Thịt kho

What makes it thịt kho

• Pork belly braised in fish sauce and sugar cooked to a dark caramel.
• Coconut water for the liquid, in the southern version.
• Whole hard-boiled eggs simmered in until they're brown.

Where it comes from

Kho means to braise in a salty, caramelised liquid — fish, pork, even tofu. Thịt kho trứng, made with coconut water in the south, is cooked in quantity for Tết, the lunar new year, because it keeps for days and is better for it.

It's eaten with plain rice and something sour and crunchy on the side, often pickled mustard greens or bean sprouts, to cut the richness.