This Vietnamese Food

food-identificationvietnamese-cuisine

Several years ago, I had a friend of Vietnamese descent. She went back to visit her home country and returned with gifts. I was given a box (possibly yellow) containing several foil-wrapped cubes or rectangles. They were a sort of caked or compressed powder, and somewhat unpleasant to eat. I have since lost touch with my friend, but I would love to be able to track down (or at least identify) this food.

I remember that the first ingredient listed was "grease pig."

Best Answer

Does it look like this? I have some in my pantry now. (Don't tell anyone.)

By request, the box contents: inside a cellophane sleeve, 4 foil-wrapped cubes. Here's one:Pho cube

Texture is very much like a boullion cube - hard, with a bit of sticky give when pushed. Salty, as expected, but also sweetish with a distinct flavor of caramelized onions and star anise.