Ingredients
- 3 cloves garlic
- 1-2 tablespoons roughly chopped palm sugar
- 1 – 2 finely chopped fresh chillis
- 4 tablespoons fish sauce
- 4 tablespoons lime juice
- 1 eggplant
- 600g pork mince
- 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
- 1 red onion, chopped
- coriander leaves
Method
To start with make the nuoc cham (sauce) by pounding garlic and palm sugar in a mortar (if you don't have a mortar then either chop very finely or use a small food processor) until pasty and the garlic is pulverised, add chillies and pound, gradually add a few tab of lime juice to soften, then mix in most of lime and fish sauce, leaving a little for final adjustment. Taste sauce and if necessary add more lime or fish sauce - it should be bright and salty with no one flavour dominating. Set aside.
Slice the eggplant into fingers approximately 1cm in diameter and 6cm long.
Brush with oil and then cook in a frying pan or on a ridged grill pan until tender and coloured.
Heat a splash of oil in a wok and brown pork mince over a medium - high heat. Reduce the heat and add onion and garlic and cook, stirring regularly for about 5 minutes.
Add the eggplant to the pan and toss to combine. Turn off heat and pour over the nuoc cham. Toss to distribute.
Serve warm with coriander leaves and chopped spring onions if you like.
Made this tonight for dinner and yum – it is amazing! Enough for my lunch tomorrow and the next day. Very tasty. Thanks Helen your recipes are amazing.
Lovely fresh taste. Quick and easy to make. Thanks for the recipe. (Will make again.)
I ahve tried youre Vietnamese recipe and it was a success!…many friends of mine love it and I ahve recommended your website for them to refre should they have a hard time palnning for their next meal.
Your recipe is so quick and easy, good for people like me who is so extrmely busy at work and to cook one of your easy dish is so helpful.
Thank you for helping me for making my cooking so effortlessly easy.