Pork shoulder braised in black vinegar & rice wine with pickled chillies

Contains pork – recipe is for non-Muslims only

Chinese black vinegar adds a malty, smoky flavour to this dinner party pork dish, slow-cooked in a ginger and oyster sauce until it melts in the mouth

  • Prep:20 mins
    Cook:1 hrs 45 mins
    plus at least 1 hr marinating
  • Serves 6
  • Easy

Nutrition per serving

  • kcal 417
  • fat 19g
  • saturates 5g
  • carbs 14g
  • sugars 12g
  • fibre 1g
  • protein 47g
  • salt 3.4g

Ingredients

  • 1½ kg pork shoulder, cut into 4cm/1½ in pieces
  • 3 tbsp soy sauce
  • 200ml Shaohsing rice wine (or dry Sherry)
  • 2 tbsp vegetable oil
  • 2 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
  • 5cm/2in piece ginger, peeled and julienned
  • 50g light brown soft sugar
  • 3 tbsp oyster sauce
  • 125ml Chinese black vinegar (see tip)
  • 500ml vegetable stock
  • 1 long or 2 bird's-eye red chillies, sliced
  • 1 shallot, thinly sliced
  • 75ml rice wine vinegar
  • toasted sesame seeds
  • julienned spring onions
  • steamed rice

Tip

Chinese black vinegar

Chinese black vinegar (chinkiang) has a malty, smoky flavour. It's available from Waitrose and Asian food shops. Use balsamic vinegar instead, if you prefer.

Method

  1. Put the pork in a bowl and add 1 tbsp each of the soy sauce and rice wine. Toss to combine, then cover and chill for 1 hr, or overnight if time permits.

  2. To make the pickled chillies, put the chilli, shallot and rice vinegar in a small bowl with a big pinch of salt, and let stand for 1 hr or more.

  3. Heat the vegetable oil in a heavy- based saucepan over a medium heat, add the garlic and ginger, and sauté for 2-3 mins or until golden. Add the pork and all the remaining ingredients, and bring to the boil. Reduce the heat to low, cover and simmer for 45 mins. Remove the lid from the pan to allow the liquid to reduce, and cook for a further 45 mins or until the meat falls apart.

  4. Serve scattered with the sesame seeds and spring onions, with steamed rice and the pickled chillies on the side.

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