Asian Aubergine Pork Hotpot Food

HOT POT AT HOME

Steps:

• For the pork broth: Fill a 7-quart Dutch oven with 12 cups cold water and bring to a boil. Meanwhile, soak the pork bones in cold water in a large bowl, to remove some of the blood, for about 20 minutes or until the water boils. Add the bones to the pot and boil until the water darkens and there's a lot of foam on the surface, about 8 minutes. Drain and rinse the bones and clean the pot of any residue.
• Return the pork bones to the pot and add the carrots, corn, daikon and 16 cups cold water. Bring to a boil over high heat and then reduce the heat and simmer, covered, until the broth is very milky, about 2 1/2 hours. Skim off any dark proteins and fat, then lightly season with salt.
• Transfer the pork broth, along with the bones and other solids, which will continue to flavor the broth, to an 11-inch hot pot pot with a divider. Add the chili oil to one side of the pot. Place the pot on a portable butane burner and bring to a boil over high heat.
• For the components: Meanwhile, arrange the beef, fish, cabbage, spinach, potatoes, pumpkin, eggs, fish tofu and udon noodles on plates or platters, as you like. Set out at least two pairs of chopsticks or tongs and small strainer baskets (these are useful when cooking more fragile ingredients, such as fish, tofu and the like). As for the chopsticks/tongs, let everyone know not to use the same pair for picking up raw and cooked meat and fish.
• For the condiments: Create a "dipping sauce station" with any of the condiments, along with a bunch of small plates and bowls. Each person can mix and match them as they like.
• Once the broth is boiling, start cooking! Let each person cook their own ingredients in the broth (the side with the chili oil is spicier), being mindful not to overcrowd the pot. If the broth reduces too much and you still have raw ingredients left, add some warm water to the pot and bring to a boil. If you like, you can eat the marrow from the pork bones.
• Proteins-Thinly sliced chicken, pork or lamb, mini-pork sausages, low-sodium luncheon meat cut into 1/2-inch-thick slices, shellfish, fish cakes, tofu
• Vegetables-sweet potato, kabocha squash, watercress, bok choy, corn on the cob, lotus root, kale, chile peppers, tomato, bean sprouts, enoki, shiitake or button mushrooms
• Noodles, etc.-ramen noodles, rice noodles, konjac noodle knots, dumplings, rice cakes, dried tofu sticks
• Stir together the Pork Broth, BBQ sauce, sesame paste, oyster sauce, soy sauce, hoisin sauce, sesame oil, sugar, garlic and scallions in a small bowl until combined.

HOT & SOUR AUBERGINE

Steps:

• Put the aubergine in a bowl of lightly salted water and stand for 30 mins to soften. Drain and pat dry. Blanch the green beans in boiling water for 1 min then drain, rinse in cold water and drain again.
• To make the sauce, combine all the ingredients in a small bowl and set aside.
• Heat the oil in a large frying pan or wok over medium-high heat. When hot, cook the aubergine pieces until nicely browned on all sides - don't turn them too early, let them get a nice colour first. When they start to brown, add the onion and chilli, and keep stir-frying for 4 mins or until soft.
• Add the sauce and green beans, cover with a lid, lower the heat and simmer for 2 mins or until the aubergine is soft. Serve with rice.

CHINESE BEEF & AUBERGINE HOTPOT

Steps:

• Heat oven to 150C/130C fan/gas 2. Heat a large casserole dish, toast the star anise and cinnamon until fragrant, then scoop out of the dish. Add the oil, then brown the beef in batches (be careful not to overcrowd the pan). Set the meat aside on a plate.
• Add the rest of the ingredients (except for the aubergine) to the casserole dish, stir well and bring to the boil. Add the spices and meat back in, skim off any fat that comes to the surface, then cover the casserole and cook in the oven for 2 hrs.
• Remove the lid, add the aubergine, and give everything a good stir, then return to the oven and cook for 1 hr uncovered until the aubergine and meat are tender. Rest until cool enough to eat. Scatter over the coriander and sliced red chilli, then serve with rice.

SPICY EGGPLANT AND PORK HOT POT

Steps:

• Heat oil in a heavy based casserole dish or saucepan over high heat.
• Cook eggplant for 4 min, stirring often.
• Place eggplant on paper towel. Then drain all but 1 tBsp oil from pan.
• Cook pork mince, chilli-garlic sauce, ginger and spring onions for 3-4 min, sitrring often.
• Combine chicken stock, soy sauce, cornflour and caster sugar in a small bowl. Add to pan with eggplant, turn heat off but don't remove the pan, and quickly stir for 2-3 min until sauce is thickened.
• Serve with steamed white rice.