Taiwanese Ground Pork Rice Bowl 卤肉饭
 
Prep time
Cook time
Total time
 
Part 2 of "Taiwan Street Food Series". An iconic comfort food found in every home, street market and restaurant.
Author:
Recipe type: Mains
Cuisine: Taiwanese/Chinese
Serves: 4
Ingredients
  • 1 pound ground pork
  • 8-10 dried mushrooms, soaked, sliced thinly, liquid reserved
  • 1 carrot, diced
  • 2 cups spinach, finely chopped
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 green chillis, chopped
  • 1 medium onion, sliced into wedges
  • 4 Tbsp light soy sauce
  • 2 Tbsp dark soy sauce
  • 2 Tbsp Chinese cooking wine
  • ½ tsp five-spice powder
  • 4-5 star anise
  • 2 pinch of cloves
  • 2-3 cups water
  • 4 eggs
  • 2 green onions, chopped (for garnish)
  • Fried shallots (for garnish)
Instructions
  1. Prepare 4 hard boiled eggs.
  2. Mix light and dark soy sauces, cooking wine and five-spice powder in a bowl.
  3. Heat 3 Tbsp oil in a pan. When oil is hot, add pork, breaking it up with the spatula so it doesn't form clumps and fry till it is no longer pink.
  4. Add garlic, chilli and onion.
  5. When onion is soft, add mushrooms and carrots. Stir-fry till mushrooms are slightly translucent and no longer opaque.
  6. Add spinach and cook till softened.
  7. Add liquid sauces, star anise and cloves and cook for about 30 seconds.
  8. Add enough water to cover ingredients. Cover and simmer till most of the liquid has been reduced but not dry. You want the pork to be slightly moist.
  9. Peel eggs and place them into on top of the simmering ingredients. Turn them a few times during the simmer.
  10. Serve over steaming rice and garnish with green onions and fried shallots.
Notes
Any ground meat can be substituted for pork. Eg. beef, chicken, turkey. If using beef, add ¼" julienned ginger. If using chicken or turkey, you might want to add 1 extra Tbsp of light soy sauce for extra flavouring.

Any soft, leafy vegetables with a mild taste can be used instead of spinach. Eg. choy sim, bak choy, watercress.

Fried shallots can be bought from the store or prepared at home. (Recipe on its way)
Recipe by Ginger and Cilantro at https://www.gingerandcilantro.com/taiwanese-ground-pork-rice/