Karen Martini's braised pork with star anise, tofu and egg

We’re sorry, this feature is currently unavailable. We’re working to restore it. Please try again later.

Advertisement

This was published 4 years ago

Karen Martini's braised pork with star anise, tofu and egg

By Karen Martini

This recipe is inspired by the Thai dish muu parlow. The culinary impact of the large 19th-century migration of Chinese into Thailand (then called Siam) is very apparent in dishes like this.

This is essentially a rich braise, both darkly spicy and fragrantly aromatic. I find the pervasive anise flavour very comforting in the cooler months. The braise has deep, warm flavours, though not particularly hot, with the lime leaves and ginger added in the final 10 minutes freshening and brightening the dish. The eggs are slightly stained and take on the flavour well, as does the tofu, with both adding texture and richness.

Braised pork with star anise, tofu and egg.

Braised pork with star anise, tofu and egg.Credit: William Meppem

Serves 4–6

6 boneless pork belly spare ribs (150–200g each)

1 tbsp rock salt

6 cloves garlic, peeled

3 tsp white peppercorns

150ml grapeseed or rice bran oil, plus extra for frying pork

8 eschalots (french shallots), peeled and cut in half

Advertisement

1 celery heart, sliced into thirds on an angle

3 red bullet chillies

2 x 3cm-thick slices of galangal

3 star anise

1 piece cassia bark

60g palm sugar, smashed

80ml fish sauce

1.5 litres chicken stock (or water)

3 tsp oyster sauce

3 tsp kecap manis

2 tsp light soy sauce

300g firm tofu, cut into 2cm dice

4 large eggs, boiled for 8 minutes and peeled

3 x 3cm-thick slices of ginger, peeled, lightly bruised

4 kaffir lime leaves

1 lime, quartered, to serve

steamed rice, to serve

150g salted beer nuts, crushed, to serve

steamed greens, to serve

1. Sprinkle the rock salt on the pork and allow to sit for at least 30 minutes or up to 2 hours.

2. Using a mortar and pestle, smash the garlic and peppercorns to a rough paste.

3. Heat a splash of the extra oil in a wide-based pot over medium heat. Brush the salt off the pork, then brown the meat very well (about 3 minutes each side). Remove from the pan, then add the eschalot and cook for 1 minute. Add the garlic-and-pepper paste and fry until fragrant. Add the celery and chillies and fry for about 3 minutes. Stir through the galangal, star anise, cassia, palm sugar and fish sauce, then return the pork to the pan. Add the stock, oyster sauce, kecap manis and soy sauce, and simmer gently for about 50 minutes, covered, but allowing a gap for steam to escape.

4. Meanwhile, shallow-fry the tofu in the 150ml oil until golden (about 3-4 minutes), then drain on paper towel.

5. In the last 10 minutes of braising, add the tofu, eggs, ginger and lime leaves to the pot.

6. To serve, squeeze lime juice into the braise and serve with rice topped with the crushed nuts and steamed greens.

To read more from Good Weekend magazine, visit our page at The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age and Brisbane Times.

Most Viewed in Lifestyle

Loading