Congee With Chinese Crullers Sauteed Greens Food

SALTED PORK CONGEE WITH CENTURY EGG

Steps:

• Wash and drain the rice twice with cold water in a medium bowl. Add enough cold water to come 1 inch above the rice. Cover and soak in the refrigerator at least 8 hours and up to 12 hours.
• Massage 2 teaspoons of salt into the pork in a medium bowl until the salt dissolves, about 30 seconds. Cover and marinate in the refrigerator at least 8 hours and up to 12 hours.
• Add 11 cups cold water to a 7-quart Dutch oven and bring to a boil over high heat.
• Pour off all the water from the soaked rice. Add 1/2 teaspoon salt and the neutral oil and massage using a spatula or spoon until the oil and salt are well distributed and most of the rice grains are broken.
• Rinse the pork strips under running water to remove excess salt and drain.
• Add the rice and pork to the boiling water. Bring back up to a rolling boil, stirring continuously, about 8 minutes. Reduce the heat to medium low and simmer, stirring every 10 to 15 minutes using a wooden spatula, until the mixture has thickened, the rice grains have broken down and the texture is similar to the consistency of cooked grits, 50 to 70 minutes. (To thin out the consistency, add warm water 1/4 cup at a time. To thicken the consistency, simmer until desired thickness, about 5 minutes.)
• Stir in the century eggs if using and cook until the eggs are warmed through, about 3 minutes. Stir in the sugar, 1/2 teaspoon white pepper and salt to taste.
• Divide among bowls and top with scallions, ginger and a drizzle of toasted sesame oil if desired.

CONGEE WITH CHINESE CRULLERS & SAUTEED GREENS

Steps:

• Heat a drizzle of oil in a large pot over medium heat. Sweat the shallot and ginger, stirring, until fragrant, 1 to 2 minutes. Add the rice and broth. Bring to a boil, then turn down to a simmer and cover. Cook until the rice has broken down and the mixture is thick and porridge-like, about 1 hour. Stir with a rubber spatula occasionally so the bottom doesn't stick. Remove the ginger and season to taste.
• Divide the congee into bowls. Top with a pile of Sauteed Greens (recipe follows), a drizzle of toasted sesame oil, a drizzle of sriracha and a couple turns of black pepper. Serve with Crullers (recipe follows) on the side.
• Whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt in the bowl of a stand mixer or a large mixing bowl. Add the buttermilk, coconut oil and egg and knead with the dough hook for 7 to 10 minutes until the dough is smooth and elastic. Wrap with plastic and allow to rest in the refrigerator for 3 hours.
• Remove the dough from the refrigerator 1 hour before ready to use and allow to come to room temperature.
• Heat the neutral oil in a heavy bottomed pot to 375 degrees F.
• Roll out the dough on a lightly floured surface into a 20-by-6-inch rectangle that is about 1/4-inch thick. Cut into 12 vertical strips just over an inch wide, then cut each strip in half horizontally. Layer one half on top of the other and using a chopstick, press down in the center to adhere. Cover with plastic while you shape the others.
• When the oil is up to temperature, take one piece of dough and, holding both ends, stretch gently to triple the length (it should stretch very easily). Drop in the oil and fry for 30 seconds to 1 minute per side, or until lightly golden and puffy, gently turning with a spider. Remove to a rack and repeat in batches of 2 or 3, allowing oil to come back to temperature between each batch.
• Heat the oil in a large skillet or wok over medium heat. Add the dried chili peppers and garlic and toss around, cooking until fragrant and lightly toasty, 1 to 2 minutes. Add the mustard greens, a big pinch of salt and a couple turns of black pepper and cook for 4 to 5 minutes or until wilted, tender, and bright green. Add the sesame oil, rice vinegar and sesame seeds. Toss to combine.

CHICKEN CONGEE

Steps:

• Rinse and drain the rice.
• Put the rice in a pot with the chicken stock and bring to boil. Give the rice a good stir, scraping the bottom of the pan to prevent sticking, then lower the heat and half-cover the pan. Simmer gently for 1 1/2 to 2 hours, stirring every 15 minutes, until the grains have burst open and you have a thick congee. Keep an eye on the pot to make sure the rice doesn't stick to the bottom. Toward the end of cooking, when the stock has become integrated with the rice and is the consistency of oatmeal, season lightly with salt to taste.
• Serve the congee with a sprinkling of soy sauce, spring onion and ginger and a few drops of sesame oil to taste.