Ingredients

  • 300 grams pork belly - thinly sliced (hot pot style)
  • 4 clove garlic
  • 1 piece ginger (thumb sized)
  • 1 packages dried rice cakes
  • 1 chinese leaf
  • 1 tsp fennel seeds
  • 1 tsp szechuan flower pepper
  • 3 dried red chillis
  • 1 tbsp light soy sauce
  • 1 tbsp dark soy sauce
  • 1 tbsp vegetable oil
  • 2 tsp prickly oil (szechuan peppercorn oil)
  • 1 tbsp chinkiang vinegar
  • 250 ml hot water
  • 1 tsp cornstarch
  • 1 tsp sugar
  • 1 pinch salt
  • 1 tsp black pepper
  • 4 small spring onions

Method

  • Finely chop or mince the garlic and ginger
  • Heat the oil in a wok until hot and add the chillies, garlic and ginger and cook for a few seconds in the oil to release the flavour and remove any water - being careful not to burn
  • Add the fennel and szechaun pepper and cook for a few seconds to release the flavour
  • Add the pork belly and cook for a minute
  • Add the light soy, pepper and the vinegar
  • Chop the Chinese leaf into big chunks and add to the wok
  • Add the prickly oil and dark soy and cook for another 30 seconds
  • Add the rice cakes to the wok and mix thoroughly
  • Add the cornflour and sugar and quickly combine
  • Almost cover with hot water and allow to reduce on the highest heat to desired consistency - by which time the rice cakes should be cooked
  • If the water is taking a while to reduce it can be beneficial to remove the vegetables and meat with a slotted spoon so as not to over cook
  • When the liquid is roughly like the picture it is time to add the meat and veg back and combine before adding chopped spring onions and serving
  • Serve.
  • In a bowl.
  • Eat.