Make Ahead Chinese Pork Food

MOO SHU PORK

Steps:

• First, combine the pork with the marinade ingredients and set aside for 20-30 minutes.
• Then cook the eggs. Whisk together the eggs with the rice wine and salt. Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a wok over high heat. Add the beaten eggs, scramble, and turn off the heat. Dish out the cooked eggs and set aside.
• Heat the wok over high heat once again, and add 2 tablespoons of oil. When the oil starts to smoke, add the pork and sear the meat until lightly browned. Then add the chopped scallion and stir.
• Next, add the sliced cucumbers and wood ear mushrooms. Stir fry to thoroughly combine the ingredients. Now it's time to add the Shaoxing wine, light soy sauce, oyster sauce and water.
• Stir fry everything well for an additional 30 seconds. Finally add the cooked eggs, stir-fry for another 30 seconds, and serve!

MAKE-AHEAD CHINESE PORK

Steps:

• Up to a day ahead, and when you have 15 minutes to spare, prepare the ingredients and toss them all, except for the sliced spring onion tops, together in a large pan. Cover the pan with its lid and refrigerate until you're ready to eat.
• Pour 600ml/1 pint of boiling water over the pork and vegetables and give everything a good stir. Cover the pan and bring to the boil. Stir and cover again and simmer gently for 10 minutes until the vegetables are tender and the pork is cooked. (The dish can now be chilled and then frozen for up to 1 month). Just before serving, stir in the spring onion tops. Ladle into bowls with rice or noodles.

CHINESE FRIED PORK BALLS

Steps:

• Put the self raising flour into bowl. Add a tsp of baking powder. Add seasoning. Gradually add water until you have a smooth double cream consistency - not too runny.
• Cut up pork into cubes around 1 inch or slightly smaller. Dip in flour and then dip in the batter.
• Heat up some oil in a pan, wok or deep fat fryer. It requires a good amount if you are using a pan - you want the balls to be submerged in the oil. Remember to turn the heat down once it gets to the right temperature. And remember to never leave unattended.
• Add the coated pork to the hot oil, a few at a time. You want them to go a nice golden brown colour - will take about 4-6 minutes.
• Take out and blot on kitchen roll. You can serve these immediately or cool them down and freeze.

CRISP CHINESE PORK BELLY

Steps:

• Rub the pork with the five-spice and 2 tsp sea salt then leave, uncovered, in the fridge for at least 2 hrs, but preferably overnight. When ready to cook, heat oven to its maximum setting. Lay the pork on a rack over a roasting tin, making sure the skin is exposed. Roast for 10 mins before turning down the heat to 180C/fan 160C/gas 4, then leave to cook for a further 1½ hrs. Have a look at the pork - if the skin isn't crisp, turn up the heat to 220C/fan 200C/gas 7, then cook for another 30 mins until crisp. Leave to rest on a board for at least 10 mins.
• To make the dipping sauce, mix all the ingredients together with 2 tbsp water. Cut the pork into small pieces, then serve with the sauce, plus boiled rice and steamed greens, if you like.