Meat Recipes - Lemon Grass Pork Recipe

Ingredients

• 675g/1 1/2lb boneless pork loin

• 2 lemon grass stalks, finely chopped

• 4 spring onions (scallions), thinly sliced

• 5ml/1 tsp salt

• 12 black peppercorns, coarsely crushed

• 30ml/2 tbsp groundnut (peanut) oil

• 2 garlic cloves, chopped

• 2 fresh red chilies, seeded and chopped

• 5ml/1 tsp soft light brown sugar

• 30ml/2 tbsp fish sauce

• 25g/1oz/1/4 cup roasted unsalted peanuts, chopped

• ground black pepper

• coarsely torn coriander (cilantro) leaves, to garnish

• cooked rice noodles, to serve

Serves 4

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Method:

1. Trim any excess fat from the pork Cut the meat across into 5mm/1/4in thick slices, then cut each slice into 5mm/1/4in strips.

2. Put the pork into a bowl with the lemon grass, spring onions, salt and crushed peppercorns, mix well. Cover with clear film (plastic wrap) and marinate in a cool place for 30 minutes.

3. Preheat a wok, add the oil and swirl it around. Add the pork mixture and stir-fry over a medium heat for about 3 minutes, until browned all over.

4. Add the garlic and red chilies and stir-fry for a further 5-8 minutes over a medium heat, until the pork is cooked through and tender.

5. Add the sugar, fish sauce and chopped peanuts and toss to mix, then season to taste with black pepper.

6. Serve immediately on a bed of rice noodles, garnished with the coarsely torn coriander leaves.

Note: Chilies and lemon grass flavor this simple stir-fry, while peanuts add an interesting contrast in texture. Look for jars of chopped lemon grass, which are handy when the fresh vegetable isn't available.