Chairman Mao's Braised Pork

Chairman Mao's Braised Pork

　　Chairman Mao's Braised Pork

　　　Our great leader Chairman Mao’s favorite dish was braised pork, also known as Chairman Mao's Braised Pork. The Northeastern Chinese dish of pork stewed with vermicelli is also derived from this style of braised pork.

　　Ingredients: pork belly

　　garlic

　　ginger

　　green onions

　　star anise

　　dried red chili peppers

　　sugar

　　soy sauce

　　cooking wine

　　1. Sauté

　　Heat the wok, add oil, and sauté the pork pieces. When the surface of the pork turns golden, add the garlic cloves and stir-fry briefly. Push the pork and garlic to one side—there will be a bit of oil left at the bottom of the pan. Stir-fry the sugar (until it melts and turns glossy), then stir-fry the soy sauce (until it bubbles and boils). Combine everything in the wok and cook until the pork is well browned, then add an appropriate amount of cooking wine.

　　2. Braise

　　Add water to cover the pork, along with two star anise, several slices of fresh ginger, and two or three whole dried red chili peppers. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce to medium heat. Five minutes before serving, add long sections of green onion.