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Nấm kho tiêu (peppered braised mushrooms)
Nấm kho tiêu: mixed mushrooms caramelised in a clay pot with tamari and plenty of cracked black pepper
Phú Quốc and the pepper farms of the south give this little clay-pot dish its backbone: so much freshly cracked black pepper that it warms the back of the throat. Mushrooms are braised in a thin caramel until their edges darken and the sauce clings in sticky, salty drops, and nothing else gets in the way: no tofu, no coconut water, just mushroom, caramel and pepper. Families eat it on chay days with plain rice and boiled greens to dip in the leftover sauce. Chef's tip: crack the peppercorns coarsely just before cooking; ready-ground pepper turns dusty and bitter and is the commonest mistake.
- Total time
- 30 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 3
Ingredients
- 9 oz oyster mushroomstorn into large pieces
- 7 oz fresh shiitake mushroomsstalks removed, halved
- 1 ½ tbsp brown sugar
- 1 ½ tbsp neutral oil
- 2 ½ tbsp tamari
- 2 tsp black peppercornsfreshly and coarsely cracked
- 1 red chilli (optional)sliced, optional
- 1 spring onionsliced
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Method
0/5 doneStep 1: Toss 9 oz oyster mushrooms and 7 oz fresh shiitake mushrooms in a hot dry pan over a high heat for 4 minutes, until they shrink, release their water and that water has mostly evaporated. Tip out onto a plate.
4 minStep 2: In a small clay pot or saucepan, melt 1 ½ tbsp brown sugar with 1 ½ tbsp neutral oil over a medium heat, stirring, until it foams and turns deep amber.
3 minStep 3: Add the mushrooms and stir quickly to coat in the caramel; it may seize, but will melt again.
1 minStep 4: Pour in 2 ½ tbsp tamari, 4 tablespoons of water and half the 1 ¼ tsp black peppercorns. Simmer uncovered over a low heat, turning the mushrooms every few minutes, until the sauce is thick, dark and sticky and only a few spoonfuls remain.
10 minStep 5: Add the rest of ¾ tsp black peppercorns, 1 red chilli and 1 spring onion, stir for 30 seconds and serve hot from the pot.
1 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 130 kcal
- Protein
- 5 g
- Carbs
- 14 g
- Fat
- 7 g
- Fibre
- 4 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does nấm kho tiêu (peppered braised mushrooms) take?
- About 30 minutes in total: 10 minutes to prepare and 20 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 3 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegan?
- Yes. It has no meat, fish, dairy or eggs.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- What can I use instead of oyster mushrooms?
- Aubergine, diced, same weight.
- What can I use instead of fresh shiitake mushrooms?
- Aubergine, diced, same weight.
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