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Chinese Herbal Braised Pork Trotters is a delicious dish chosen by many for its nutritional benefits. However, to ensure the dish is tender, retains its original flavor, and maintains its nutritional value, check out the amazing tips shared by Mytour below!
1. What makes Chinese Herbal Braised Pork Trotters special?
Chinese Herbal Braised Pork Trotters are a perfect suggestion for those undergoing treatment or recovering from illness. This is one of the Chinese dishes that helps quickly replenish nutrients after a long period of depletion. For postpartum women, Chinese Herbal Braised Pork Trotters will help them quickly recover their health and produce the best quality milk for their babies.
Image: Curated collection
Typically, this dish comprises pork shank, various Chinese herbs, and vegetables... While the preparation of this dish may sound simple, unlocking its richest and most captivating flavors requires a few carefully guarded secrets!
2. Prepare the ingredients
To craft a fully satisfying and flavorful dish, the ingredients play a pivotal role. Below, Mytour offers suggestions for the fundamental ingredients needed to create a serving of herbal pork shank stew for four individuals.
Moreover, depending on the taste preferences of the individual, one can adapt and balance the quantities of various ingredients accordingly.
| Khẩu phần:
4 người |
Thời gian chuẩn bị:
30 phút |
Thời gian chế biến:
1 tiếng |
Tổng thời gian:
1 tiếng 30 phút |
Essential Ingredients:
- Pork shank: 1kg
- Chinese herbal medicine comprising lotus seeds, astragalus root, Chinese foxglove, ginseng, rehmannia, Chinese quince, longan, and ginkgo nuts. (You can purchase a mixed pack of Chinese herbal medicine at the market or buy each separately)
- Shiitake mushrooms: 100g
- Fresh lotus seeds: 100g
- Carrot: 1 piece
- Water chestnut: 1 piece
- Young coconut: 1 piece
- Water spinach: 200g
- Onion: 1/4 piece
- Seasonings: bouillon cubes, MSG, salt, cooking oil, soy sauce, ginger, black pepper
- 1 bunch of green peppercorns (optional)
Image: Collected
Other delicious dishes made from pork shank:
- Recipe for delicious pork shank stew with lotus seeds
- How to make tender and fragrant Coca-Cola braised pork shank
3. How to make Chinese herbal pork shank stew
Step 1: Prepare the pork shank
Preparation is a crucial step, helping to remove any unpleasant odors and ensuring a visually appealing color for the pork shank dish.
Image: Collected
- After purchasing the pork shank, use a knife to clean off any hair and remaining skin layers. Prepare a bowl of diluted salt water, then rinse the pork shank thoroughly with it. Washing with salt water will help whiten the pork shank and improve odor removal. Pay special attention to scrubbing the hooves, as they tend to accumulate the most dead skin and dirt.
- Once the pork shank is clean, sear it lightly. You can use a blowtorch to save time or wrap the pork shank in aluminum foil and grill it over a flame. Some households prefer cutting the pork shank into chunks and pan-searing them. Either way, ensure that the pork shank is lightly charred on the outside.
- Next, rinse the pork shank again under clean running water, making sure to remove any charcoal dust from the surface to ensure safety. Place the pork shank on a large sieve to drain. Use a large knife to chop the pork shank into bite-sized pieces.
- Once the pork shank is cut into bite-sized pieces, the final step in this stage is to marinate it. Mytour suggests marinating with a ratio of ½ teaspoon each of MSG and salt. Additionally, you can add about 2 tablespoons of shallot-infused water. Mix the ingredients thoroughly, then marinate for about 10 minutes.
Step 2: Prepare the Chinese herbal ingredients and other necessary components
This step is quite straightforward. One small note here is that the ingredients need to be thoroughly washed and dried, while vegetables should be cut into bite-sized pieces.
For the herbal ingredients, the process involves soaking them until they expand, then rinsing them thoroughly and letting them drain.
Image: Collected
As for the vegetables, here's what we'll do:
- Carrots: Peel, wash thoroughly, then cut into bite-sized pieces.
- Taro: Peel, wash with water, then cut into halves.
- Shiitake mushrooms: Wash mushrooms, soak until expanded, then trim stems and let drain.
- Purple onions: Grill until fragrant, then wash to remove dust and let drain.
Step 3: Simmer pork shank with Chinese herbs
- To save time and fuel, a pressure cooker is the perfect tool to use. Place the pre-cooked pork shank and cut pieces of coconut water, Chinese herbs, shiitake mushrooms, purple onions, carrots, and taro into the cooker.
- Gradually add salt and MSG, half a teaspoon each. Finally, cover the pot and adjust the heat to medium, simmering the pork shank for about 15 minutes.
- After simmering for 15 minutes, turn off the heat, open the lid, and add 800ml of water. Add all remaining vegetables. Then, add 1 teaspoon of seasoning powder and 1 tablespoon of soy sauce. Continue simmering until all the vegetables are cooked through.
4. Finished Product
Once the pork shank is fully simmered, transfer it to a bowl and sprinkle some cilantro and bay leaves on top. The pork shank is tender, not mushy, and imbued with the delightful aroma of Chinese herbs, offering an irresistibly delicious taste.
Image: Collected
This Chinese herb-infused pork shank soup is incredibly nourishing, suitable for daily meals or as a tonic for recovery after illness. However, to avoid excessive intake, it's advisable to consume this dish only once or twice a month.
5. Some Tips for Making Chinese Herb-Infused Pork Shank
To ensure the authentic deliciousness of Chinese herb-infused pork shank, here are some handy tips to consider when selecting ingredients:
How to Choose Pork Shank:
- Opt for pork shank with plenty of tendons for a tastier dish.
- You can choose the front pork shank because it has smaller bones, more meat, and less fat. However, avoid overly lean parts; instead, select pork shank with a balanced mix of lean meat and fat.
- Inspect the meat carefully, paying attention to its freshness and absence of any foul odors.
How to Choose Vegetables:
- Choose fresh vegetables with clear origins.
- For lotus seeds, opt for Hue lotus seeds for their chewiness and delightful fragrance.
- Purchase Chinese herbs from reputable sources, which can be found at pharmacies or specialty dry goods stores.
Above are suggestions on how to cook Chinese herb-infused pork shank, rich and nutritious. Its wholesome flavor and value make it a perfect choice for the whole family. So, why wait? Head to the market, get the ingredients, and showcase your cooking skills with this delicious dish! Don't forget to check out Mytour Blog for the latest trendy recipes!
You should also see:
- How to cook authentic Northern-style faux roasted pork
- How to make husband-approved Braised Pork in Soy Sauce
