Tuesday 27 November 2007

Graham's Signature Dish - Hung Shao Pork

Hung Shao Pork - The Finished Dish



And now for something completely different, it's time for a challenge...

Muse and I agreed that our next challenge should be to cook a dish that we enjoy - this could be a starter, a main course or a sweet/dessert. In my case, it is Hung Shao Pork. A lovely aromatic slow cooked pork dish, usually served as a starter for a dinner party (however, would equally be nice for a small main course or snack).
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INGREDIENTS

Hung Shao Pork Ingredients


1 lb (450 g) lean belly pork, including the skin
4 tablespoons dark soy sauce
1 level dessertspoon finely chopped fresh ginger
1 star anise
2 inch (5 cm) piece cinnamon stick, broken into shreds
1 level teaspoon caster sugar
3 tablespoons dry sherry
salt


Please click HERE for a UK/US conversion table

If you do use this great recipe for Hung Shao Pork, please be welcome to either email me or leave a comment at the bottom of this post with your feedback. Thank You ~ Graham :o)

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Method
First of all prepare the pork. What you need to do is cut it into 1 inch (2.5 cm) cubes, making quite sure that each piece still has the skin attached. You don't have to eat the skin, but its gelatinous properties are very important to the flavour of the finished dish.

Hung Shao Pork - Dice the pork

Finely chop enough of the ginger root to fill a dessertspoon and shred the cinnamon stick.



Now arrange the pieces of pork, skin-side down, in the pan and sprinkle them with a little salt (only a small pinch) and then with the soy sauce and 1 tablespoon of water. Next add the chopped ginger, sprinkling it all around, popping in the star anise and the cinnamon as well.

Hung Shao Pork - Ready To Cook

Now cover the pan, turn on the heat and as soon as the juices start to simmer, turn the heat down to its lowest possible setting and cook the pork for 45 minutes.

Hung Shao Pork - In The Pan

After that turn the pieces of pork over on to their other side, sprinkle in the sugar and the sherry, then cover again and continue to cook very slowly for a further 45 minutes, turning the meat over once or twice more during that time. If needed, add a little more sherry and water to avoid cooking dry.



Hung Shao Pork - Almost there....



This dish is best accompanied with a small helping of rice or vegetables.

Hung Shao Pork - The Dish



Hung Shao Pork - Ready to eat



So, that completes my part of the challenge. As well as Muse and myself entering this little challenge, I would also like to open this up to you all. I would dearly love to know what your favourite dish is to cook. Please let me know when you post your recipe. I can assure you that I may well be tempted to try and cook a few of them :)

Hung Shao Pork - The Ingredients close-up


Cheerio for now,

By Graham Ettridge x

24 comments:

no more said...

Looks delicious! Where did you find the recipe? I really hope others take up the challenge, i think it would be interesting to see more people post recipes like this. It looks relatively easy to make as well, not a lot of chopping and mincing and dicing and slicing and marinating and all that which seems to usually be involved in dishes I like. Yummy! :-)

Again - i'll have to think of what I want to do and then get the ingredients for it because right now my house is pretty bare so it won't be soon before I post, but I will.

Now i'm hungry and comppletely unsatisified from the Wendy's to go dinner i ate tonight out of sheer exhaustion from the idea of cooking after a long day back at work.

linda said...

It looks very tasty - despite the fact I am vegan. Although I do cook meaty things for others. I cannot believe you live alone and bother to cook for yourself, you should be proud of yourself.

If I lived alone now I would go back to two minute noodles and muesli for sustanance. I need to be attached to survive - I would not know how to look after myself propertly.

Anonymous said...

This looks delicious, and very much like a dish I had eaten tonight.

leosatter said...

those look soooo good!!!!

Just out of curiosity….Do you know where I can purchase good quality foods online? I am now trying to order from online stores only because of various reasons…….can you help me with any suggestions??????

There is only one place, out of all that I have tried that really stood out for true quailty, and that is Celebrityfoods.

If you can help me grow my list of quality services or stores, where I can buy my food, I would greatly appreciate it.

Thank you!

Haylzc5 said...

I have tagged you to complete a MEME (i didn't have a clue what this was) but check my blog and it explains all.

Thanks

Hayley x

Michelle said...

Well, I might take up the challenge. I'm not that great of a cook but willing to learn. That dish looks so yummy!!

Well I did finally get a day to myself and took a stroll. I posted the pics on my page. (My Sunday:))

Anonymous said...

and your single? with such amazing cooking skillz like this?

You can come cook dinner for me anytime.

I cant even mircowave without having an issue.

YUM. ME.

Graham Ettridge said...

Muse, thanks :) The recipe was from a cookery programme that was on TV a couple of years ago. As soo as I watched it, I knew it was my type of food. It is so simply to cook (well, it has to be, for me to cook it...lol!) and tastes so amazing. I hope others take up the challenge also.

Graham Ettridge said...

Linda, perhaps I should place a "would like to meet" advert on my blog...lol!!! To be honest, I don't cook like this every night, some nights I cheat with microwave meals or meals that I can throw into the slow cooker in the morning before work and leave to cook during the day. Nice and simple :)

Graham Ettridge said...

Hiya LovelyK, thanks for your nice words. I hope you enjoyed your meal too!

leosatter, I am sorry, I have never tried ordering food online - I always like wandering around the stores and picking my own stuff,

Hayley, thanks friend! I'll definitely visit your blog and take up the challenge :)))

Graham Ettridge said...

Kasper, you absolutely take up the challenge!!! I look forward to reading your post :)

Meleah Rebeccah, yup I am still single... LOL! Perhaps it is because I keep poisoning any potential candidates...lol! Anywayz, you are welcome to pop in for a bite to eat anytime ;)

Marjie said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Marjie said...

Hah...i take pride on cooking, so i may take a stab at this wonderful post.

By the way, i know it's unofficial, but I'm also leaving a meme open for anyone who wants to participate. I have you in mind, so please check out my latest post if you are interested.

Hope you have a wonderful week dear. Sorry for the deleted comment earlier. I did that by mistake :( .

Cheers!

Anonymous said...

But but but... you're not Chinese??

:D

I can cook Chinese like food, but I'm not a meat expert since I don't it much meat (not a real vegetarian, just don't like the taste of it and don't know how to prepare it).

Anyway, I might try the recipe this week... will give you feedback!

好吃极了!

Anonymous said...

Gotta delete the comment above mine... plain spam ;)

AZZITIZZ said...

Graham,
I wasn't going to leave a message but my stomach insisted!
Rumble...Rumble....Rumble!

:p

Graham Ettridge said...

Marjie, I'll wander in and have a read. You must have a go at this challenge. I'd love to try one of your recipes :)

Zhu! You absoultely must do the challenge too!!!! I can't wait to see what you choose to cook. I'll definitely give it a go afterwards. And please please please let me know how your Hung Shao Pork turns out :)

Cocaine Princess said...

Writer, Photographer and now Cook- you are a man of many talents!

It's hard sometimes to move forward after a heart has been broken because it's not only our heart that breaks but also our self esteem. But with courage we learn to move forward and continue with life. Just go out there and give it all you got, if a girl says no, BIG DEAL! At least you'll know and not wonder 'what if.' You have a hell of a lot going for you, be confident and don't let the past haunt you. If every girl has a prince waiting out there for her then every boy has a princess waiting out there for him.
XOXOXOXO,
Cocaine Princess

meleah rebeccah said...

dont tempt me! I just might have to take you up on that offer one day.

Keriam said...

Graham,

Your photos are breathtaking. You definitely have an exquisite eye. I am adding you to my fav's list. Can't wait to see more.

Keriam

Graham Ettridge said...

Princess Cocaine, thank you so much for your encouragement. Your words always mean a great deal. Thank you :)

Meleah Rebeccah, I look forward to it :)))

Keriam, thank you kindly for your nice words. I look forward to visiting your blog :)

? said...

Oh Graham, that food is gorgeous. *drool*

Will you marry me? I can't cook worth shit.

Chelle Blögger said...

OK, yum!

That looks delicious and I love the "CHOP CHOP" board. Where can I get one?

I'm snagging this recipe.

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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