Stir-Fried Pork with Cowpea is a classic dish that showcases the rich flavors of Shandong cuisine. During the cooking process, the thinly sliced pork is carefully marinated and stir-fried to achieve a tempting red color, with each strand distinct and juicy. The cowpea maintain their vibrant green color and offer a crisp and tender texture. When combined and stir-fried together in the wok, the pork’s oils seep into the cowpea, enhancing their taste and adding richness. When served, this dish releases an irresistible aroma that arouses one’s appetite. With every bite, the delightful crunchiness of the cowpea complements the tender pork, creating a harmonious blend of textures that leaves a lasting impression.
Ingredients for Stir-Fried Pork with Cowpea：
| Cowpea | 250g |
| Pork | 200g |
| Salt | 2g |
| Dark soy sauce | 2g |
| Light soy sauce | 5g |
| Starch | 4g |
| Red pepper | 6g |
| Essence of chicken | 1g |
| Sugar | 1g |
| Oyster sauce | 5g |
| Pepper powder | 5g |
| Sesame oil | 5g |
Step:
1.First, prepare a fresh batch of cowpea. After washing the cowpea, use a knife to cut them into approximately 2-centimeter-long pieces. This length will help maintain the crisp and tender texture of the cowpea during stir-frying, as well as enhance their ability to absorb flavors. Place the cut cowpea in a large bowl for easy handling. Ensure that there are no remaining fibers or damaged parts on the cowpea to avoid affecting the texture. Now that we have prepared the cowpea, we can proceed to the next steps to make this stir-fried pork with cowpea even more delicious.
2.Additionally, we will need a red bell pepper to add color and visual appeal. Slice the red bell pepper into thin strips and set aside. Next, we need 200 grams of pork. Start by cutting the pork into evenly thin slices, ensuring consistent sizes. Then neatly stack the slices in the bowl for easier shredding later on. Cut the stacked pork slices into thin strips, which will allow for better flavor absorption and improve the overall texture. Place the shredded pork back into the bowl for later use.
3.Furthermore, we need 4 cloves of garlic. Peel the garlic cloves and slice them thinly, placing them in a small bowl for later use. Additionally, we need a small handful of dried chili peppers. Combine the dried chili peppers with the garlic slices in the same bowl. The dried chili peppers will add some spiciness and aroma to the stir-fried pork with cowpea, and you can adjust the quantity based on personal preference. Having the sliced garlic and dried chili peppers in the same container will make it convenient to use them together during the cooking process.
4.Once the ingredients are prepared, we need to clean the shredded pork. Pour clean water into the bowl and add the cut pork strips. Gently stir and knead the pork to ensure it comes into contact with the water, helping to remove any blood or impurities. Next, use a colander or strainer to scoop out the cleaned pork strips and place them in it. Press and squeeze the pork strips gently to remove excess water as much as possible. This will reduce the amount of moisture generated during cooking and prevent any adverse effects on the stir-frying process. Once the pork strips are relatively dry, transfer them to a separate container and get ready for the next step of stir-frying.
5.Next, we’re going to marinate the pork strips. Place the prepared pork strips back into the bowl and add 1 gram of salt and a pinch of pepper to enhance the flavor. Then, add 2 grams of dark soy sauce and 5 grams of light soy sauce . Mix the seasonings thoroughly with your hands to ensure that the pork strips absorb the flavors evenly. Next, take a small handful of cornstarch and add it to the bowl, again mixing it well with your hands. The addition of cornstarch will increase the stickiness and texture of the pork strips. Finally, add an appropriate amount of cooking oil and mix it in with your hands. The addition of oil will help seal in the moisture of the pork strips, making them more tender and juicy. The marinated pork strips have absorbed the various seasonings and now have a more delicious taste. Now we can proceed to the next step of cooking and add even more flavor to our stir-fried pork with cowpea !
6.After preparing the ingredients, we need to give the marinated pork strips a quick “slippery” treatment. Heat a sufficient amount of cooking oil in a pan or wok. Once the oil is about 50% hot, pour in the marinated pork strips. During the slippery frying process, if you notice that the pork strips are sticking together, gently separate them with a spoon or chopsticks to ensure they cook evenly and individually. Quickly stir-fry for about 30 seconds, allowing the pork strips to change color slightly and partially cook. Once done, remove the pork strips from the pan and use a sieve or other tools to drain off any excess oil for later use. Now we have completed the slippery treatment for the pork strips, which will make them more tender and enhance the texture.
7.Next, we need to blanch the cowpeas. Heat an adequate amount of water in a pot and bring it to a boil. Once the water is boiling, add the cut cowpeas and red bell pepper into the pot. Blanch the cowpeas and bell pepper for approximately 1 minute. Pay attention to the color change of the cowpeas – when they turn bright green and become tender, they are ready. Drain the blanched cowpeas and bell pepper in a colander and rinse them with cold water to stop the cooking process. Shake off any excess water from the cowpeas and bell pepper in the colander to maintain their crispy texture. Now, we have completed the blanching step, and we can proceed to the cooking process by stir-frying the blanched cowpeas and bell pepper with the previously slippery-treated shredded pork for a more delicious and flavorful stir-fried dish!
8.Next, we can begin the cooking process. Heat some cooking oil in the pan once again. Once the oil is hot, add the minced garlic and dried chili peppers to the pan and quickly stir-fry until fragrant. Then, add 5 grams of oyster sauce and stir until it fully dissolves. Add the blanched cowpeas to the pan and stir-fry briefly, ensuring that the cowpeas are evenly coated with the seasoning. Next, add the slippery-treated shredded pork and continue stir-frying to fully combine the cowpeas and pork. Cook until the cowpeas and pork are thoroughly cooked and heated through. Once cooked, remove from heat. Now, we can proceed to the final seasoning step. Add 1 gram of salt, 1 gram of chicken powder, 1 gram of pepper, and 1 gram of sugar, stirring well to distribute the seasonings evenly throughout the dish. Finally, drizzle a few drops of sesame oil, which will give the dish a glossy appearance and enhance the flavor.
9.After thoroughly stir-frying and combining the ingredients, transfer the dish to a serving plate. Arrange the stir-fried cowpeas with shredded pork beautifully on the plate. This dish of stir-fried cowpeas with shredded pork is now complete, with its vibrant colors and enticing aroma. It can be enjoyed with rice or noodles, or served as an appetizer or a home-cooked dish. Not only does it have a tender and juicy texture, but it is also packed with nutritional value. We hope you enjoy this dish and savor both the flavors and the joy of cooking!
Tips:
1.When marinating the shredded pork, you can add an appropriate amount of salt, pepper, soy sauce, and other seasonings to allow the pork to absorb more flavors. The marinating time should not be too long, usually around 10-15 minutes.
2.During the stir-frying process, it is preferable to use high heat for quick cooking. This will help maintain the vibrant color of the cowpeas and shredded pork while locking in their nutrients and deliciousness.
Stir-Fried Pork with Cowpea is a dish that combines color, aroma, and taste. The bright green cowpeas complement the red and shiny shredded pork, making it visually appealing and enticing. With each bite, you’ll experience the crispiness of the cowpeas, the tenderness and juiciness of the shredded pork, and the savory and delicious flavors that will leave you wanting more. The tender texture of the shredded pork and the refreshing taste of the cowpeas blend perfectly, making it irresistible to stop eating.