How To Make Yen Mac Fermented Pork At Home

Making Yen Mac fermented pork at home is not complicated but rather simple and easy to execute. You can easily recreate this dish at home without any difficulty. Follow the detailed instructions below with BDATrip to start making this delicious fermented pork!

Step 1: Necessary Ingredients

To achieve the best quality, choosing and preparing the ingredients is crucial. Below is a detailed guide for ingredient preparation:

Pork Thigh Meat: Pork thigh is commonly used for this dish because it has a harmonious combination of lean and fat parts, ensuring the dish is not dry but remains tender and rich. You can substitute it with shoulder or loin meat, but note that these meats won't provide the same flavor and texture as thigh meat. When buying pork thigh, choose pieces with a fresh pink color, no strange odor, and not too much fat. After purchasing, remove the fat and only keep the lean meat and skin.
Pork Skin: Pork skin is used to increase the crunchiness and richness of the dish. You can use the skin from the pork thigh or buy extra if needed. Clean the skin thoroughly, remove hairs and impurities, then boil briefly to make it easier to slice thinly.
Rice Powder: Roasted rice powder is an essential ingredient that creates the distinctive flavor of the dish. You can use fragrant rice or glutinous rice, which bring the best aroma. If possible, make your own rice powder by roasting the rice until golden brown and fragrant, then grind it finely. If you don't have time or resources, you can buy ready-made rice powder from stores.
Leaves: Banana leaves, guava leaves, persimmon leaves, fig leaves, and aromatic herbs add more flavor and freshness to the dish. Banana leaves are often used to wrap and preserve the dish, keeping it moist and imparting a natural fragrance. Guava leaves, persimmon leaves, fig leaves, and aromatic herbs should be washed and chopped to mix with the meat, creating a distinctive and appealing flavor.
Spices: Fish sauce, salt, garlic, and chili are basic spices that balance and enhance the dish's flavor. Use sea salt and anchovy fish sauce for the best taste. Mince the garlic and chili finely to mix evenly into the dish.

Step 2: Preparing Ingredients

To process pork for delicious fermented pork, first, wash the pork with salt water to remove dirt and bacteria. Then, rinse the meat with clean water to ensure hygiene. Use paper or a dry cloth to dry the meat before processing to prevent water absorption, which could affect the dish's quality. Next, use a sharp knife to separate the lean meat from the pork skin.

The lean thigh meat should be sliced into thin pieces about 2-3 cm. After slicing, use the back of a knife to lightly pound each piece of meat to tenderize it. Then, place the meat pieces on a thin cloth, fold the cloth, and press gently to extract all the water from the meat. Drying the meat helps preserve the fermented pork longer without spoiling.

Nem chua Yen Mac is eaten with many types of vegetables

For the pork skin, roll it up and secure it with a string. Ensure the skin is inside to prevent it from unraveling when boiled. Place the rolled skin in a pot and boil until just cooked. After boiling, take the skin out, rinse with clean water, and let it cool and dry completely.

Once the skin has cooled, clean it by removing any remaining hair and using a sharp knife to eliminate all remaining fat. This is important as leftover fat can cause an unpleasant smell or spoil the fermented pork during fermentation.

Finally, roast the rice to make rice powder. Wash and soak glutinous rice overnight to soften it. Drain the rice completely, then roast it on medium heat, stirring constantly until the rice turns a golden brown and emits a fragrant aroma. After the rice is roasted, grind it into a fine powder, known as rice powder. The rice powder will add a distinctive and appealing flavor to the fermented pork.

The preparation and processing of ingredients require meticulousness and care to ensure the quality and flavor of the fermented pork. These steps not only help you achieve a delicious dish but also help preserve the fermented pork longer without spoiling.

Step 3: Processing

After preparing the meat and skin as instructed, place them in a large bowl. Add the roasted and ground rice powder to the bowl, ensuring the amount is enough to coat the meat and skin evenly. Then, add peeled and crushed garlic, thinly sliced chili, a bit of salt, and some fish sauce. These spices will give the fermented pork a rich and delicious flavor.

Use your hands to mix all the ingredients in the bowl thoroughly, ensuring the meat, skin, and spices are evenly distributed and blended. This mixing process is crucial for ensuring the fermented pork has an even flavor and ferments well.

Once the ingredients are mixed evenly, shape the fermented pork into small portions suitable for consumption. The size of the portions can vary according to preference, typically ranging from 100 to 300 grams. After shaping, proceed to wrap the fermented pork. First, wrap a layer of guava leaves around the portion, which will add a distinctive flavor and preserve the pork better. Next, wrap 3-4 layers of banana leaves outside to protect the pork and prevent it from drying out.

To wrap the fermented pork, lay out the banana leaves, place the guava leaves on top, then place the portioned ingredients in the center and wrap them up. Use a string to secure the outer layers, ensuring the wrapped portion is tight and secure.

After wrapping, place the fermented pork in a cool, airy place to ferment naturally. The fermentation time usually ranges from 2-4 days, depending on weather conditions. In warmer environments, the fermentation process will be faster, and vice versa, in cooler temperatures, it will be slower. Monitor the fermentation process to ensure the pork reaches the right level of ripeness, has a delicious flavor, and does not spoil.

Step 4: Finished Product

The finished Yen Mac fermented pork offers a harmonious and appealing color combination. The pink of the lean meat blends with the white of the skin and garlic, accented by the vibrant red of the chili, creating a vivid color palette that stimulates both the eyes and taste buds of the diners. The unique method of pounding the meat before processing creates a distinct difference in Yen Mac fermented pork compared to other types of fermented pork in different regions.

Yen Mac fermented pork is often enjoyed with leaves such as fig leaves, persimmon leaves, and aromatic herbs. These leaves not only enhance the flavor but also balance the sourness, providing a refreshing sensation when eaten. Fermented pork is a perfect appetizer, especially when paired with beer or wine, offering a delightful and unforgettable culinary experience.

To fully enjoy the flavor of the fermented pork, it is often served with a special fish sauce. The sauce is made from concentrated fish sauce, mixed with lemon, sugar, garlic, and chili, creating a blend of salty, sweet, sour, and spicy flavors that enhance the dish's appeal. The perfect combination of fermented pork and dipping sauce highlights its unique flavor, making Yen Mac fermented pork a memorable specialty of Ninh Binh.

BDATrip wishes you success in creating this wonderful Yen Mac fermented pork from Ninh Binh. Best of luck, and enjoy a fantastic culinary experience!