Com Tam

Name: Com Tam
Prep time: 25 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 45 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: Vietnamese
Ingredients: 2 cups broken rice, washed; 4 pork chops, pounded thin; 2 tbsp lemongrass, minced; 4 garlic cloves, minced; 2 shallot, minced; 3 tbsp fish sauce; 2 tbsp granulated sugar; 4 stems scallions, chopped; 1/4 cup vegetable oil; 4 eggs

A classic Vietnamese broken rice dish served with grilled marinated pork chops, fried eggs, and scallion oil.

45 minMediumServes 4650 cal/serving

VietnameseDinnerGrill and StovetopStandardHigh ProteinDairy-FreeNut-FreeAlcohol-FreeNightshade-Free

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Ingredients

2 cups broken rice, washed
4 pork chops, pounded thin
2 tbsp lemongrass, minced
4 garlic cloves, minced
2 shallot, minced
3 tbsp fish sauce
2 tbsp granulated sugar
4 stems scallions, chopped
1/4 cup vegetable oil
4 eggs

Instructions

1

Cook 2 cups washed broken rice with equal parts water until tender.
2

Mix 2 tbsp minced lemongrass, 4 minced garlic cloves, 2 minced shallot, 3 tbsp fish sauce, and 2 tbsp granulated sugar into a marinade.
3

Coat 4 pounded thin pork chops with marinade and rest for 20 minutes.
4

Grill 4 pounded thin pork chops over medium-high heat for 4 minutes per side until internal temperature reaches 145°F.
5

Heat 1/4 cup vegetable oil in a pan, quickly fry 4 stems chopped scallions for oil, then fry 4 eggs.
6

Plate 2 cups washed broken rice topped with 4 pounded thin pork chops, fried 4 eggs, and scallion oil.

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Questions

How much time should I plan for Com Tam?

As written, 45 minutes: 25 of prep and 20 of cooking. The longest single stretch is step 3 (20 minutes): "Coat 4 pounded thin pork chops with marinade and rest for 20 minutes."

What internal temperature should Com Tam reach?

For Com Tam, the target internal temperature is 145 F (about 65 C), given in step 4. A probe thermometer removes the guesswork.

Why rest the meat in Com Tam?

Step 3 reads: "Coat 4 pounded thin pork chops with marinade and rest for 20 minutes." Heat drives the juices toward the center. The rest in step 3 lets them spread back out, so they stay in the meat instead of running onto the board when you cut.

Is there a substitute for lemongrass in Com Tam?

The entry for Com Tam calls for 2 tbsp lemongrass, minced. In its place: Use the zest of one lemon plus a thin slice of fresh ginger per stalk. It is brighter and less floral, but it fills the same space.

Does Com Tam contain fish?

Yes: 3 tbsp fish sauce. The full allergen list for this entry is eggs and fish. Packaged ingredients vary by brand, so check labels if the allergy is serious.

Serve it with

Garlic Water Spinach Stir-Fry side
Goi Ga (Vietnamese Chicken Cabbage Salad) salad
Nuoc Mam Cham sauce
Iced Coffee with Condensed Milk drink

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