cooking pork with thousands of knots

How to Make Braised Pork with Tofu Skin Knots

Braised pork with tofu skin knots (千张结烧肉) is a comforting Chinese dish that tenderizes meat with savory tofu skin knots. Here’s a simple recipe to recreate it at home.

Ingredients: 500g pork belly (cut into 2cm cubes), 200g dried tofu skin knots (pre-soaked), 3 tbsp soy sauce, 2 tbsp dark soy sauce, 1 tbsp sugar, 1 tbsp cooking wine, 1 star anise, 1 slice ginger, 2 cloves garlic, and optional dried chili for heat.

Steps:

1. Prepare the pork: Blanch pork cubes in boiling water for 3 minutes, then rinse to remove impurities.

2. Sauté aromatics: Heat 1 tbsp oil in a wok. Stir-fry ginger, garlic, and star anise until fragrant.

3. Cook the pork: Add pork, cooking wine, and light soy sauce. Stir-fry until the meat turns brown.

4. Simmer: Pour in 500ml water, add sugar and dark soy sauce. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 30 minutes until the pork is tender.

5. Add tofu skin knots: Toss in the soaked knots and cook for another 15 minutes, allowing them to absorb the flavorful broth.

6. Thicken (optional): If desired, mix 1 tsp cornstarch with water to thicken the sauce. Simmer for 2 more minutes.

Serve hot with steamed rice. The tofu skin knots will be rich and chewy, while the pork melts in your mouth. Enjoy this hearty, umami-packed dish!