Vietnamese Caramelized Pork Bowls with Lentils

Vietnamese-inspired Caramelized Pork Bowls are my vegan take on Caramelized ground Pork using lentils instead of meat substitutes. The dish comes together so quickly and is packed with flavor. My new favorite way of serving lentils! Nut-free vegan recipe. Gluten-free option.

Get ready for some sticky spicy goodness. These Vietnamese-inspired lentil pork bowls are a vegan version of Vietnamese-style caramelized ground pork, a popular take-out dish.

There are variations in the dish depending on the restaurant. You can use pork or chicken subs here but we skip the meat substitutes and use lentils instead. Budget-friendly and whole food!

The pork versions usually use fish sauce. Since the vegan fish sauce isn’t available as easily, I make my own fish sauce dressing with the ingredients listed adapted from this.

For this recipe, we sautee the lentils with chili, garlic, and ginger for that flavor and caramelize them using some coconut sugar or brown sugar.

But the deliciousness only starts here. Now we toss the lentils with a sweet and spicy dressing. This step turns them into something utterly addictive.

We save the rest of the dressing for tossing any veggies we want to add to the bowls. DIVINE! I served my lentils over rice along with some refreshing cucumber slices and green onions but you can get creative here. Some pickled radishes and carrots go wonderfully. Use what you have in the fridge.

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Vegan Vietnamese Inspired Caramelized Lentil Pork Bowls

Vietnamese-inspired Caramelized Pork Bowls are my vegan take on Caramelized ground Pork using lentils instead of meat substitutes. The dish comes together so quickly and is packed with flavor. My new favorite way of serving lentils! Nut-free vegan recipe. Gluten-free option. 

Prep Time10 mins

Cook Time30 mins

Total Time40 mins

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Vietnamese

Keyword: caramelized lentils

Servings: 4

Calories: 214kcal

Author: Vegan Richa

Ingredients

Dressing:

• 1 teaspoon miso
• 1 tablespoon soy sauce or use tamari for gluten-free
• 1 tablespoon lime juice
• 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper flakes
• 2 tablespoons coconut sugar
• 1 clove garlic minced
• 3 tablespoons warm water or vegan chicken flavored broth
• optional add-ins: 1-2 teaspoons vegan fish sauce, 1/2 teaspoon bouillon paste or powder

Lentils:

• 2 teaspoons oil
• 1 cup chopped onion
• 2 teaspoons minced ginger
• 3 garlic cloves minced
• 1/2 or 1 green chili finely chopped
• 15 oz (425.24 g) can lentils, drained or 1 1/2 cups of cooked lentils
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar or coconut sugar
• 1 tablespoon soy sauce or use tamari for gluten-free
• 4-5 tablespoons of the mixed dressing from above

For the Bowl:

• Cooked rice or cooked vermicelli noodles
• 1 cucumber thinly sliced
• green onions and sesame seeds for garnish

Instructions

• Make the dressing; Add all of the ingredients to a bowl and mix really well. Press the miso to the side of the bowl until completely mixed in. Set it aside.

• Make the lentil pork; Heat a skillet over medium-high heat. Add the oil. Once the oil is hot add in the onion and a good pinch of salt and a good pinch of sugar. Mix and cook until the onions start to turn golden on some edges, then add the ginger, garlic, and green chili and continue to cook.

• Deglaze the pan as needed with a few teaspoons of water if the mixture is drying out too much. Continue to cook until the onion is golden and starting to turn brown on some edges, 7 to 10 minutes.

• Then add the lentils, brown sugar, and soy sauce and mix in. Add in the three tablespoons of the mixed dressing and mix in. Cook until the sauce comes to a boil and starts to thicken. Taste and adjust the flavor by adding salt if you need or add another tablespoon of the prepared dressing and mix in.

• You can also add in the zest of half a lime here for additional tang. Take off the heat.

• Serve in a bowl or lettuce wraps To the bowl add some rice or cooked noodles, a good helping of the caramelized lentils then cucumber or other sliced fresh veggies or pickled radishes and carrots. Drizzle the remaining dressing over the cucumbers and rice/noodles.

• Store: store the lentils in a covered container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat and serve in the bowl.

Notes

To make this recipe gluten-free, use tamari instead of soy sauce.

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts

Vegan Vietnamese Inspired Caramelized Lentil Pork Bowls

Amount Per Serving

Calories 214
Calories from Fat 27

% Daily Value*

Fat 3g5%

Saturated Fat 0.3g2%

Sodium 582mg25%

Potassium 606mg17%

Carbohydrates 38g13%

Fiber 10g42%

Sugar 12g13%

Protein 12g24%

Vitamin A 144IU3%

Vitamin C 10mg12%

Calcium 53mg5%

Iron 4mg22%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000-calorie diet.

INGREDIENTS:

• lentils: canned or cooked. I used brown lentils here. I would not recommend red lentils as they are too soft.
• the lentils are fried with onion, ginger, garlic, and green chili
• we caramelize the mix with brown sugar or coconut sugar
• soy sauce adds saltiness to counterbalance the sweetness
• For the sweet & spicy dressing, we mix miso with soy sauce, lime juice, rice vinegar, pepper flakes, coconut sugar
  and garlic. Some of these make up a dish sauce substitute flavor
• For the bowl, I add cooked rice, cucumber, and green onions

TIPS:

• instead of white rice, you can use quinoa or rice noodles
• Sony wants to use lentils? Use soy curls or chickpeas! Rehydrate soy curls then coo into a mince and use
• To make this recipe gluten-free, use tamari instead of soy sauce.

How to make Vegan Vietnamese Caramelized Pork Bowls with lentils

Make the dressing; Add all of the ingredients to a bowl and mix really well.

Press the miso to the side of the bowl until completely mixed in. Set it aside.

Make lentil pork; Heat a skillet over medium heat. Add the oil. Once the oil is hot add in the onion and a good pinch of salt and a good pinch of sugar.

Mix and cook until the onions start to turn golden on some edges, then add the ginger, garlic, and green chili and continue to cook.

Deglaze the pan as needed with a few teaspoons of water if the mixture is drying out too much. Continue to cook until the onion is golden and starting to turn brown on some edges, 7 to 10 minutes.

Then add the lentils, brown sugar, and soy sauce and mix in. Add in the three tablespoons of the mixed dressing and mix in.

Cook until the sauce comes to a boil and starts to thicken. Taste and adjust the flavor by adding salt if you need or add another tablespoon of the prepared dressing and mix in.

You can also add in the zest of half a lime here for additional tang. Take off the heat and serve.

WAYS TO SERVE These Delicious Caramelized Pork lentils

You can serve the lentils in a bowl or you can make lettuce wraps.

If you want to serve this in a bowl, add some rice or cooked noodles, a good helping of the caramelized lentils then sliced cucumber or other sliced fresh veggies.

Add pickled radishes or carrots as well then dress the rice or noodles, the lentils, and the cucumber generously with dressing and serve.

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