Com Tam (Cơm Tấm - Broken Rice)

Recipe & Instructions (US Units)

Ingredients:

• 1.5 cups broken rice (Tam) (or regular short-grain rice, pulsed briefly in blender)
• Water for cooking rice
• Grilled Pork Chop (Suon Nuong):
  • 4 thin-cut bone-in pork chops
  • Marinade: 2 tbsp fish sauce, 1 tbsp sugar, 1 tbsp soy sauce, 1 minced lemongrass stalk (optional), 1 clove garlic minced, 1 tsp black pepper, 1 tbsp vegetable oil
• Steamed Egg Meatloaf (Cha Trung Hap):
  • 8 oz ground pork
  • 1/4 cup chopped wood ear mushrooms (rehydrated)
  • 2 oz bean thread noodles (soaked and chopped)
  • 1 minced shallot
  • 2 large eggs, divided
  • 1 tbsp fish sauce
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper
  • 1 reserved egg yolk mixed with 1 tsp vegetable oil + pinch of turmeric/annatto oil for color
• Shredded Pork Skin (Bi):
  • 4 oz cooked pork skin, thinly shredded
  • 1 oz toasted rice powder (Thinh)
• For Serving:
  • Fried eggs
  • Sliced tomatoes and cucumbers
  • Pickled carrots and daikon (Do Chua)
  • Scallion oil (Mo Hanh): Chopped scallions gently heated in neutral oil
  • Fish Sauce Dip (Nuoc Cham - see Bun Cha recipe)

Instructions:

1. Cook Rice: Rinse broken rice. Cook in a rice cooker or pot using slightly less water than for regular rice (typically 1:1 ratio, adjust as needed) until fluffy.
2. Marinate & Grill Pork Chops: Marinate pork chops for at least 30 minutes. Grill or pan-fry until cooked through and slightly caramelized.
3. Make Egg Meatloaf: Mix ground pork, mushrooms, noodles, shallot, 1 whole egg + 1 egg white, fish sauce, and pepper. Press into a small heatproof dish. Steam for 20-25 minutes. Brush the top with the reserved egg yolk mixture. Steam 5 minutes more until topping is set. Let cool and slice.
4. Prepare Shredded Pork Skin: Toss shredded pork skin with toasted rice powder.
5. Assemble Plate: Place a mound of broken rice on a plate. Top or arrange alongside: a grilled pork chop, a slice of egg meatloaf, a portion of shredded pork skin, and a fried egg.
6. Garnish & Serve: Garnish with sliced tomatoes, cucumbers, pickled carrots/daikon, and a drizzle of scallion oil. Serve with a side bowl of Nuoc Cham dipping sauce.

What Makes It Special:

Com Tam is a popular Southern Vietnamese dish that elevates humble broken rice grains (historically cheaper leftovers) into a culinary masterpiece. The slightly chewy texture of the broken rice forms the perfect base for a variety of toppings, most classically grilled pork chops (Suon), steamed egg meatloaf (Cha), and shredded pork skin (Bi). The combination of textures and flavors, tied together with the ubiquitous Nuoc Cham, makes it a hearty, satisfying, and iconic street food plate.