Recipe - Basic Steamed Minced Pork

1 pound Pork
1 teaspoon Cornstarch
One half teaspoon Salt
2 teaspoon Soy sauce

1. Mince or grind pork. Mix well with cornstarch, salt and soy sauce.

2. Spread mixture out flat like a pancake in a shallow heatproof dish.

3. Steam on a rack until done, about 30 minutes (see "HOWTO SECTION").

Check with a fork to see that meat is no longer pink. Serve hot.

NOTE: This dish is best when made with slightly fat pork.

VARIATIONS: Sliver rather than grind or mince pork, and steam about 45
minutes.

In step 1, add to pork mixture any of the following:

One half teaspoon sugar

1 teaspoon peanut oil

: few drops of sesame oil

: 1 or 2 slices fresh ginger root, minced

1 scallion stalk, minced

1 egg, beaten

: One fourth pound fresh mushrooms, minced; or 3 dried black mushrooms
(soaked), minced

One half cup water chestnuts, minced

Or add any of the following as indicated:

BLACK BEANS: Add to pork mixture 1 tablespoon fermented black beans
(soaked), mashed, and 1 garlic clove, minced.

CHINESE SAUSAGES: Place on top of pork mixture 2 Chinese sausages,
either cut diagonally in 1/2inch slices, or minced.

DRIED OYSTERS: Add to pork mixture 4 dried oysters (soaked), minced.

DUCK LIVERS: Add to pork mixture 2 dried duck livers (soaked), minced,
and One half cup water chestnuts, minced.

PICKLED BAMBOO SHOOTS : Place on top of pork mixture One half cup pickled
bamboo shoots, drained.

PRESERVED TURNIP: Add to pork mixture One half bundle preserved turnip,
washed and shredded, 1 tablespoon sherry and a dash of pepper.

SALT CABBAGE: Add to pork mixture One fourth to One half cup salted or preserved
cabbage, chopped. Top with 2 tablespoons water chestnuts, cut or sliced up .

SALT EGG: Separate 1 salt egg. Add the white to the pork mixture along
with 1 fresh egg, beaten; 6 water chestnuts, minced, 2 teaspoons sherry and
a dash of pepper. Mash or cut up salt egg yolk and sprinkle on top.

SALT FISH: Add to pork mixture 1/8 pound dried salted fish (soaked),
minced, plus One fourth cup water. Or arrange on top of pork mixture 4 strips of
salt fish, about Three fourths inches wide by 2 inches long (soaked), and 2 slices
fresh ginger root, minced. Sprinkle with 1 teaspoon sugar and 1 tablespoon
oil.

TEA MELON: Add to pork mixture One half cup tea melon, rinsed and chopped
coarsely or minced . Or add 4 tablespoons tea melon and 1 cup bamboo shoots,
chopped coarsely. Or add 2 tablespoons tea melon, minced; 2 tablespoons
preserved turnip, minced; 1 tablespoon cloud ear mushrooms (soaked),
minced, and a few drops of sesame oil.

VEGETABLES: Add to pork mixture any of the following:

1 Cup cauliflower, broken into tiny flowerets or cut in 1inch pieces
and parboiled.

One fourth cup carrots, minced and parboiled.

One fourth cup cup Chinese turnips, minced and parboiled.

Instead of blending the soy sauce with the pork mixture, as in step 1,
sprinkle soy over the top with a circular motion in step 2. Minced
scallions can be sprinkled over the pork in the same way.

From The Thousand Recipe Chinese Cookbook, ISBN 0517658704. Downloaded
from Glen's MM Recipe Archive, http://www.erols.com/hosey.