Pickled Asian Pears Wor Mei Lei Food

PICKLED PEARS

Steps:

• Combine all ingredients except pear in a small saucepan. Add 1/2 cup water and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer for 5 minutes to meld flavors. Remove from heat and let sit until warm.
• Place pear cubes in a 12-ounce jar with a tight-sealing lid. Add warm pickling liquid. Let cool at room temperature for 30 minutes. Cover and chill. DO AHEAD: Can be made 1 week ahead. Keep chilled.

PICKLED ASIAN PEARS (WOR MEI LEI)

Steps:

• Peel, wash, and dry the pears (julienne if you choose to -- ).
• Place all the remaining ingredients in an oversize glass jar.
• Mix well (non-metallic utensil, wood preferred) to ensure all the ingredients are dissolved.
• Add the pears to the jar, mix again, and cover tightly.
• Keep in refrigerator, undisturbed, for at least 3 days before use.
• These pears will keep refrigerated for at least 6 months.

PICKLED PEARS

Steps:

• Soak pears in water& fruit fresh/lemon juice to keep from browning.
• Tie pickling spice, ginger and cloves in a spice bag.
• Prepare liquid-combine spice bag, sugar, water, vinegar and lemon slices in a large stainless or enamel pot.
• Bring to a boil, cover and boil for 5 min.
• Add enough pears to create a single layer in liquid and poach for 7 min-drain with slotted spoon and place in a large bowl.
• Repeat until all pears are poached.
• Pour the liquid over poached pears, cover and let stand 18-24 hours in a cool spot.
• Remove pears and discard spice bag and lemons.
• Bring liquid to a boil.
• Pack pears into clean, hot jars.
• Pour boiling liquid to cover leaving 1/2 inch head space.
• Remove bubbles and seal.
• Process in a boiling water bath for 15 minutes at altitudes up to 1000 feet.

FLAVORED VINEGAR

Steps:

• Collect the number of bottles necessary, with sound corks to fit.
• Wash the bottles in soapy water, rinse first in very hot then in cold water, drain, dry and heat in a slow oven.
• Scald the corks in boiling water.
• Pour vinegar into an enamel lined or stainless steel pan and over low temperature slowly heat, do not let boil.
• Add shallots, garlic, seeds and/or sprigs of herbs to the warm bottle.
• If using tarragon, use a long sprig, twice the hight of the bottle, bend it double and push it down the neck of the bottle.
• Fill up with warm vinegar, cork down tightly, place on a sunny window sill to mature for 4 - 6 weeks before using.

WOR WONTON SOUP DELUXE

Steps:

• For Wontons:.
• Heat a large non-stick skillet over medium-high heat until hot.
• Add ginger root, soy sauce, 1 tablespoon sesame oil, sherry, beaten egg, minced flat-leaf parsley, garlic powder, 4 thinly sliced scallions, salt and pepper to taste.
• Continue cooking 3 to 5 minutes.
• Add the cooked chopped shrimp.
• Remove from heat, mix thoroughly& allow to cool slightly.
• Place a small amount of water into a small bowl to use for sealing the wontons.
• Place a tablespoon or more of the filling into the center of each wrapper.
• Moisten edges with water, fold up corner of wrapper over the filling and press firmly to seal. It will look like a triangle.
• Hold filled wonton by the tip with the longest side down.
• Gently wrap corners around filled part, moisten with water and gently pinch to seal.
• The finished wonton resembles a nurse's hat.
• Set wontons aside on an oiled plate & continue with remaining wontons.
• The reason for oiling the plate is to prevent wontons from sticking.
• FOR THE SOUP:.
• Soak black mushrooms in warm water for about 20 minutes. Discard stems.
• Place the chicken broth & 2 tablespoons of sesame oil into a large pot and bring to a light boil.
• Add sliced water chestnuts, baby corn, bok choy and black mushrooms. Let resume boil.
• 5 minutes before serving add the brocoli, mushrooms, shrimp.
• 1-2 minutes before serving add the snow peas, 1/2 of the chicken, 1/3 of the barbecue pork and add the wontons one at a time so they do not stick together. Allow the heat and serve immediately.
• Ladle soup into individual large soup bowls with as many wontons per person as desired.
• Top with remaining strips of pork, strips of chicken, as many whole cooked shrimp as desired, and several slices of hard-boiled egg.
• Garnish with sliced and cut up pieces of scallions & Italian flat-leaf parsley on top and serve.

STIR FRIED GREEN BEANS AND PEPPERS

Steps:

• Wash beans and dry thoroughly. Use fresh green beans- the longer the better for presentation. Traditionally long beans are used.
• Trim beans at each end and slice pepper into strips equal to the size of the beans.
• In a hot wok or skillet add oil and beans and stir fry for 1 minute.
• Add 1/4 cup hot water. Cover and cook on high for 3 minutes.
• Add bell pepper strips and re-cover cooking for 1 minute.
• Add salt and sugar and stir to combine.
• Serve immediately.