My mother-in-law's Pork Belly Stew & Baked Whole Pumpkin recipe

Here's my mother-in-law's Pork Belly Stew & Baked Whole Pumpkin recipe. :D

 

Pork Belly Stew

Ingredients:

• 400g pork ribs (get the butcher to chop 4cm length)
• 100g pork belly (recommended addition)
• 3 slices of ginger
• 3 cloves garlic, chopped
• 2 shallots, chopped
• 1 star anise
• 2 dried/fresh chilies, seeds removed
• 1 carrot, chopped into medium chunks
• 3-4 dried Shiitake mushrooms, soaked and halved
• 1 handful of Chinese chestnuts, boiled and halved
• 400-600ml water (start with less, add more if necessary)

Seasoning:

• 1½ tablespoon dark soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon light soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon white vinegar
• 1 tablespoon oyster sauce
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon corn flour, mixed in 2 tablespoon water
• ½ teaspoon white pepper
• ¼ teaspoon five spice powder
• 1 teaspoon Chinese cooking wine (Hua Tiao Chiew), optional

Method:

1. Marinate pork ribs and pork belly with seasoning for at least 2 hours.


2. Heat up a cooking pan. Add 2 tablespoon cooking oil, ginger, garlic, shallots, star anise, and chilies. Stir fry till fragrant.


3. Pour in the marinated pork ribs and pork belly. Stir fry until meat is half cooked.


4. Add carrots, mushrooms, and chestnuts. Stir fry for another few minutes, mix well, and add 400ml water.


5. Bring to boil and simmer at low heat for about an hour or till pork ribs are tender.


6. Add some water when the mixture starts to dry up.

Baked Whole Pumpkin

Tips: Start baking the pumpkin when the pork stew is half-cooked.

1. Wash the pumpkin well.


2. Insert knife at the "shoulder" of the pumpkin and cut around it to form a "lid".


3. Scrap the seeds and strings out with a spoon or your hand. Note: You can keep the seeds aside for roasting. Separate the strings from the seeds. Boil the seeds in salt water for 10 minutes. Drain and dry. Arrange the seeds on a flat tray in single layer. Roast for about 30-45 minutes at 180C. You will get delicious crunchy pumpkin seeds that can be eaten peeled or whole.


4. Rub the interior of the pumpkin with olive oil/any cooking oil.


5. Place the "lid" back onto the pumpkin and transfer to an oven. Note: You may need a medium-large pumpkin for 500g of pork ribs and pork belly.


6. Bake at 180C/400F. No per-heating needed. Note: A medium-sized pumpkin can be ready in 60 minutes.


7. When the stew is ready, scoop into the pumpkin (the pumpkin should be half-done by now) and continue baking until pumpkin is fork tender.


8. Remove from oven and let it rest for 5 minutes before serving.