Sichuan Salt And Pepper Pork Chops
- 1/2 ounce Facing Heaven dried chiles or chiles de arbol, about 1/2 cup (see note below)
- 2 tablespoons Sichuan peppercorns
- 1 tablespoon plus 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon Chinese five-spice powder
- About 1/2 cup grapeseed oil or canola oil
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup cornstarch
- 1/4 cup rice flour
- 4 bone-in pork rib chops, each about 2 ounces and 1/4 inch thick
- 1 1/2 cups white onion, julienned
- 1 large onion
- 1 bunch cilantro, leaves picked, about 20 (3-inch) stems reserved
- 3 large jalapeno peppers, thinly sliced into rings (about 1/4 cup)
- 6 cloves garlic, thinly sliced (about 3 tablespoons)
- 3-inch piece of fresh ginger, peeled and finely julienned (about 3 tablespoons)
- 6 scallions, root and tough ends removed, very bias sliced (about 1 cup)
- In a spice grinder or using a mortar and pestle, coarsely grind the chiles* and peppercorns.
- Add the salt and Chinese five-spice and grind to a powder.
- Heat a 1-inch depth of oil in a wok or deep, heavy skillet to 350F.
- In a shallow bowl, whisk the all-purpose flour, cornstarch, and rice flour to combine.
- Pat the pork chops dry and cut in 1-inch intervals around the chop, through the outer layer of fat just down to the meat.
- (This helps keep the meat from curling up.)
- One by one, dredge the chops in the flour mixture, shaking off any excess, and fry for 1 minute.
- Transfer the chops to a paper towel-lined plate and lightly sprinkle with the spice mix.
- Carefully pour the oil from the wok or skillet, reserving and returning 1/4 cup back to the wok.
- Heat over high heat until just smoking.
- Have your vegetables ready to go; the cooking time here is very quick.
- Add the onion and cilantro stems to the wok and aggressively stir by holding a spoon in the center and shaking or rotating the wok or skillet vigorously quickly to mix everything together, about 20 seconds.
- Continue cooking for 20 seconds after each addition, adding the jalapeno, garlic and ginger, then the scallions and reserved cilantro leaves, then the pork chops and 2 teaspoons of the spice blend.
- Serve immediately.
chiles, peppercorns, kosher salt, grapeseed oil, allpurpose, cornstarch, rice flour, chops, white onion, onion, cilantro, jalapeno peppers, garlic, ginger, scallions
Taken from www.foodrepublic.com/recipes/sichuan-salt-and-pepper-pork-chops-recipe/ (may not work)