Peking Shredded Pork（Cheater's Version）

"Peking Shredded Pork" is a famous snack in Beijing. This dish primarily uses lean pork, along with sweet bean sauce, scallions, ginger, and other seasonings. It is cooked using the unique "stir-fry with sauce" technique, one of the "Six Explosions" methods. The finished dish is savory with a balanced sweet and salty flavor, rich in sauce aroma, and has a distinctive taste.

"Peking Shredded Pork" is a classic dish originating from Beijing, renowned for its tender juiciness and delightful aroma. Its preparation is relatively straightforward, making it convenient to replicate at home. Today, let's delve into the specifics of making Peking Shredded Pork:

1.About Peking Shredded Pork:

Legend has it that in the 1930s, an old man named Chen lived with his grandson in a large courtyard house about 4 miles northeast of the Forbidden City in Beijing. One day, Old Chen picked out some lean pork, sliced it very thinly, and stir-fried it with soybean paste. Without any flatbread, he used some tofu skins instead. His grandson loved the dish. As the grandson grew up, he became a skilled chef. With Old Chen's guidance, he eventually perfected the recipe, creating the richly flavored and tender Peking Shredded Pork.

Peking Shredded Pork is a traditional dish with a long history originating from Beijing, the capital city of northern China. The main ingredient in Peking Shredded Pork is pork tenderloin, which is tender and rich in protein, making it a popular choice for cooking. It is typically paired with sweet bean sauce, tofu skin, and other seasonings and garnishes. Sweet bean sauce contributes a rich umami flavor and unique sweetness to the dish, enhancing its taste profile. Tofu skin, with its nutritious content and unique texture, complements Peking Shredded Pork perfectly.

2.Handling tofu skin for Peking Shredded Pork:

①Blanching:First, the tofu skin should be blanched in boiling water briefly. This helps to remove the bean odor and soften the tofu skin. The blanching time should not be too long to prevent the tofu skin from becoming too soft.

②Plating:After blanching, the tofu skin can be arranged on a plate. Typically, fold or roll the tofu skin and place it on one side of the plate. You can garnish it with some shredded scallions or other vegetable strips on top to enhance the visual appeal and add variety to the dish's texture.

3.Cutting the meat for Peking Shredded Pork:

The meat for Peking Shredded Pork should be sliced along the grain of the meat. If it's difficult to slice, you can first partially freeze the pork tenderloin until it's slightly firm. Then, slice the pork thinly along the grain into slices, and further cut these slices into fine strips. This method helps prevent the meat strips from breaking during cooking and preserves their smooth and tender texture.

4.Marinating method for Peking Shredded Pork:

The marinating method for Peking Shredded Pork involves several key steps and ingredients to ensure the meat strips are tender and absorb the flavors of the sauce well. After slicing the pork tenderloin into strips, soak them in a mixture of water with chopped scallions and ginger. Add salt, cooking wine, soy sauce, one egg white, a spoonful of cornstarch, and a small amount of cooking oil. Mix thoroughly and marinate for ten minutes.

5.About Hoisin Sauce:

Hoisin sauce is a popular condiment in northern Chinese cuisine, essential for imparting a deep brown coating and rich umami flavor to pork dishes. It's primarily made from flour, fermented with koji mold, and aged, representing a traditional Han Chinese sauce. Hoisin sauce has a sweet and slightly salty taste. It's commonly available in Asian supermarkets or Chinatown.

Peking Shredded Pork is a traditional famous dish known for its rich color, aroma, and flavor. When served, it is accompanied by shredded scallions and tofu skin, offering a balanced sweet and savory taste with a rich sauce aroma, resulting in a unique flavor profile. With these tips in hand, I believe everyone can quickly prepare Peking Shredded Pork. Now, let's get started and make it together!