Stir-fried Pork Belly with Szechuan Preserved Vegetable/Zha Cai
This dish is another one from my childhood days and it is comfort food for me. You can use ready shredded Szechuan preserved vegetable or buy the whole piece and shred it yourself. Stir-fried Pork Belly with Szechuan Preserved Vegetable goes well with rice congee or plain steamed rice.
Recipe by Mama Ding
Total Time | 1 hr 10 mins
Prep Time | 20 mins + 30 mins marinate time
Cook Time | 20 mins
Servings : 4 - 6
Ingredients
300 g (10.5 oz) pork belly, cut into thin slices or thin strips
1 large piece of Szechuan preserved vegetable (about 500 g/1 lb), shredded*
5 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
2 red chillies, deseeded and sliced diagonally
2.5 cm/ 1 inch piece of ginger, peeled and sliced into thin strips
1 sprig Chinese parsley for garnish, chopped (optional)
1 tbsp sesame oil
1 tbsp cooking oil
2 tbsp dark soy sauce or to taste
1 tbsp sugar or to taste
Method
01 Heat the cooking oil on high heat in a wok/pan. When oil is hot, add the sliced pork belly and fry until caramelized and the edges slightly browned. Dish up and set aside.
02 Reduce heat to medium. In the same wok/pan, add the sesame oil. Add the ginger strips then increase heat to high and fry till fragrant, about 5 mins.
Add the minced garlic. Fry until browned, about 2 - 3 mins.
Add the Szechuan preserved vegetable strips and fry for 3 mins.
03 Add in the browned fried pork belly slices. Fry for 5 mins and then add the dark soy and sugar. Stir until well-combined. Taste and adjust seasoning to your preference.
Add the sliced red chillies, fry for 1 min and turn off heat.
Dish up to serve. Garnish with Chinese parsley, if using.
04 If you prefer some gravy to this dish:
Add 1/2 cup water after adding dark soy and sugar. Bring to the boil and then add some cornstarch slurry (2 tsp cornstarch + 1 tbsp water). Bring to the boil again while stirring.
Then add the red chillies, fry for 1 min and turn off heat.
Dish up to serve. Garnish with Chinese parsley, if using.
Notes
If you are able to find the ready shredded Szechuan preserved vegetable which usually comes in a package of 300 g/400 g, it will be easier.
If not buy the whole piece and clean then shred it yourself. If shredding at home, soak the shredded pieces in water for at least 1 hour or else it will be too salty and spicy. Change water after 30 mins and drain well before using.