Chinese Red Cooked Pork Food

CHAR SIU (CHINESE BBQ PORK)

Steps:

• Cut pork with the grain into strips 1 1/2- to 2-inches long; put into a large resealable plastic bag.
• Stir soy sauce, honey, ketchup, brown sugar, rice wine, hoisin sauce, red food coloring or red bean curd (see Cook's Note), and Chinese five-spice powder together in a saucepan over medium-low heat. Cook and stir until just combined and slightly warm, 2 to 3 minutes. Pour the marinade into the bag with the pork, squeeze air from the bag, and seal. Turn bag a few times to coat all pork pieces in marinade.
• Marinate pork in refrigerator, 2 hours to overnight.
• Preheat an outdoor grill for medium-high heat and lightly oil the grate.
• Remove pork from marinade and shake to remove excess liquid. Discard remaining marinade.
• Cook pork on preheated grill for 20 minutes. Put a small container of water onto the grill and continue cooking, turning the pork regularly, until cooked through, about 1 hour. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read at least 145 degrees F (63 degrees C).

CHINESE RED COOKED PORK

Steps:

• (Note: If you are using a 'boneless' pork roast, you can skip this step but you will still need to preheat the oven). Preheat oven to 350°F Using a sharp knife, score 3" slits all over pork skin (do not cut into flesh). Place pork in large Dutch oven. Add enough cold water to cover pork. Bring to boil over high heat; cook 10 minutes. Drain by rinsing under cold water. Return pork to dry pot.
• Mix 1/2 cup water, 1/4 cup soy sauce, and 1/4 cup Mirin. Drizzle over pork. Cover and bake for 30 minutes. Mix remaining ingredients and set aside.
• Turn pork over and baste with pan juices. Cook 30 minutes longer.
• Turn pork over and drizzle the soy sauce mixture (that you had set aside) over roast. Cover and bake 1 hour or until pork is tender, turning and basting after 30 minutes.
• Increase oven temperature to 375°F Turn pork skin side up and bake this time uncovered for 30 minutes, or until pork is glazed and skin is slightly crisp.
• SERVE: Transfer pork to a cutting board with juice-catching channel; cool 5 minutes then remove and discard the fat and skin from pork, if desired. Cut pork crosswise into 1/2" thick slices.

RED-COOKED PORK SHOULDER

Steps:

• Heat oil in a large, heavy Dutch oven over medium-high heat.
• Add scallions, garlic, and ginger and toss in the oil until heated through, about 1 minute.
• Add water (or stock and water mix), soy sauce, rice wine (or scotch or sherry), brown sugar, anise, and cinnamon stick.
• Bring to boil, then add pork picnic shoulder.
• Turn the meat to cover it with liquid and color it.
• Reduce the heat and cover the pan.
• Simmer, turning the meat every hour and basting it, until it's fork tender, 3 to 4 hours.
• Remove the meat from the pan and spoon off the fat from the pan juices.
• Slice the meat.
• Serve with the pan juices.

CHINESE BEEF OR PORK STEW (RED COOKED MEAT)

Steps:

• *Staranise comes in the form of an eight point star.
• ,each point having an anise seed in it.
• Most of them are broken up so use a total of eight points, more or less, to taste.
• **Theorange (or tangerine) peel has a slightly bitter taste that I like better with beef but this is personal taste.
• It comes in plastic bags and has a long shelf life.
• Start by browning the meat in a few T of oil.
• Do it in batches so it gets well caramelized.
• When the last of the meat is well browned, remove it all to a bowl.
• (Add more oil as needed).
• Add the onion, garlic, ginger, anise, orange peel and chiles to the wok (or pot); keep cooking, stirring frequently, until the onion starts to brown.
• Stir in the meat along with the sauce, bring it to a full boil, stir well and reduce heat to simmer.
• Cover the pot and simmer for 1 hour (pork) or 2 hours (beef).
• Adjust seasonings, add the vegetables and simmer, covered for another half hour.
• Before serving, remove all the pieces of ginger, star anise, orange peel, chile, etc.
• Serve with steamed rice or boiled noodles.