Grandma's Pork Chop

To my Granny in heaven

Last Wednesday was my granny's birthday. Although she has been in heaven for more than 4 years now, I still have vivid memories of her. People often say 'the responsibility of parents is to teach; the responsibility of grannies is to spoil'. How true. My granny had spoilt me in numerous ways, many of which were to do with her food. She was a superb cook and her specialities were too many to name... drunken chicken, smoked fish, Shanghai style wonton and black sesame sweet dumplings... If only I had picked up some cooking skills from her...

My father especially like my granny's pork chop, which was a regular on our dinner table. This recipe may not appeal to some, as it is so simply cooked with soy sauce. But the smell of it is so comforting and reminds me of nothing but home.

Serves 2

Ingredients:

1. 2 pork chop
2. 1 teaspoon dark soy sauce
3. 2 tablespoon light soy sauce
4. 1 1/2 teaspoon sugar
5. 1 teaspoon shaoxing wine
6. 1 tablespoon egg white
7. 2 teaspoon cornstarch
8. 100 ml water
9. 1 tablespoon oil
10. 2 garlic cloves
11. 1 spring onion, chopped roughly

Method:

• Use the back of the Chinese cleaver/meat hammer to pound the pork chop for at least 1 minute each side.
• Then in a bowl, place the pork chops with dark soy sauce, light soy sauce, sugar and shaoxing wine. Flip the sides of the pork chop to absorb the sauce. Next, add in water. Use a chopstick to stir the pork chops in the bowl so that they start absorbing water.
• Add in the egg white, again stir well with pork chops.
• Then, add the cornflour to coat the meat.
• Lastly, add oil and cover the pork chop in the fridge to marinate for at least 3 hours. Better still, leave them overnight.
• When ready to cook, heat 2 tablespoons of oil in a wok in high heat and toss garlic and spring onion for 1 minute.
• Put in the pork chops to the wok, retain the marinades.
• Cook each side for about 5 minutes. When each side is browned, add in some water to ensure the meat is cooked through.
• When the pork chops are cooked, add in the marinade to the wok and bring to a boil. Serve.