The most common way to enjoy chestnuts is probably through stir-fried chestnuts, which can often be found in the streets and alleys of many places. Chestnuts can also be used in traditional Chinese medicine and, after cooking, can be made into medicinal dishes. Here, we introduce a dish that can replenish vital energy, nourish the skin, and improve complexion: Chestnut Braised Pork.
Method 1 for Chestnut Braised Pork
Ingredients Preparation
500 grams of pork belly, around 10 chestnuts, scallions, ginger, Sichuan pepper, star anise, salt, rock sugar, cooking wine, and dark soy sauce.
Steps
1. Wash the pork belly and blanch it; set aside.
2. Pour enough hot water over the pork belly to cover it completely. Bring the water to a boil, then simmer.
3. Make a cut on each chestnut, then place them in boiling water and cook for two to three minutes. Quickly transfer them to cold water and peel off both the outer shell and inner skin along the cut.
4. After the pork has been simmering for half an hour, add the peeled chestnuts and continue to simmer for another fifteen to twenty minutes. Add an appropriate amount of rock sugar and stir evenly. Season with a little salt and you're done.
Tips
Do not cook the chestnuts for too long as they will become fragile.
Method 2 for Chestnut Braised Pork
Ingredients Preparation
600 grams of pork belly, several chestnuts, two heads of garlic, scallions, star anise, cinnamon bark, bay leaves, white peony root, cloves, ginger, light soy sauce, dark soy sauce, cooking wine, sugar, and salt.
Steps
1. Peel the chestnuts, slice the scallions, cut the ginger into pieces, peel the garlic, and cut the pork belly into cubes.
2. Heat the pan without oil and place the pork belly directly into the pan. Cook for a few minutes, then continuously stir-fry until both sides are slightly charred.
3. Add cooking wine, light soy sauce, dark soy sauce, sugar, star anise, cinnamon bark, ginger, scallions, bay leaves, white peony root, and cloves. Stir-fry continuously until the color is even.
4. Pour in two bowls of water, enough to level with the meat. Cover the pot and simmer until the broth thickens.
5. Add the chestnuts and salt, then simmer for another ten minutes. Finally, add the garlic and stir-fry for five more minutes.
Method 3 for Chestnut Braised Pork
Ingredients Preparation
Chestnuts, pork belly, rock sugar, scallions, ginger, garlic, cooking wine, light soy sauce, dark soy sauce, star anise, and cinnamon bark.
Steps
1. Cut a slit in each chestnut, then place them in boiling water and cook for three to four minutes. Remove from the water and peel along the cut.
2. Cut the pork belly into small pieces. Heat the oil until it reaches seven-tenths of its smoking point, then add the pork belly and stir-fry. When the pork turns golden brown, remove and set aside.
3. Leave a small amount of oil in the pan. Add rock sugar and heat on low until the sugar begins to turn yellow. Add the stir-fried pork belly and peeled chestnuts, then stir-fry.
4. Pour in a moderate amount of warm water to cover the pork and chestnuts. Add a small amount of dark soy sauce, an appropriate amount of light soy sauce, scallions, ginger, garlic, star anise, and cinnamon bark.
5. Bring to a boil over high heat, then simmer. Once the liquid starts to reduce, turn up the heat and stir quickly until the sauce thickens. The dish is now ready to serve.
Method 4 for Chestnut Braised Pork
Ingredients Preparation
Pork belly, chestnuts, an appropriate amount of light soy sauce, an appropriate amount of ginger slices, an appropriate amount of cooking wine, an appropriate amount of rock sugar, and an appropriate amount of dark soy sauce.
Steps
1. Blanch the pork belly one to two times and drain the water; set aside.
2. Heat oil in a pan, then sauté the ginger slices. Add the pork belly and stir-fry appropriately. Add the raw peeled chestnuts.
3. Add light soy sauce, dark soy sauce, cooking wine, and rock sugar. Stir until the rock sugar has melted and the pork is evenly colored, then turn off the heat.
4. Transfer to a preheated cast iron pot and add a small amount of water.
5. Bring to a boil over medium heat, then simmer. Stir several times during cooking. Once the pork is tender, the dish is ready to serve.
Nutritional Benefits of Chestnut Braised Pork
Chestnuts are nutritionally rich, containing higher levels of vitamin C than tomatoes. They also contain a comprehensive range of minerals, including potassium, zinc, and iron. This dish provides benefits such as replenishing qi (vital energy), moisturizing the skin, tonifying the stomach, and quenching thirst.