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Diced Pork & Potatoes

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  The Ultimate "Rice Killer" (Xiafan Cai) If you're looking for the perfect dish to go with a bowl of steaming hot rice, look no further. This Diced Pork and Potato stir-fry ​ is savory, slightly spicy, and incredibly satisfying. It’s a classic "xiafan cai"—a dish so good it forces you to eat more rice! Ingredients Pork (preferably pork belly) : Diced Potatoes : Peeled and diced Aromatics : Garlic, Fresh Red Chili (or Thai Chili) Seasonings : Light Soy Sauce, Dark Soy Sauce, Salt, Sugar Directions Prep the Potatoes: ​ Wash and dice the potatoes. Boil them in hot water until just cooked through (tender but not mushy). Drain and set aside. Prep the Pork: ​ Dice the pork. Marinate with a splash of light soy sauce for 10-15 minutes. Prep Aromatics: ​ Mince the garlic and finely chop the red chili. Stir-fry Pork: ​ Heat a little oil in a wok or pan. Add the marinated pork cubes and stir-fry until the fat renders and the meat turns golden and fragrant. Add A...

Garlic Pepper Salt Pork Ribs

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  Air Fryer Garlic Pepper Salt Ribs are an absolute game-changer! These ribs come out golden brown and super crispy ​ on the outside, while staying incredibly tender and juicy ​ on the inside. Sprinkled with that addictive mix of pepper salt and chili powder—the aroma alone is irresistible! One bite and you'll be hooked; they're so good you'll want to gnaw the bones clean. Seriously, these are so delicious they’ll make the neighbor's kids jealous. A guaranteed hit with both adults and kids alike; they disappear in seconds the moment they hit the table! Plus, they’re easy to make, healthier, and use way less oil ​ thanks to the air fryer. What’s not to love? Ingredients Pork Ribs ​ (cut into pieces) Garlic : plenty, minced Cooking Wine Light Soy Sauce Oyster Sauce Sugar Corn Starch Black Pepper Powder Pepper Salt Powder ​ (or Chaoshan Spiced Salt) Directions Marinate: ​ Wash the ribs thoroughly. Marinate them with all the seasonings listed above (adjust to yo...

The Ultimate Cola Chicken Wings: Sticky, Glossy, and Perfect with Rice

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  A classic Chinese home-cooked dish. Sweet, savory, and incredibly sticky. Ingredients: Chicken wings (mid-wings preferred): 8 Cola: 1 can (330ml) Light soy sauce: 10ml (2 tbsp) Dark soy sauce: 7ml (1.5 tbsp) Cooking wine: 15ml (1 tbsp) Ginger: 5 slices Cinnamon bark: 0.5 to 1 stick (optional) Star anise: 1 piece (optional) Salt: To taste Instructions: Prep: ​ Score wings or poke holes with a fork. Marinate in 1 tbsp dark soy sauce + 2 tbsp cooking wine for at least 2 hours (skip if short on time, but poke holes). Blanch: ​ Boil wings in cold water with ginger. Once scum floats, remove, rinse with warm water, and pat dry. Pluck any stray hairs. Pan-fry: ​ Rub pan with ginger (non-stick preferred). Pan-fry wings on low heat without oil until golden brown. Braise: ​ Pour in cola, cooking wine, soy sauces, cinnamon, and star anise. No water needed. Reduce: ​ Simmer until sauce thickens and coats the wings (about 1/3 original volume). Taste and adjust salt. Serve: ​ W...

Soy-Glazed Potato Slices with Pork (Hong Shao Tu Dou Pian)

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  A perfect way to use up pantry staples. Savory, slightly spicy, and incredibly comforting. Ingredients: Potatoes: 2 large (peeled, sliced) Pork belly: 200g (thinly sliced) Onion: 1 (sliced) Green bell pepper: 1 (sliced) Dried chili peppers: A handful Garlic: Half a bulb (minced/smashed) Seasonings: ​ 1 tbsp light soy sauce, 1/4 tbsp dark soy sauce, 1/2 tsp salt, 1 tbsp peanut oil. Instructions: Prep Potatoes: ​ Slice potatoes (coin-thick). Rinse starch off thoroughly. Soak in water if not cooking immediately. Prep Pork: ​ Slice pork belly thinly. Marinate with a pinch of salt and oil. Render Fat: ​ Heat oil, pan-fry pork belly on medium heat until golden and crispy. Remove pork, leave the oil in the pan. Fry Potatoes: ​ Use the rendered pork fat to fry potato slices until cooked through (no white core when poked). Stir-fry: ​ Add garlic, dried chilies, onion, and green pepper. Stir-fry until fragrant. Combine: ​ Return pork and potatoes to the pan. Add soy sauces a...

How to Make Authentic Beijing Zhajiangmian (Noodles with Fried Sauce)

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 If there is one dish that defines comfort food in Beijing, it’s Zhajiangmian. It’s savory, slightly sweet, and incredibly satisfying. Here is my go-to recipe! What You'll Need: Protein: ​ Half a small bowl of lean ground pork. Veggies: ​ 3 to 5 Shiitake mushrooms (diced), some cucumber shreds for serving. Aromatics: ​ Minced ginger, minced garlic, and chopped scallions. The Soul (Sauce): ​ Yellow soybean paste and Sweet flour sauce (Ratio 3:2). Seasoning: ​ A splash of cooking wine and a little sugar. Step-by-Step Guide: Step 1: Prep the base Heat up your wok with oil (remember: hot wok, cool oil!). Toss in the minced ginger and garlic. Sauté them until they release that amazing fragrance. Step 2: Brown the meat Add the ground pork and stir-fry until it changes color. Pour in a bit of cooking wine to remove any gamey taste. Then, add the diced shiitake mushrooms. Step 3: The Magic Ratio This is the secret: 3 parts soybean paste to 2 parts sweet flour sauce . Mix them ...