Tasting braised streaky pork is like a spiritual feast. With every bite, one can feel the satisfaction and happiness it brings. Its aroma permeates the air, and its texture is delicate, melting in the mouth, leaving one intoxicated. Each touch of the taste buds evokes awe and gratitude for life.
Ingredients for braised streaky pork
| Streaky pork | 500g |
| Dried chilli | 5g |
| Ginger | 5g |
| Green onion | 6g |
| Star anise | 2g |
| Fragrant leaves | 2g |
| Cinnamon bark | 4g |
| Amomum tsao-ko | 2g |
| Garlic | 8g |
| Rock sugar | 25g |
| Beer | A bottle |
| Cooking wine | 15g |
| Salt | 3g |
| Pepper powder | 1g |
| Sugar | 1g |
Steps:
1.Firstly, prepare 500g of fatty streaky pork, slice a piece of ginger into ginger slices, cut a scallion into small sections, and place them together in a bowl. Then add 5g of dried chili peppers, cut them into pieces, two star anise, three bay leaves, two small pieces of cinnamon, and one clove. Prepare a bunch of garlic, cut off the ends and set aside, 25g of rock sugar for caramelizing, and a can of beer. Once the ingredients are ready, start by scalding the pork skin.
2.Heat the wok, add the streaky pork with the skin side down, and use your hands to rub the pork against the bottom of the wok, flipping it back and forth, until the pork skin turns golden brown. This step helps to remove any remaining pig hair, destroy sweat glands, and reduce the gamey smell.
3.After the pork skin is golden brown, transfer it to a bowl of water and use a wire brush to scrub off the browned marks. Be sure to clean off any remaining wire bristles to avoid swallowing them. Then, cut the streaky pork into 2cm-sized cubes, being careful not to cut through the skin. Next, blanch the streaky pork in boiling water.
4.Bring water to a boil in the wok. Add cool water to the streaky pork, which helps to remove any blood in the meat. Add 10g of cooking wine and a few slices of ginger. Once the water boils, skim off any impurities. Blanch the pork for one minute, then remove the streaky pork and quickly cool it down with cool water. Be sure to drain off any excess water.
5.Heat oil in the wok. When the oil reaches 50% heat, add the streaky pork and fry it over low heat. Be careful as the pork skin may splatter when it comes into contact with hot oil. Fry the pork for two minutes until golden brown, allowing excess oil to be released from the meat. Then, remove the pork and drain off any excess oil.
6.Now, let’s make the caramelized sugar. Add a spoonful of water to the wok and add a handful of rock sugar. Heat over low heat and stir continuously with a spoon to dissolve the sugar. Once the water evaporates, the sugar syrup will bubble. Keep stirring over low heat until the large bubbles turn into small bubbles. Continue stirring until the sugar syrup turns golden brown. Quickly pour an equal amount of hot water into the caramelized sugar while stirring. Be sure to use hot water as using cool water may cause the caramelized sugar to clump together. The sugar syrup should turn reddish-brown. Pour it into a bowl and set it aside.
7.Heat oil in the wok. Once the oil is hot, add the prepared whole spices and stir-fry until fragrant. Then add the garlic cloves. Once you can smell the aroma of the garlic, add an appropriate amount of water and a can of beer. Place the streaky pork into the wok and turn up the heat to bring it to a boil. Add 3g of salt, 1g of pepper, 1g of sugar, and 5g of cooking wine. Pour the 50g of caramelized sugar over the streaky pork.
8.Once the broth comes to a boil, transfer everything to a pressure cooker and cook for 20 minutes. After 20 minutes, the streaky pork will become tender and melt-in-your-mouth. Transfer the streaky pork back to the wok, remove the whole spices, and simmer until the sauce thickens. Finally, transfer the streaky pork to a serving dish and pour the caramelized sauce over it. Your delicious braised streaky pork is now ready to be enjoyed.
Tips
1.It’s important to properly prepare the pork by blanching it in boiling water with cooking wine and white vinegar. This helps to remove any strong odors or greasy feeling from the meat.
2.When simmering the braised streaky pork, always use low heat. Cooking on high heat may cause the sauce to evaporate quickly and the meat to become overcooked.
3.To enhance the flavor and texture, you can add ingredients like kelp knots or eggs to cook together with the pork.
Braised streaky pork, served hot and steaming, often creates an atmosphere of joy and laughter during family gatherings, strengthening family bonds. On the other hand, when it comes to friend reunions, braised streaky pork becomes a symbol of friendship, bringing people together to share delicious food and engage in meaningful conversations, creating a unique and delightful experience.