"This Crispy Pork Rice Salad with Fish Sauce is one of my absolute most favorite meals. Inspired by a recent trip to Ralston Family Farms in Arkansas along with The Feedfeed and USA Rice to learn about U.S. sustainably grown rice. During my trip I not only got to see where they grow, mill and package the rice, but also got to taste a lot of newer varieties that I hadn’t tried before, like purple rice and rice grits!"
Crispy Pork Rice Salad with Fish Sauce
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A Note from Feedfeed
We love the contrast between the crispy caramelized pork and fresh cucumber and herbs in this rice salad. A sweet and tangy shallot and lime dressing take this over the top!
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- Recipe Card
Prep time 20mins
Cook time 40mins
Serves or Makes: 4-6
Recipe Card
For the Cilantro Peanut Rice:
ingredients
- 3 cups U.S.-grown long grain white rice
- 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 cup roasted, unsalted peanuts
- 1 shallot, sliced into thin rings
- 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro, chopped
Garnishes
ingredients
- 1 small English cucumber, halved and thinly sliced
- 1 lime, sliced into wedges
- 1 cup mix of fresh cilantro, mint, and basil
Method
Step 1
Combine rice, lime juice, and salt in a large serving bowl; set aside
Step 2
Heat ¼ cup olive oil in a small skillet over medium heat. Add the shallot rings and cook, until brown and crisped, about 5-7 minutes. Strain the shallots and let cool (and continue to crisp) onto a paper towel.
Step 3
Return pan to medium-low heat and add peanuts. Cook, stirring, until peanuts turn a medium shade of brown and become fragrant, 5–8 minutes. Add peanuts, shallots and cilantro to rice and toss together.
Step 4
Taste and add more salt and lime juice, if needed. Set aside
For the Lime Fish Sauce:
ingredients
- 1 small shallot, sliced into thin rings
- 2 tablespoons fish sauce
- 1/4 cup lime juice, (2 to 3 limes)
- 1/2 teaspoon sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes, plus more to taste
- 2 scallions, thinly sliced
Step 1
In a small bowl, whisk together shallots, fish sauce, lime juice, sugar, chile flakes, and scallions. Set aside
For the Crispy Caramelized Pork:
ingredients
- 3 tablespoons canola oil, or other neutral oil
- 1 pound ground pork
- 2 tablespoons fish sauce
- 2 teaspoons caramel sauce, (1 tsp molasses + 1 tsp water)
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 2 scallions, green parts only, thinly sliced
Step 1
Warm the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the pork, breaking it up into small pieces for 3-4 pieces until no longer pink. Add the fish sauce, caramel sauce and sugar, stirring to combine.
Step 2
Turn the heat to medium-high and cook for another 5 minutes until deeply browned. Keep stirring and spreading out the pork to cover the bottom of the skillet. Lower the heat to medium and cook for another 3 minutes, stirring to avoid burning.
Step 3
Remove the skillet from the heat and stir in the green onions.
Step 4
Using a slotted spoon, add the crispy caramelized pork to the cilantro peanut rice. Top with cucumbers, cilantro, mint and basil and serve with lime wedges and the lime fish sauce.