Cơm tấm , or broken rice, is an iconic dish in Vietnamese cuisine , especially popular in the south of Vietnam. It mainly consists of broken rice accompanied by various toppings such as grilled pork chop, omelette, fried eggs, and is often served with pickled vegetables and fish sauce . Here is a detailed guide to cooking this delicious dish.

Ingredients for 4 people

For the Broken Rice

Broken rice: 500g

Water: 750ml

For the Grilled Pork Chop (sườn nướng)

Pork chop: 4 pieces

Garlic: 4 cloves, chopped

Shallots: 2, chopped

Sugar: 2 tablespoons

Fish sauce: 3 tablespoons

Soy sauce: 2 tablespoons

Black pepper: 1 teaspoon

Honey: 1 tablespoon

Vegetable oil: 2 tablespoons

For Vietnamese Omelette (chả trứng)

Eggs: 4

Glass noodles: 50g, soaked and chopped

Dried black mushrooms: 20g, soaked and chopped

Onions: 1, finely chopped

Fish sauce: 1 tablespoon

Pepper: 1/2 teaspoon

For Pickled Vegetables (đồ chua)

Carrots: 2, julienned

Daikon (white radish): 1, julienned

Rice vinegar: 200ml

Sugar: 100g

Salt: 1 teaspoon

For the Fish Sauce (nước mắm)

Fish sauce: 4 tablespoons

Water: 4 tablespoons

Sugar: 2 tablespoons

Lemon juice: 2 tablespoons

Garlic: 2 cloves, chopped

Chili pepper: 1, finely chopped (optional)

Preparation Steps

Preparation of Broken Rice

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

Place the rice in a rice cooker with the water. Cook according to the rice cooker instructions.

Preparation of Grilled Pork Chops

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

Add pork chops and coat well with marinade. Marinate for at least 1 hour, preferably overnight.

Preheat grill or skillet to medium-high heat. Grill pork chops until cooked through and lightly caramelized, about 5-7 minutes per side.

Preparation of Vietnamese Omelette

In a bowl, beat the eggs. Add the soy vermicelli, mushrooms, onions, fish sauce and pepper. Mix well.

Heat a little oil in a frying pan over medium heat. Pour in the egg mixture and cook until the omelette is cooked through on both sides. Cut into pieces to serve.

Preparation of Pickled Vegetables

In a bowl, mix the carrots and daikon with the salt. Let sit for 15 minutes, then rinse and drain.

In a saucepan, heat the rice vinegar and sugar until the sugar is dissolved. Let cool.

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

Preparation of Fish Sauce

In a bowl, mix fish sauce, water, sugar, lemon juice, garlic and chili pepper (if using) until sugar is dissolved.

Assembling the Dish

On a plate, place a portion of broken rice.

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

Drizzle with fish sauce and serve with fresh vegetables like lettuce, cucumbers and tomatoes.

Advice

Broken rice is essential for this dish, but if you can't find it, you can use long grain rice and break it up slightly in a food processor.

Marinating pork chops is the key to authentic flavor, don't skip this step.

Pickled vegetables can be made ahead of time and will keep well in the refrigerator for several days.

Com tam 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!

Introduction to Vietnamese Cơm Tấm Dish

Cơm tấm is one of the most characteristic and popular dishes in Vietnamese cuisine, especially in the southern region. Known as a simple but very tasty dish, cơm tấm has become a culinary symbol of Ho Chi Minh City and surrounding provinces.

Origin and Meaning

Cơm tấm originates from broken rice grains, which are pieces of rice broken during the milling process. In the past, broken rice was considered a "by-product" for low-income people or as livestock feed. However, thanks to the creativity of locals, cơm tấm has become a delicious, rich and popular dish, enjoyed by many.

Main Ingredients

The traditional dish of cơm tấm usually includes rice cooked from broken rice, grilled pork chops (sườn nướng), minced pork rind mixed with grilled rice powder (bì), steamed eggs (chả trứng), and a fried egg. In addition, the dish is accompanied by fresh vegetables, pickled vegetables (dưa chua), and sweet and sour fish sauce.

Cơm Tấm: Steamed broken rice , fluffy and fragrant.

Sườn Nướng: Pork chops marinated with special spices, grilled over charcoal until golden brown and fragrant.

Bì : Shredded pork rind, mixed with toasted rice powder, providing a crispy and tasty texture.

Chả Trứng: Beaten eggs, mixed with black mushrooms, vermicelli, green onions then steamed.

Fried Egg : Fried egg with the yolk runny, adding a creamy richness to the dish.

Sweet and Sour Fish Sauce

An indispensable ingredient of cơm tấm is sweet and sour fish sauce. The sauce is made from good fish sauce, sugar, lemon (or vinegar), garlic and chili pepper. The sweetness of the sugar, the acidity of the lemon, the saltiness of the fish sauce and the slight spiciness of the chili pepper create a balanced flavor, enhancing the delicacy of the dish.

How to Taste

Cơm tấm can be eaten at any time of the day, from breakfast to dinner. A full plate of cơm tấm includes white broken rice, grilled pork chops, crispy pork rind, fluffy steamed eggs, creamy fried eggs, and fresh vegetables. When eating, one usually drizzles a little sweet and sour fish sauce over the rice, stirring so that the flavors combine harmoniously.

Development and Variations

Today, cơm tấm is not limited to traditional ingredients but has evolved with many other foods such as fish cakes, shrimp cakes, braised pork with eggs, or various attractive vegetables. Each combination brings a new flavor while maintaining the distinctive characteristics of the dish.

Conclusion

Com tham is a dish that is not only delicious but also rich in cultural values, reflecting the creativity and skill of the Vietnamese . From its humble origin, cơm tấm has developed and become a pride of Vietnamese cuisine , enjoyed not only in Vietnam but also around the world.

Cơm tấm is not only a dish, but also a part of Vietnamese culture and life, creating a connection between people and their homeland, between the past and the present. Every meal of cơm tấm is a complete experience of flavors, sensations and emotions.

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