回锅肉double cooked pork belly with leek, onions, green & red peppers

made 回锅肉double cooked pork belly with leek, onions, green & red peppers  for teban gardens community breakfast this morning on 13.10.2017. ^^

this my 44th friday breakfast community meal at teban gardens community service centre.

i first started doing a community meal dish for teban gardens CSC on 8.1.2016.

the centre was started in 2002 after much effort & challenge by our RI friend who is a pastor of pasir panjang hill brethren church (pphbc) which owns & runs the CSC.

回锅肉double cooked pork belly with leek, onions, green & red peppers

i had been cooking chicken the last 3 fridays, so decided to do belly pork today.

bought 1.8kg frozen belly pork from sheng shiong last evening, defrost & boiled in waster to remove scum. then i placed the pork belly in 3 oven dishes in 90degC oven for 5hrs.

belly pork 5hrs in 90degC oven

回锅肉double cooked pork means to return the pork to the wok to cook second time.

double cook dishes are a common preparation in western & i think many cuisine. for western dishes chief among them the sous vide dishes, (say) for steak, reverse sear (slow cook then sear) etc.

i have been using the term double cook generically but 回锅肉double cooked pork specifically refers to this preparation today.

belly pork 5hrs in 90degC oven

so i put them in the oven at midnight for 5hrs. and when i got up at 7am, the pork were ready & super tender.

the usual chinese 回锅肉double cooked pork does NOT use the oven but simmer/poach the belly pork for about 45mins in boiling water. needless to say, the oven method produces infinitely more tender belly pork la! ^^

very tender belly pork 5hrs in 90degC oven

you know when you cut it, easily into very thin slices

very tender belly pork 5hrs in 90degC oven

so the next thing to do was to cook them with a bit of mala 麻辣 oil.

mala oil 老干妈香辣脆油辣椒

i use the 老干妈香辣脆油辣椒 mala oil. 🙂

belly pork fried with mala 麻辣 oil, oyster sauce, sliced ginger & chopped garlic

just fry sliced ginger & chopped garlic first, then add the belly pork, then add 1 tbsp mala 麻辣 oil, 1tbsp oyster sauce, 2tbsp shaoxing wine.

belly pork fried with mala 麻辣 oil, oyster sauce, sliced ginger & chopped garlic

fry high heat first for short while.

then i added 1/4 of the drained tasty juices from the oven dish. didn’t want too much liquid, an also reduce to increase the flavours.

belly pork fried with mala 麻辣 oil, oyster sauce, sliced ginger & chopped garlic

dish out the pork & set aside. i used the aluminium tray which i transport the dish later.

leek, onions, green & red peppers

the i fried first the sliced onions, cut leek & chooped garlic, then added the cut green & red peppers. add 1-2tbsp oyster sauce (to taste).

again fry high heat, then add 1/4 of the drained juices.

回锅肉double cooked pork belly with leek, onions, green & red peppers

add back the belly pork & mix the pork & veg, high heat, and basically the dish is ready.

回锅肉double cooked pork belly with leek, onions, green & red peppers

so like any cooking, it is taste/flavours and texture, and the fresh beautiful colours.

the belly pork was super tender, & the mala 麻辣 oil gave it special fragrant flavours, oyster sauce & the pork juices the sweet taste.

回锅肉double cooked pork belly with leek, onions, green & red peppers

not a difficult dish to prepare, especially if using oven just leave it overnight.

such a beauty to behold & very tasty dish to eat.

c.h.e.f andy

curry chicken & potatoes

made curry chicken & potatoes for teban gardens community breakfast this morning on 6.10.2017. ^^

this my 43rd friday breakfast community meal at teban gardens community service centre.

i first started doing a community meal dish for teban gardens CSC on 8.1.2016.

the centre was started in 2002 after much effort & challenge by our RI friend who is a pastor of pasir panjang hill brethren church (pphbc) which owns & runs the CSC.

curry chicken & potatoes

i used a 2kg packet of chicken thighs with a centre bone. this not as good as the boneless leg which is the entire thigh & leg w/o bone. so i had to cut the meat & leave the centre bone.

curry chicken

i fried 1 sliced onions, 3cm sliced ginger & 2 stalks of curry leaves.

then i added mak’s chicken curry sacket, and added the cut chicken pieces, fried & coated with the curry.

curry chicken

i did not have stock, so just added 1 cup water, covered & simmered for 5mins. then i removed the chicken pieces & left the 12 bone pieces & boiled for 20mins.

curry chicken & potatoes

the i added the cut potatoes (from 6 medium potatoes), added 200ml coconut milk, and cooked for 5mins,

curry chicken & potatoes

potatoes are just cooked  when they break against the side of the wok when pressed. that way they are not overcooked.

the i added back the chicken pieces.

curry chicken & potatoes

the dish basically ready, and i plated it in the aluminium tray for transport to teban gardens.

curry chicken & potatoes

i tasted both the chicken & the potatoes, and curry.

they were delicious! chicken was tender not overcooked, potatoes were done just right, and the simple ready made mak’s chicken curry gravy simply marvellous, great curry flavours & lemak from the coconut milk.

curry chicken & potatoes

mak’s recipe calls for 1kg of chicken for each sachet.

i had 2kg chicken pieces, did not want to use 2 sachets. anyway i used less water, and kept the curry gravy thick & intense. of course, this was for 130 residents at teban gardens. for home cooking, i may use 1kg or just 1/2kg chicken pieces.

then the curry would be even more delicious & intense.

c.h.e.f andy