Cơm tấm (broken rice): Combination Rice Plate Perfection!

Cơm tấm

Cơm tấm in Vietnamese is broken rice or fractured rice grains.  It is usually served with pork meat - caramelized grilled pork chops and bì (which is thinly shredded pork mixed with thinly shredded pork skin).  On the side it is served with sliced tomatoes, sliced cucumber, pickled carrots, fried egg, steamed meat loaf with egg custard on top/ fish cake and Vietnamese dipping sauce.  When you go to restaurants the rice plate is also usually served with a bowl of hot flavorsome broth.   I like ending this meal with a nice avocado milk shake!  

To make this delicious combination rice plate you will need the following (to serve 4):

- broken rice (I just used 1 cup - 2 cups jasmine rice ......since I could not access this.  You can use whatever rice is on hand)
- caramelised pork chops
- bì :  shredded pork and shredded pork skin.  I purchased this at one of the Inala butchers for about $5 for a takeaway container .  It is already cooked and all you have to do is microwave until slightly warm (not hot otherwise the fat will shrink).
- steamed meat loaf
- sliced cucumber, tomatoes and pickles
- you can also fry an egg to finish off your plate :)

this is bì - shredded pork and shredded pork skin

The following are recipes of:

• Grilled Pork Chops
• Steamed Meat Loaf

Grilled Pork Chops

To make these delicious grilled pork chops you will need:

- 4 pork chops
- 2 TBS of olive oil or just any oil
- 2 TBS of brown suger
- 2 TBS of fish sauce
- 2 TBS of soy sauce
- 3 TBS of lemon grass smashed / mortar and pestled or chopped up very finely.

In a bowl, mix all the ingredients together and then cover the pork chops with the marinade.  Cover and marinade in the fridge for 2 hours.  More hours will deepen the flavour.

 Marinating the pork

When it is ready, fry on a large non stick pan and cook until you see the pork caramelizing.  Don't over cook otherwise the meat will become hard.  I like it tender and a tinge of pink.

Steamed Meat Loaf (with egg on top)

These ingredients are much the same as making filling for spring rolls!  If you have left overs of the mix....wrap it in spring roll pastry and freeze for another occasion.

For the steamed meat loaf you will need:

- 150 grams of pork mince
- bit of dried mushroom soaked, drained and chopped
- a cup of bean thread vermicelli noodles soaked, drained and chopped
- 1 small onion minced
- dash of pepper
- pinch of salt
- i added in other vegetables (i added chopped water chest nuts, chives and this other vegetable I don't know the term in English lol).
- 4 egg yolks
- 4 egg whites
 

Mix up all the ingredients EXCEPT for EGG YOLKS

Place the pork mixture into oiled ramekins and smooth top with the bottom of a spoon

 In a bowl mix egg yolks and top each ramekin mixture with the yolk

I steamed 2 ramekins here.  It took about 30 to 40 minutes depending on the type of steamer (e.g bamboo steamer or electronic steamer)

Okay done.  Let the ramekins cool before you take it out.  It is easy to slide a knife around the side of the ramekin to take it out easier.  It is not the best looking but this is steamed meat loaf!

To make the Cơm tấm Platter - place rice, grilled pork, warm bi, steamed meat loaf, cucumber, tomatoes and pickles on the plate with a fried egg on top and serve with nuoc cham

This plate is huge so maybe you can share with a friend?

Of course I got the recipe by these guys!!!!!!:

• Ravenous Couple http://ravenouscouple.blogspot.com/2009/05/com-tam-suon-bi-cha.html