Pickled pigs' ears (tai heo ngam chua)

1 Servings

Ingredients

Quantity Ingredient
Stephen Ceideburg
4 quarts Water
1 tablespoon Alum
2 cups Distilled white vinegar
2 cups Granulated sugar
1 teaspoon Salt
2 pounds Pigs' ears

Directions

Lip-smacking, tangy, chewy, and exotic, these morsels go perfectly with drinks before dinner, and very well without drinks at any time.

Boil 2 quarts of the water with the alum for 5 minutes, then remove from the heat and allow to cool.

Boil the vinegar with the sugar and salt for a few minutes, or until the sugar is completely dissolved. Remove from the heat and cool.

Boil the remaining 2 quarts water and drop in the pigs' ears. Boil for 20 minutes. Remove the pigs' ears and cut them into lengthwise slices ΒΌ inch wide. After the sliced pigs' ears have cooled, return them to the alum water to soak for 2 hours, then drain and rinse under cold water. Dry lightly.

Place the pigs' ears in a jar, pressing them down. Pour in enough cooled vinegar mixture to completely cover the contents of the jar.

Refrigerate.

NOTE: This can be eaten after 3 day and will keep for several weeks in the refrigerator.

Yields 2 quarts

From "The Classic Cuisine of Vietnam", Bach Ngo and Gloria Zimmerman, Barron's, 1979. ISBN 0-8120-5309-5

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