Hunan Steamed Pork With Rice Powder Recipe

Cooking Directions

• STEP 1.In a cast iron skillet, toast 1 ⅓ cup jasmine rice and ⅓ cup glutinous rice for 20 minutes on low heat. Keep stirring to avoid burning the rice.
• STEP 2.When the rice turns golden take it off the heat and let it cool completely
• STEP 3.Once completely cooled transfer the rice to a blender and blend it to an almost fine texture. Pass it through a sieve and keep it aside.
• STEP 4.For the spice blend, on low heat toast ½ tbsp sichuan peppercorns, ¼ tsp black peppercorns, ¼ tsp white peppercorns, ¼ stick cinnamon, ½ star anise, ½ black cardamom and few pieces of hot dry red chillies as per taste, in the skillet for a few minutes till the chilli turns dark red colour. Keep stirring to avoid burning the spice.
• STEP 5.Transfer the spice to a grinding jar and grind to a fine powder. Pass through a sieve to separate chilli seeds.
• STEP 6.Add 5 tsp of this spice blend to the rice powder. Add ½ tbsp salt and 1 tsp sugar. Whisk till well combined. Rice powder is ready.
• STEP 7.Store the rice powder in an airtight jar at room temperature for 2 to 3 months.
• STEP 8.For this recipe ½ cup of this rice powder is required.
• STEP 9.To prepare the pork, cut 1 lb of pork shoulder into bite size pieces.
• STEP 10.Place the pork pieces in a mixing bowl and add 3 cloves of garlic minced, ½ tbsp grated ginger, 1 tbsp light soy sauce, 1 tbsp chinese cooking wine, ½ tsp salt or to taste, 1 piece chinese fermented bean curd.
• STEP 11.Smash the bean curd into a paste and then mix everything till well combined. Keep it aside to marinate.
• STEP 12.To prepare the lotus leaf, cut the leaf to the size of the steamer container. Place it in a bowl and cover with hot water. Let it soak for a few minutes till it softens and becomes pliable. Then remove it from the water and shake off the excess water.
• STEP 13.Place the lotus leaf in the steamer to line it.
• STEP 14.Poke holes in the leaf to allow the steam to pass through.
• STEP 15.To cook the meat, coat each piece well by tossing them one at a time in the rice powder mix. Shake off excess rice powder and place them into the steamer.
• STEP 16.Cover the steamer and place it on the steamer stand above some cold in a vessel. Then turn the heat to high and bring the water to a boil.
• STEP 17.When the water starts boiling, turn the heat to low and steam for 1 ½ hours.
• STEP 18.Serve in the steamer container itself, garnished with diced scallion and red hot chillies. The meat should be chopstick tender and should break apart with a pair of chopsticks.

Special Directions

• STEP 1.This recipe uses only 1 lb pork so adjust the required rice powder accordingly.
• STEP 2.Any cut of pork can be used for this recipe, pork belly or pork shoulder.
• STEP 3.Chicken or beef can also be used for this recipe instead of pork. The cooking time will require to be adjusted.
• STEP 4.If lotus leaf is unavailable, parchment paper can be used to line the steamer.