

• 4 pork chops
• 4 cloves of garlic, chopped
• 2 shallots, chopped
• 2 tbsp sugar
• 3 tbsp fish sauce
• 2 tbsp soy sauce
• 1 tsp black pepper
• 1 tbsp honey
• 2 tbsp vegetable oil

For the Vietnamese Egg Meatloaf (Chả Trứng)

• 4 eggs
• 50 g glass noodles, soaked and chopped
• 20 g dried wood ear mushrooms, soaked and chopped
• 1 onion, finely chopped
• 1 tbsp fish sauce
• ½ tsp pepper
• 1 tbsp vegetable oil (for cooking the egg mixture)

For the Pickled Vegetables (Đồ Chua)

• 2 carrots, julienned
• 1 daikon, julienned
• 200 ml rice vinegar
• 100 g sugar
• 1 tsp salt
• Lettuce, cucumber, and tomatoes (for serving)

For the Fish Sauce (Nước Mắm)

• 4 tbsp fish sauce
• 4 tbsp water
• 2 tbsp sugar
• 2 tbsp lemon juice
• 2 cloves of garlic, chopped
• 1 chili, finely chopped (optional)

Preparing Cơm Tấm

1. Cook the broken rice

Rinse the broken rice several times until the water runs clear.

Place the rice and water in a rice cooker. Cook according to the rice cooker's instructions.

2. Marinate and grill the pork chops

In a bowl, combine the garlic, shallots, sugar, fish sauce, soy sauce, pepper, honey, and vegetable oil.

Add the pork chops and coat them thoroughly with the marinade. Leave to marinate for at least 1 hour, preferably overnight.

Preheat a grill or pan over medium-high heat. Grill the pork chops until fully cooked and lightly caramelized, about 5–7 minutes on each side.

3. Prepare the Vietnamese egg meatloaf

Beat the eggs in a bowl. Add the glass noodles, mushrooms, onion, fish sauce, and pepper. Mix well.

Heat a little oil in a pan over medium heat. Pour in the egg mixture and cook until fully cooked on both sides. Cut into pieces for serving.

4. Prepare the pickled vegetables

In a bowl, mix the carrots and daikon with the salt. Leave to rest for 15 minutes, then rinse and drain.

Heat the rice vinegar and sugar in a saucepan until the sugar has completely dissolved. Leave to cool.

Pour the vinegar mixture over the carrots and daikon. Leave to marinate for at least 1 hour before serving.

5. Prepare the fish sauce

In a bowl, combine the fish sauce, water, sugar, lemon juice, garlic, and chili (if using) until the sugar has dissolved.

6. Assemble the dish

Place a portion of broken rice on a plate.

Add a grilled pork chop, a few pieces of egg meatloaf, and a portion of pickled vegetables.

Drizzle with fish sauce and serve with fresh vegetables such as lettuce, cucumber, and tomatoes.

Tips

Broken rice is essential for this dish, but if you cannot find it, you can use long-grain rice and lightly break it in a food processor.

Marinating the pork chops is the key to achieving an authentic flavor, so do not skip this step.

The pickled vegetables can be prepared in advance and keep well in the refrigerator for several days.

Cơm Tấm is a rich and flavorful dish that captures the essence of Vietnamese cuisine. Follow these steps to create a delicious and authentic meal at home. Enjoy your meal!

Introduction to Vietnamese Cơm Tấm

Cơm Tấm is one of the most distinctive and popular dishes in Vietnamese cuisine, particularly in southern Vietnam. Known as a simple yet incredibly flavorful dish, Cơm Tấm has become a culinary symbol of Hồ Chí Minh City and the surrounding provinces.

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Origin and Meaning

Cơm Tấm originated from broken rice grains, which are fragments of rice created during the milling process. In the past, broken rice was considered a “by-product” intended for people with lower incomes or even used as animal feed. However, thanks to the creativity of local people, Cơm Tấm developed into a delicious, generous, and popular dish enjoyed by many.

Main Ingredients

A traditional plate of Cơm Tấm usually includes rice cooked from broken grains, grilled pork chops (Sườn Nướng), shredded pork skin mixed with toasted rice powder (Bì), steamed egg meatloaf (Chả Trứng), and a fried egg. The dish is also served with fresh vegetables, pickled vegetables (Dưa Chua), and sweet-and-sour fish sauce.

Cơm Tấm: Steamed broken rice, soft and fragrant.

Sườn Nướng: Pork chops marinated with special seasonings and grilled over charcoal until golden and aromatic.

Bì: Finely shredded pork skin mixed with toasted rice powder, providing a lightly chewy and savory texture.

Chả Trứng: Beaten eggs mixed with wood ear mushrooms, glass noodles, and spring onions, then steamed.

Fried Egg: A fried egg with a runny yolk, adding extra richness and creaminess to the dish.

Sweet-and-Sour Fish Sauce

An essential component of Cơm Tấm is sweet-and-sour fish sauce. The sauce is prepared with good-quality fish sauce, sugar, lemon juice or vinegar, garlic, and chili. The sweetness of the sugar, acidity of the lemon, saltiness of the fish sauce, and gentle heat of the chili create a balanced flavor that enhances the dish.

How to Enjoy It

Cơm Tấm can be enjoyed at any time of the day, from breakfast to dinner. A complete plate includes white broken rice, grilled pork chops, savory pork skin, soft steamed egg meatloaf, a creamy fried egg, and fresh vegetables. When eating, a little sweet-and-sour fish sauce is usually poured over the rice and mixed through so that all the flavors come together harmoniously.

Development and Variations

Today, Cơm Tấm is no longer limited to traditional ingredients and has evolved to include many other options such as fish cakes, shrimp cakes, braised pork with eggs, or various vegetables. Each combination creates a new flavor while preserving the distinctive character of the dish.

Conclusion

Cơm Tấm is not only delicious but also rich in cultural value, reflecting the creativity and culinary skill of the Vietnamese people. From its humble beginnings, Cơm Tấm has developed into a source of pride in Vietnamese cuisine, enjoyed not only in Vietnam but also around the world.

Cơm Tấm is more than just a dish; it is also part of Vietnamese culture and everyday life, creating a connection between people and their homeland, as well as between the past and the present. Every plate of Cơm Tấm offers a complete experience of flavors, textures, and emotions.