Sticky Chinese Pork Food

STICKY CHINESE PORK BELLY

Steps:

• Add pork belly slices, stock, ginger, garlic, rice wine and sugar to a heavy-based pan. I use a cast iron casserole pan.
• Bring to the boil, then place a lid on, turn down the heat and simmer for 2 hours.
• Turn off the heat, remove the pork from the pan and pat it dry using kitchen towels. You can reserve the liquid if you like (Perfect for a Thai or Chinese noodle soup).
• Chop the pork into bite sized chunks.
• In a small bowl, mix together 1 tbsp of the oil, along with a pinch of salt and pepper, the ginger, chilli, honey, brown sugar, soy sauce and lemongrass paste.
• Add the remaining 1 tbsp of oil to a frying pan and heat over a medium-high heat.
• Add in the pork, along with a pinch of salt and pepper, and fry, turning regularly, until the pork starts to turn golden. Be careful as the oil can splatter at this stage (I recommend a splatter guard).
• Now pour the glaze over the pork and continue to cook for a couple of minutes, turning the pork often, until the pork looks dark and sticky.
• Remove from the heat and serve. I like to top with a few spring onions and chopped chillies.

STICKY CHINESE BBQ PORK BELLY RIBS (CHAR SIU)

Steps:

• Combine hoisin sauce, soy sauce, wine, honey, sugar, garlic, colouring (if using) and spice powder in a shallow bowl. Whisk well to combine. Pour half of the sauce into a jug and reserve for later. Add the pork into the bowl with the remaining sauce. Rotate to cover completely and marinate in the refrigerator for 1-3 hours, or cover and refrigerate overnight for best results.
• After marinading, preheat oven to grill/broil settings on medium heat (176°C | 350°F). Drain pork and discard the marinade. Line a baking pan with baking/parchment paper or aluminium foil. Place pork onto pan and grill/broil for 30 minutes on one side, basting two or three times with the reserved marinade. Rotate with tongs and baste again with the marinade twice again while grilling/broiling.
• Remove from oven and allow to cool.
• If you like additional glaze, combine all of the (extra) glaze ingredients into a small saucepan. Bring to a boil; reduce heat and allow to simmer for about 5-8 minutes until the sauce has thickened (keep your eye on it as it can burn easily if the heat is too high). Remove from heat and allow to cool slightly.
• Cut pork into thick slices to serve. Serve over steamed rice and/or vegetables with the extra glaze.

STICKY SOY & HONEY PORK WITH ASIAN NOODLES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Mix together the soy, ketchup and honey with the five-spice. Put the pork tenderloin on a baking tray and brush with just under half the sauce. Roast in the oven for 10 mins, then brush with a little extra sauce and return to the oven for a further 15 mins.
• Meanwhile, soak the noodles in boiling water until soft. Drain, reserving about 50ml of the water. Heat the sesame oil in a wok or large frying pan, add the corn and sugar snap peas, and stir-fry for 3 mins, adding the water to help the veg steam.
• Add the stir-fry veg and half the spring onions, and cook for 3 mins more until wilted. Tip in the noodles and the rest of the sauce. Using tongs, mix everything to combine. Remove the pork, cut into slices and serve on top of the noodles. Scatter with remaining spring onions.

BARBECUED STICKY CHINESE PORK CHOPS

Steps:

• Make marinade by mixing ingredients together. Put chops in a shallow bowl or tray, pour marinade over, turning chops to make sure they are coated all over, and leave to stand for at least 30 mins.
• To make salad, put the fish sauce, lime juice and 1 tbsp water into a small bowl, add the sugar, then mix until dissolved. Stir in shallot and chilli. Put cucumber in a serving dish, sprinkle mint over, pour dressing over and scatter with peanuts.
• Heat the barbecue or griddle pan and cook chops on each side for 4-5 mins, until cooked. Serve with cucumber salad.

STICKY PORK

Steps:

• Tip all the marinade ingredients into a shallow dish and stir to combine. Coat the pork in the marinade and, if you have time, leave for 1 hr or even better overnight. Heat oven to 200C/fan 180C/gas 6.
• Heat an ovenproof pan and take the pork out of the marinade. Brown on all sides, then baste over the rest of the marinade and roast the pork for 20 mins until cooked all the way through, basting with its juices every 5 mins or so. Serve the pork sliced with rice and your favourite steamed greens.