Tom rim is one of those humble Vietnamese home dishes that punches way above its weight. Prawns are tossed in a quick caramel made from sugar and fish sauce until they're coated in a sticky, savoury-sweet glaze with a good hit of black pepper.
In Vietnam it's everyday family food, served simply with rice and maybe a plate of greens, but it tastes special enough that you'll want to make it for guests too.
The whole thing comes together in one pan in under twenty minutes, so it's a genuine weeknight hero. The trick is not to walk away from the caramel; once it turns amber, everything moves fast.
