Meat Recipes - Black Pepper Pork Recipe

Ingredients

• 1 liter/4 cups pork stock or water

• 45ml/3 tbsp fish sauce

• 30ml/2 tbsp soy sauce

• 15ml/1 tbsp sugar

• 4 garlic cloves, crushed

• 40g/1 1/2oz fresh root ginger, peeled and finely shredded

• 15ml/1 tbsp ground black pepper

• 675g/1 1/2lb pork shoulder or rump, cut into bite size cubes

• steamed jasmine rice, crunchy salad and pickles or stir-fried greens, such as water spinach or long beans, to serve

Serves 4-6

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Method:

1. In a large heavy pan, bring the stock or water, fish sauce and soy sauce to the boil.

2. Reduce the heat and stir in the sugar, garlic, ginger, black pepper and pork. Cover the pan and simmer for about 1-1 1/2 hours, until the pork is very tender and the liquid has reduced significantly.

3. Serve the pork with steamed jasmine rice, drizzling the braised juices over it, and accompany it with a fresh crunchy salad, pickles or stir-fried greens, such as the stir-fried water spinach with fish sauce, or long beans.

Note: Thanks to the ginger and black pepper, this dish is beautifully warming. Fairly simple preparation, and mild spicing, make it a perfect, and healthy, alternative to the family takeaway on Friday night.

Cook's Tip: If you have time, make this dish a day ahead so that the favors blend. Complete the dish to the end of Step 1, cool it quickly, cover and place in a refrigerator overnight. Next day, lift off any fat that has solidified on the surface, and reheat until piping hot. An electric wok is ideal for this.