Wednesday, July 01, 2009

Microwaved Ground Pork



While I was at a ladies gathering, I noticed that my girls loved this pork dish. Lily made this dish with a Chinese preserved vegetable and she told me it was very easy, just used the microwave or put it in the rice cooker 5 minutes before the rice is cooked. This is one familiar home cook dishes in Malaysian households as my mom used to make this dish too, along with the steamed eggs. You can also find it at the place where they sell porridge or economy rice. But for some reason, I just never make it, perhaps finding steaming takes too much time. Anyway, now I learned that it takes 4 minutes in a microwave, I have no reason not to make it anymore. Since I don't have the Chinese preserved vegetable, I substituted it with salted turnips/ "chai por" and used my seasonings since I couldn't remember what Lily told me already (she was busy cooking and spoke so fast that it just went in my right ear and came out my left ear, LOL!). Got to say, it turned out delicious and very flavorful. "Chai Por" is a very good substitute.



Ingredients:

  • Ground Pork, about 1/2 pound
  • "Chai Por" (Chinese chopped salted turnips), about 1/4 cup
  • Chopped garlic, 2 cloves

Seasonings:

  • Xiao Shin wine, 1 tsp.
  • Soy sauce, 1 tsp.
  • Garlic powder, few dashes
  • White pepper, few dashes
  • Sesame oil, 1/2 tsp.
  • Salt, 1/4 tsp.
  • Sugar, 1/2 tsp.

Method:

1. Mix everything together in a bowl. Let it marinate in the refrigerator for at least two hours, preferable.

2. Transfer it in a microwave safe bowl. Pour a little water on top. Microwave for three minutes. Take it out, cut a cross in the middle and microwave for another minute. Serve warm.

15 comments:

  1. You can also substitute using chopped softened dried shitake mushroom or chopped water chestnut.

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  2. Hi,

    So easy! No need to add any cornstarch, will not taste hard and rough?

    Regards,
    Lalaland

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  3. I like this comfort food too but ever use microwave to cook it..well,since I have a steamer,there is not reason for me not to use it,right? I have a friend who refuse to use microwave to heat or cook their food..weird right? they said use less microwave is better for our health..well..if it's make our life easier there is no harm using it ,right?

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  4. I wanted to make this recently... my grandma used to do it... will do soon. :) But I am not a fan of microwave so steaming will do me. :)

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  5. I like quick recipes like this! :D

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  6. Another great home cooked dish for you. My mom used to cook this dish for us. She will normally steam the pork with 'tong chai' and then top it up with some fried garlic oil but not sure if we can find tong chai here or not.

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  7. Thanks sh. :)

    Oh lalaland, I didn't find it tough, but now you have said it, adding cornstarch might have soften the meat further. ;)

    Les, I guess it is no harm if you use the microwave safe bowl/plate that designed to be used in a microwave. It is harmful when people used unsuitable container for heating/cooking as it will release harmful chemical into the food. That's my opinion.

    Sig, then steaming will do. :)

    Hehe noobcook, me too!

    Gert, is "tong chai" the one in a brown ceramic bottle? If it is, they do sell it here. :)

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  8. This is a very authentic Chinese dish. My mom used to make it too. But I am not a big fan for it. ;)

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  9. wow, this seems pretty easy to prepare...i should try it sometime!!

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  10. this one is a classic home dish! we can just eat this with plain rice - 2 bowls!!! Mom even beats in one egg .. delish!

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  11. Ya, I know the microwave method exists but somehow I still like to steam leh! Ok, but when I am super lazy, anything works!

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  12. Love minced pork with chai por! Microwaving is a neat trick!

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  13. One portion of such dish is enough for finishing one whole bowl of rice! By the way, I find it also simple to steam it in a rice cooker.

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  14. Made this today and it was yummy!! Excellent for lazy students like me :) Thank you for sharing.

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  15. Thanks for your feedback Angela. I am so glad to read that you liked it. :)

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