Donnas Chinese Simmered Star Anise Pork Food

CHAIRMAN MAO'S RED BRAISED PORK BELLY

Steps:

• The first step is to blanch the pork belly, which removes any blood or impurities from the meat. To do this, add the pork belly and 3 slices of ginger to a pot with enough cold water to submerge the pork belly. With the lid on, bring it to a boil. Once the pot boils, turn down the heat and simmer for one more minute. Drain, rinse the pork belly clean, and set aside.
• With the wok set over low heat, add the oil and rock sugar (or 3 tablespoons regular sugar). Slowly melt the sugar, taking care to not let it burn. Then add in the pork belly, 3 slices ginger, and the white parts of the scallions. Turn up the heat to medium. Stir and coat the pork belly with the melted sugar.
• Now, add the Shaoxing wine, light soy sauce, dark soy sauce, cinnamon, star anise, bay leaves, dried chili peppers, and water. Stir and make sure everything is submerged. There will be some caramelized sugar on your spatula, dissolve it in the water before covering the wok. Bring the mixture up to a simmer over medium low heat for 1 hour. Check the pork periodically to make sure the sauce doesn't dry up.
• Once the pork is to your liking in terms of tenderness, turn up the heat to cook off any excess sauce, stirring constantly. The sauce will reduce to a glistening coating on the pork belly. Last, add in the remaining ½ teaspoon sugar and the green parts of the scallions. Stir quickly and serve!

CHICKEN SIMMERED IN SOY AND STAR ANISE

Steps:

• Place the ginger, sesame oil, soy sauce, cooking wine or sherry, star anise, cinnamon stick and sugar in a frying pan over high heat and bring to a boil.
• Add the chicken and cook for 6-7 minutes on each side or until cooked through.
• Add the greens to the pan and cook for 2 minutes or until tender.
• Place chicken and greens on serving plates and spoon over pan juices as sauce.
• Serve with steamed rice.

PORK CHOPS WITH STAR ANISE, SLOW COOKED

Steps:

• Heat oil in a Dutch oven or heavy bottomed pot and brown chops.
• At the same time combine, stock, wine, soy, sugar, star anise, 5-spice, sambel, honey and garlic.
• Pour over the chops and bring to the boil.
• Then cover and cook very very slow for 1-1/4 hours until very tender, turning once or twice.
• Serve over boiled rice garnished with the coriander or green chopped onions.
• Steamed Asian greens on the side is nice.

SOY SIMMERED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Place the sesame oil, ginger, soy sauce, sugar, Chinese wine, star anise and cinamon stick in a frying pan over a medium-low heat and bring to a simmer.
• Add the chicken and cook for 6-7 minutes each side or until cooked through.
• Serve on plates with the sauce from the pan, with steamed greens and rice.