Sichuan Pork Slices in Garlic Sauce
Sichuan Pork Slices in Garlic Sauce (suan ni bai rou, 蒜泥白肉). This is a perfect recipe that shows how a sauce can shine through an entire dish. The pork belly is simmered in an aromatic liquid until tender. While the meat retains its natural aroma, the taste is slightly dull. Then, the spicy garlic sauce fills the vacancy of the flavor and completes the dish. Ingredient Tip: Seasoned Sweet Soy Sauce, or what we call fu zhi jiang you (复制酱油), is the prominent flavor of this dish and is used in many Sichuan recipes, such as Zhong's Dumplings, Mouthwatering Chicken, and Yibin Flaming Noodles. Unfortunately, it is difficult to buy this ingredient outside of China, and the author hasn't found appropriate replacements; you can make it at home.
⏱️ Prep: 25 min🍳 Cook: 40 min
Ingredients
| 500 g | pork belly | |
| 5 | ginger slices | |
| 8 | garlic cloves | |
| 2 | scallions | |
| 2 | bay leaves | |
| 1 | star anise | |
| 1 | cinnamon stick | |
| 1/2 Tbsp | 7.5 ml | whole Sichuan peppercorns |
| 1/4 cup | 60 ml | Chinese cooking wine |
| 2 liters | water (for simmering) | |
| 16 | garlic cloves (for the sauce) | |
| 3/8 tsp | 1.9 ml | salt |
| 2.5 Tbsp | 38 ml | water (for the sauce) |
| 1 Tbsp | 15 ml | soy sauce |
| 1.5 Tbsp | 23 ml | Seasoned Sweet Soy Sauce |
| 4 Tbsp | 60 ml | Sichuan Red Chili Oil |
| 227 g | cucumber, julienned | |
| 2 Tbsp | 30 ml | diced cilantro |
Instructions
- Add the pork belly, ginger slices, garlic cloves, scallions, bay leaves, cinnamon stick, star anise, Sichuan peppercorns, Chinese cooking wine, and the water to a stockpot; bring it to a boil. Sieve out the scum and then turn the heat to low and simmer for 40 minutes.
- Meanwhile, make the spicy garlic sauce. Add the garlic cloves, salt, and water to a blender. Blend them into a thick puree.
- Add the soy sauce, Seasoned Sweet Soy Sauce, and chili oil to the garlic puree. Mix thoroughly and set it aside.
- Take the pork belly out of the pot and let it cool for 30 minutes. Then slice it into 1/8-inch thick pieces.
- Place the julienned cucumber on a shallow plate and then arrange the meat slices on top of the cucumber.
- Pour the spicy garlic sauce over the pork, garnish with diced cilantro, and serve.