Name: Asian-style braised pork neck
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 165 min
Total time: 180 min
Yield: 4
Ingredients: 1 tablespoon peanut oil; 1 kilogram (2 pound) piece pork neck; 2 cinnamon sticks; 2 star anise; 1/2 cup (125ml) japanese soy sauce; 1/2 cup (125ml) chinese rice wine; 1/4 cup (55g) firmly packed light brown sugar; 5 centimetre (2 inch) piece fresh ginger (25g), sliced thinly; 4 clove garlic, quartered; 1 medium brown onion (150g), chopped coarsely; 1 cup (250ml) water; Gai lan in oyster sauce; 1 kilogram (2 pounds) gai lan; 1 tablespoon peanut oil; 1 tablespoon japanese soy sauce; 2 tablespoon oyster sauce

Asian-style braised pork neck

Pork is a rich and appetising meat, and its cooking aroma is like no other. Pork neck is incredibly versatile and can be prepared in many ways; here the whole piece is braised, and the result is wonderfully moist and full of flavour.

Serves 4

Prep

15M

Cook

2H 45M

Total

Ingredients

1 tablespoon peanut oil

1 kilogram (2 pound) piece pork neck

2 cinnamon sticks

2 star anise

1/2 cup (125ml) japanese soy sauce

1/2 cup (125ml) chinese rice wine

1/4 cup (55g) firmly packed light brown sugar

5 centimetre (2 inch) piece fresh ginger (25g), sliced thinly

4 clove garlic, quartered

1 medium brown onion (150g), chopped coarsely

1 cup (250ml) water

Gai lan in oyster sauce

1 kilogram (2 pounds) gai lan

1 tablespoon peanut oil

1 tablespoon japanese soy sauce

2 tablespoon oyster sauce

Method

1.Preheat oven to 160°C (140°C fan-forced).

2.Heat oil in medium deep flame-proof baking dish on stove top; cook pork until browned all over. Remove from heat.

3.Add combined spices, sauce, cooking wine, sugar, ginger, garlic, onion and the water to pork; turn pork to coat in mixture. Transfer to oven; cook, uncovered, about 2 hours or until pork is tender, turning every 20 minutes.

4.Remove pork; cover to keep warm. Strain braising liquid in dish through muslin-lined strainer over medium saucepan; bring to the boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, about 5 minutes or until sauce thickens slightly.

5.To make gai lan in oyster sauce; boil, steam or microwave gai lan until tender; drain. Heat oil in wok; stir-fry gai lan and sauces about 2 minutes or until mixture is heated through.

6.Serve pork drizzled with sauce; accompany with gai lan.