Cha Trung Hap Vietnamese Steamed (Printable version)
Soft Vietnamese steamed meatloaf with pork, eggs, mushrooms, and glass noodles. A savory comfort food perfect with rice.
# What you need:
→ Proteins
01 - 14 oz ground pork
02 - 3 large eggs
03 - 1 egg yolk, for topping
04 - 1.75 oz dried wood ear mushrooms, soaked and finely chopped
05 - 1.75 oz glass noodles, soaked and finely chopped
→ Vegetables & Aromatics
06 - 1 small onion, finely diced
07 - 2 scallions, finely chopped
08 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
→ Seasonings
09 - 1 tbsp fish sauce
10 - 1 tbsp gluten-free soy sauce
11 - 1 tsp sugar
12 - 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
13 - 1/2 tsp salt
# How To:
01 - Soak dried wood ear mushrooms and glass noodles in warm water for 10 minutes, then drain and finely chop.
02 - In a large bowl, combine ground pork, 3 eggs, chopped mushrooms, glass noodles, onion, scallions, minced garlic, fish sauce, soy sauce, sugar, black pepper, and salt. Mix thoroughly until well incorporated.
03 - Lightly grease a heatproof dish or loaf pan. Pour the pork mixture in and level the surface.
04 - Place the dish in a steamer over simmering water. Cover and steam for 25–30 minutes, or until set.
05 - Beat the remaining egg yolk. After 25 minutes of steaming, spread the yolk over the top of the meatloaf. Cover and steam for an additional 5–7 minutes, or until the yolk is set and glossy.
06 - Remove from heat, let cool slightly, then slice and serve with jasmine rice and pickled vegetables.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The texture is impossibly light, almost like a savory custard rather than heavy meatloaf
- It transforms humble ingredients into something that feels special enough for guests
- Leftovers make the most incredible banh mi filling youve ever tasted
02 -
- The mixture will look quite loose before steaming, almost worryingly so, but this is exactly right
- Never skip the final egg yolk step, that glossy topping is what makes it look so professional
- Steaming time can vary depending on your pan thickness, so check for doneness by inserting a knife
03 -
- Line your steamer with a clean kitchen towel under the lid to prevent condensation from dripping onto the meatloaf surface
- Room temperature ingredients mix more evenly and produce a consistently tender result