Xiao Wan's Ground Pork Stew

This homey dish is designed to complement rice and noodles.

DanDan Noodle Soup, with Xiao Wan's Pork Stew (above)

Xiao Wan's Pork Stew with Rice (above)*

Ingredients:

• 1 lb ground pork
• 3 Thai chili peppers, finely chopped
• 3 cloves of garlic, minced
  
• 1 tsp ginger, minced
• Half of 1 medium sized onion, chopped
  
• Half of 1 red or green Cubanelle pepper, chopped
  
• 3 scallions, chopped
  
• 1/2 cup dry fried scallions (easily found in any Chinese market)
  
• 1/2 cup soy sauce
• 2 tablespoons Shao Xing cooking wine or Sake
  
• 1 cup water
• 2 tsp vegetable oil
• 1 tsp raw brown sugar
• 3 tsp sesame oil
• 2 tsp Szechuan style chili sauce
• 1 tsp sweet potato starch or potato starch mix with 1/2 cup water
• 1 tsp (each) ground black & white pepper

Directions:
Heat a medium sized pot over high heat, add vegetable oil and sesame oil. Stir in garlic, ginger, Thai chili peppers, Cubanelle pepper, scallions, and onion for about 2 mins or until the garlic turns light brown. Add cooking wine and pork. Stir-fry the pork with the other ingredients, until the pork is partially cooked.

Add fried scallions, soy sauce, ground white pepper/black pepper, Szechuan chili sauce, and sugar. Stir, reduce heat and add water. Cover and bring to a light boil or until the pork is well cooked (approximately 5-minutes)

Drizzle the starch mixture, mix well until the stew is lightly thickened. Let simmer for about 2-3 minutes and set aside. This is enough for 4 - 5 servings over rice or noodles.

Instructions on how to use the pork stew for 1 serving of DanDan Noodle soup.

In a pot bring 2 and 3/4 cups of water to a boil, add approximately 3-4 oz of dry noodles (or any Asian noodles will do) and cook to your personal preference for firmness or according to package instructions. Transfer the noodle to a one serving bowl with the same water. Top the noodle soup with approximately 3/4 cup of the pork stew. Sprinkle with cilantro, scallions, sesame seeds and drizzle a few drop of sesame oil over the top. Serve immediately.

* This rice dish is a great match for Xiao Wan's Light Kimchee .