Pork Stir Fry with Green Beans
Today, we're making a simple yet delicious home-style stir-fry—Pork Stir Fry with Green Beans. It's quick to prepare and flavorful, perfect for any occasion.
What makes this recipe unique?
What makes it unique is the frying process of the green beans. This not only makes the surface of the green beans crispy but also locks in their freshness. When paired with pork, it's an absolute match made in heaven.
You'll find that the seasoning for this dish is actually very simple, making it perfect for beginners as well.
The key is to fry the green beans in hot oil until they turn tiger-skin like, and then blanch them in salted water to ensure the green beans are cooked through while still maintaining their crispness.
How to choose green beans?
Color: When choosing green beans, take a look at their color. The best ones are bright green. Avoid those that are too yellow or have spots. Only fresh green beans like these taste good.
Elasticity: Squeeze the green beans. They should have a bit of elasticity. Those that are too soft won't do, as their texture won't be very good.
Length: Try to choose green beans of medium length. Sometimes, those that are too long have too many fibers and are a bit tough to chew.
Surface inspection: Also, check the surface for wormholes or black spots. Green beans without these are perfect, and you can enjoy them with peace of mind.
Ingredients Explanation and Substitution Options
Lean Pork
It is recommended to choose plum meat or tenderloin, as the meat is tender and easy to slice. It is even easier to cut thinly when frozen. For vegetarians, it can be replaced with king oyster mushrooms or firm tofu.
Green Beans
Choose long beans or string beans. Tear off the tough strings on both sides to ensure a good texture. After frying until tiger-skin like, blanch them in boiling water to thoroughly remove saponin. They can be replaced with asparagus or snow peas.
Red Chili Pepper
It is used for color and adding sweetness. Bell peppers or red sweet peppers are recommended. Carrot shreds or pickled pepper pieces can be used as substitutes to adjust the spiciness.
Minced Garlic
Fresh garlic cloves offer the best flavor. For saving time, garlic powder can be used as a substitute and sprinkled before serving.
Frying Oil
It is recommended to use oils with a high smoke point, such as peanut oil or sunflower oil. The remaining oil after frying can be filtered and reused.
Marinating Ingredients for Meat
Cornstarch helps lock in the meat juices, and it can be replaced with maize starch. Dark soy sauce is only used for coloring. If there's no dark soy sauce, brown sugar and light soy sauce can be used for coloring instead.
INGREDIENTS
Main Ingredients
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·100g lean pork (sliced thinly)
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·300g green beans (trimmed at both ends and cut into 5-cm pieces)
Additional Ingredients
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·10g red chili pepper (seeded and shredded)
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·10g garlic (minced)
Seasonings
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·5ml cooking wine
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·5ml light soy sauce
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·2g ground pepper
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·3g cornstarch
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·10g salt (used in two installments)
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·5ml dark soy sauce
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·5ml light soy sauce (used in two installments)
COOKING STEP
Step 1
Marinate the pork slices: Slice the lean pork thinly and put it into a bowl. Add 5ml cooking wine, 5ml light soy sauce, 2g ground pepper, and 3g cornstarch. Mix well and marinate for 5 minutes.
Step 2
Prepare the side dishes: Cut the green beans into 5-cm pieces, shred the red chili pepper, and mince the garlic for later use.
Step 3
Fry the green beans: Heat a small pot of oil in a wok. When the oil starts to slightly smoke, add the green beans and fry until the surface of the green beans turns tiger-skin like. Remove and drain the oil for later use.
Step 4
Blanch the green beans: Heat a small pot of water in the wok. After the water boils, add 10g salt, then put in the fried green beans. Stir quickly and cook for 1 - 2 minutes to ensure the green beans are cooked through. Remove and drain the water for later use.
Step 5
Stir-fry the pork slices: Wipe the wok dry and pour in 10ml oil. When the oil is hot, add the minced garlic and stir-fry until fragrant. Then add the marinated pork slices and stir-fry quickly until they change color.
Step 6
Add seasonings and red chili pepper: Add the shredded red chili pepper, then pour in 5ml dark soy sauce and 5ml light soy sauce. Stir well to ensure the pork slices and shredded red chili pepper are evenly coated with the sauce.
Step 7
Add salt and green beans: Add 3 grams of salt and put in the drained green beans. Stir-fry quickly and evenly.
Step 8
Dish out: Stir-fry until the green beans and pork slices are well combined (about 1 minute). Once they are flavored well, you can dish out the dish.
More recipes worth trying
Chinese Eggplants with Minced Pork
StirFried Sour Long Beans and Minced Pork Made Simple
Captivating Stir-fry: Eggplant String Bean Stir-fry
Useful Tips and Tricks
Hot oil when frying green beans: Before stir-frying the green beans, the oil must be hot enough and start to slightly smoke. This way, the fried green beans will have that beautiful tiger-skin appearance, being crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, achieving a wonderful texture.
Secret of blanching: Adding some salt when blanching the green beans can help them maintain their bright green color and also remove the fishy smell. Remember not to blanch for too long, 1 - 2 minutes is just right to keep their crispness.
Trick for marinating meat: After slicing the pork, adding a little cornstarch for marinating can make the meat more tender and smooth. Moreover, it's less likely to become tough during stir-frying, resulting in a better texture.
Pay attention to the heat when stir-frying pork slices: When stir-frying the pork, ensure that the pan and the oil are hot. After putting the meat in, stir-fry it quickly and stop when the meat changes color. If you stir-fry for too long, the meat will become dry and tough, losing its good taste.
The golden ratio of seasoning: Use light and dark soy sauce together. Dark soy sauce is used for coloring the meat, but don't use too much to avoid an overly strong flavor. Adding a bit of sugar to balance the taste can make the overall flavor more harmonious.
Consumption Suggestions
Best served with hot rice: This dish is best enjoyed when it's hot! When it's just out of the pot, the green beans still have a slight charred aroma and the pork slices are tender. Spread it directly on hot rice, and the sauce will slowly seep into the rice grains, making every bite flavorful.
Recommended pairings: Enjoy it with a bowl of refreshing wax gourd soup or seaweed and egg drop soup. This can help relieve greasiness and provide a comfortable dining experience. If you prefer tea, warm jasmine tea can balance the salty and savory flavors, leaving you satisfied without a dry mouth.
Optimal timing: It's perfect for a weekend lunch or a dinner after work. You can quickly stir-fry a plate in about ten minutes and serve it right away. It's especially suitable when you're short on time but don't want to settle for something mediocre. Simple as it is, it has a strong homely touch.
Surprisingly good when eaten cold: If you have a few leftover green beans, you can enjoy them as a side dish with plain congee when they're cooled. They'll be the perfect partner for your breakfast the next day.
Leftovers / Storage
It's actually fine to store it in the refrigerator. Just finish it within 2 - 3 days. Remember to use a sealed container to keep the flavor better.
When reheating, try to stir-fry it in a pan. This will better preserve the crispness of the green beans and the tenderness of the meat. Using a microwave will slightly affect the texture.
Freezing is not recommended for stir-fried dishes as it will significantly deteriorate the texture.
FAQs:
Blanching is to ensure the green beans are cooked through while maintaining their original flavor. Combining the two methods can preserve the texture and aroma of the green beans.
Although the taste will be slightly different from the authentic one, it can still add aroma. Follow the other steps as usual, and the vegetarian version will be just as delicious!
If you have a big appetite or want to have some leftovers, you can increase the amount of ingredients appropriately!
REVIEWS
