Dish of Pork with Stem Lettuce
(click to enlarge)

Pork with Stem Lettuce (Celtuce)


China - Sichuan
Serves:
Effort:
Sched:
DoAhead:  		 2 w/rice
***
1 hr
Prep		 Marinated pork stir fry with contrasting textures of crunchy stem lettuce and crisp Black Fungus. Attractive, flavorful, and easy to make.

8
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1
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1
4
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1/2
1/8
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1
1
1
2
oz
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T
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oz
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cl
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c
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T
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Pork, lean (1)
-- Marinade
Potato Starch
Salt
Rice Wine (2)
Water
--
Black Fungus (3)
Stem Lettuce (4)
-- Aromatics
Garlic
Ginger
Scallion
Pickled Chili (5)
-- Sauce
Stock
Salt
Pepper
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Potato Starch
Water
Oil
Oil (more)
Prep   -   (35 min - 25 min work)
  1. Slice PORK very thin into strips about 1-1/2 x 1 inch, easiest if stiffened in the freezer.
  2. Mix all Marinade Items and massage into the pork. Let marinate for at least 20 minutes, turning once or twice.
  3. Soak Black Fungus in lots of cool water for 30 minutes. Tear into bite size pieces, discarding hard attachment points.
  4. Peel Stem Lettuce and slice thin on a diagonal. Cut wide slices in half the long way.
  5. Slice GARLIC thin. Slice GINGER very thin and cut slices into threads. Slice SCALLION and CHILIS very thin on a diagonal. Mix all.
  6. Mix together all Sauce items
  7. Mix Potato Starch and Water.
Run   -   (15 minutes)
  1. Mix 1 T Oil into the Pork marinade.
  2. In a wok or spacious sauté pan, heat 2 T Oil over high heat and fry Pork until it has completely lost its raw color, taking care that the fond doesn't get too dark.
  3. Stir in Garlic mix for about 1 minute or until aromatic.
    4. Stir in Lettuce and Wood Ears. Fry stirring for about 2 minutes.
  4. Stir in the Sauce. Bring to a boil and simmer about 4 minutes, scraping fond into the sauce.
  5. Stir up Starch mix and stir in until it thickens the sauce moderately, coating the solids.
  6. Serve hot with plenty of steamed Jasmine rice.
NOTES:

  1. Pork:

      Weight is for boneless pork with all excess fat removed.

  2. Rice Wine:

      Use a good, drinkable Chinese rice wine, not that horrid salted "cooking" version. If you don't have this, use a Dry Sherry. Sake is made from rice but is not considered a good substitute, it's beer, not wine. For details see our Chinese Rice Wine page.

  3. Black Fungus

      [Wood Ears]   These are very commonly available in markets serving an East or Southeast Asian community. They weigh almost nothing, but expand amazingly when rehydrated. For details see our Black Fungus page.

  4. Stem Lettuce:

      Weight is after peeling, since it's otherwise hard to judge, but probably 7 ounces. For details see our Stem Lettuce page.

  5. Pickled Chili:

      This is a standard Sichuan / Hunan ingredient. Available in jars in Asian markets, they are invariably from Thailand, and are not very hot. Three give this dish little heat - increase if you like. For details see our Thai Chilis page.
  6. U.S. measure: t=teaspoon, T=Tablespoon, c=cup, qt=quart, oz=ounce, #=pound, cl=clove in=inch, ar=as required tt=to taste
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