sweet cooking recipe

How to Make Chinese Steamed Pork Belly (Tian Shaobai)

Tian Shaobai, or sweet steamed pork belly, is a beloved Chinese dish known for its tender meat, rich sauce, and melt-in-your-mouth texture. Here’s a simple guide to making this delicious treat.

Ingredients:

500g pork belly (skin-on, cut into 1cm thick slices), 200g glutinous rice (soaked for 4 hours), 3-5 brown sugar cakes (crumbled), 1 tbsp light soy sauce, 1 tsp dark soy sauce, 1 tbsp cooking wine, a pinch of salt, and 3-5 dried red dates (pitted, optional).

Steps:

1. Prepare the pork: Blanch pork slices in boiling water for 2 minutes, then drain. Marinate in soy sauce, cooking wine, and salt for 30 minutes.

2. Soak rice: Soak glutinous rice until soft, then drain. Mix with crumbled brown sugar cakes evenly.

3. Assemble: Place a marinated pork slice in a bowl, top with a spoonful of sweetened rice, and press gently. Add a red date on top for extra flavor.

4. Steam: Arrange bowls in a steamer. Steam over high heat for 1.5–2 hours until the pork is tender and the rice is soft.

Tips: For a richer taste, use traditional brown sugar cakes instead of granulated sugar. Let it rest for 5 minutes before serving to enhance the flavors. Enjoy this comforting dish warm!

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