Beijing-style shredded pork

Beijing-style shredded pork in Sweet Bean Sauce is a traditional dish with a long history, originating from Beijing in northern China. As one of the representatives of traditional Chinese culinary culture, this dish is beloved for its unique flavor and texture.

This well-known dish is made with simple ingredients and offers versatile preparation methods. Whether served with noodles, rice, rolled in pancakes, or stuffed in buns, it instantly makes any meal a hundred times more delicious!

Many people love Beijing-style shredded pork in Sweet Bean Sauce, but it requires some special cooking techniques. Once you master these tips, you can make it easily! Let's learn together!

1、How to Choose the Ingredients?

Selecting fresh pork tenderloin is key to making Beijing-style shredded pork in Sweet Bean Sauce. Fresh pork tenderloin should have a rosy color, clear marbling, and a tender texture. When buying, you can choose pieces with a bit of fat interspersed with the lean meat to make the stir-fried pork more flavorful and juicy. Additionally, choosing the right sweet bean sauce is crucial. High-quality sweet bean sauce should be bright red, have a rich aroma, and a smooth texture. When purchasing, opt for well-known and reputable brands.

2、What to Pay Attention to When Marinating and Seasoning?

Seasoning is also crucial for Beijing-style shredded pork in Sweet Bean Sauce. When marinating the pork, add a little cooking wine, salt, and cornstarch to enhance the texture. While stir-frying the sauce, you can add some sugar to boost the umami flavor. Finally, adjust the seasoning to taste with salt, chicken bouillon, and soy sauce. Keep in mind that sweet bean sauce is already somewhat salty, so add salt sparingly to avoid making the dish too salty.

3、How to Control the Heat?

When stir-frying the shredded pork, it's important to control the heat. First, stir-fry the pork over high heat until it changes color, then remove it from the pan. Next, when stir-frying the sauce, keep the heat low and stir slowly. Finally, when combining the pork with the sauce, stir-fry over high heat. This ensures that the pork stays tender and juicy while the sauce becomes rich and aromatic.

4、What to Pay Attention to When Slicing and Preparing the Ingredients?

The pork tenderloin should be sliced into thin strips for easy stir-frying and flavor absorption. To facilitate slicing, you can briefly freeze the meat in the refrigerator before cutting it into thin slices. Then, cut the slices into fine strips. The scallions should also be sliced into fine strips to complement the pork strips. 

5、Should You Brush Oil on the Steamer Basket for Dumplings?

①When steaming dumplings, it's important to brush oil on the steamer basket to prevent sticking. If the dumpling wrappers tend to stick to the steamer basket during steaming, brushing oil on the steamer basket can solve the problem. Using a clean brush, dip it lightly in cooking oil and brush it over the steamer basket. This helps prevent the dumpling wrappers from sticking to the steamer basket. If you don't have a brush, you can also use your hands to spread a thin layer of oil on the steamer basket.

②The reason why steamed dumpling wrappers may turn dry is possibly due to over-steaming or loss of moisture, resulting in dry and hard wrappers. Before steaming, it's recommended to lightly brush a layer of cooking oil on the surface of the wrappers with a small brush. The oil helps to seal in the moisture of the dough, preventing it from evaporating during steaming. This results in softer and more enjoyable dumplings. However, be careful not to brush too much oil, as it can make the dumplings greasy and affect their texture.

③The cloth lining the steamer basket for steaming dumpling wrappers should be damp. A damp cloth serves multiple purposes: it prevents steamed dumplings from sticking to the basket and falling into the pot, adds moisture to the dumplings to prevent them from becoming too dry, and prevents the dumplings from sticking to the cloth and the pot when cooked.

I believe that with these tips, everyone can quickly make an authentic Beijing-style shredded pork in Sweet Bean Sauce. You can also adjust the amount of seasoning and change the additional ingredients according to your own taste preferences. Now, let's get started together!