Prep: 30 mins | Cook: 2 hrs 30 mins | Difficulty: Medium | Serves: 6 |
kcal | fat | saturates | carbs |
678 | 27g | 9g | 76g |
sugars | fibre | protein | salt |
66g | 0g | 38g | 2.12g |
Why I Love French Caramel Pork
Embracing Global Flavours
Among all the diverse recipes I share with you, this French recipe titled Caramel Pork remains one of my dearest. It is enticing, exotic, and has a way of reminding me that food is indeed a universal language, bringing different cultures together. As a Texas native who breathes and lives for the vibrant Tex-Mex flavors, I take joy in interacting with different cuisines. And Caramel Pork is not just any internationally-inspired dish, it’s a seamless fusion of eastern flavors and European cooking techniques. Take a look at this glorious dish here: [](https://yourgourmetguru.com/wp-content/uploads/Caramel-Pork.png).
Finding Inspiration
It was during my culinary explorations that I stumbled upon the recipe of Julia Child, the doyen of French Cooking. Her simplistic approach towards building flavors within a single pot isn’t just inspiring, but it provides an exciting challenge. Following her footsteps, I decided to bring this delight on to your plates. The myriad flavors in this recipe offer a delightful gustatory experience and although it’s not triggering any Southern nostalgia, the creative blend of sugar and pork might ring reminiscent of the classic Southern barbeque sauce- and voila, we have a twist!
Pairing Possibilities
While the Caramel Pork recipe is a stand-alone superstar, you can always kick it up a notch by pairing it with other dishes. If you are a fan of Asian flavors, serve it up with some sticky rice or cold noodle salad. On more sophisticated occasions, a dry French white wine like Muscadet or a Sauvignon Blanc would enhance those deep caramel flavors beautifully.
So there you have it, Caramel Pork, an exotic journey from my kitchen to yours. I hope you love preparing and serving this as much as I do. Dive right in and let those stellar flavors do a samba on your taste buds!
What You’ll Need
- 2 pounds pork shoulder, cut into chunks
- 1 and 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/3 cup warm water
- 3 tablespoons vegetable or olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/4 cup fish sauce
- 1/2 cup soy sauce
- 2 cups coconut water
- 2 green onions, chopped
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- Fresh cilantro, for garnish
Method
Step One
Firstly, cut the pork shoulder into chunks. Place it aside for now.
Step Two
In a large pan, heat the 1 and 1/2 cups of granulated sugar over medium-high heat. Allow the sugar to melt and caramelize. It will turn into a dark amber color.
Step Three
Once the sugar has caramelized, slowly add the 1/3 cup of warm water to the pan. Be careful as the caramel will bubble up. Stir the mixture until the caramel dissolves into the water.
Step Four
Add the 3 tablespoons of vegetable or olive oil to the pan and start to brown the pork chunks in the caramel sauce. Add in the 3 cloves of garlic (minced), making sure to stir so all the pieces of pork are nicely coated.
Step Five
Next, pour in the 1/4 cup of fish sauce and the 1/2 cup of soy sauce into the pan. Stir the mixture well to combine.
Step Six
Pour in the 2 cups of coconut water into the pan. Turn the heat to low, cover the pan, and let the pork cook for about 2 hours or until the pork is tender.
Step Seven
During the last few minutes of cooking, add the 2 chopped green onions and the 1/2 teaspoon of black pepper. Stir well to combine.
Step Eight
Once the pork is done cooking, garnish with fresh cilantro before serving. The Caramel Pork is now ready to be enjoyed.