Farmhouse Stir-Fried Pork with Green Chilies (Nongjia Xiaochao Rou)
Local name: 农家小炒肉
In short: Thin pork belly slices fried until crisp at the edges with blistered green chilies, fermented black beans and garlic, a Hunan home classic. It takes about 27 min in total and makes 3 servings.
- Prep
- 15 min
- Cook
- 12 min
- Resting
- 10 min
- Total
- 27 min
- Servings
- 3
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 375 kcal
Nongjia xiaochao rou is the Hunan dish many people order first. Thin slices of pork belly are fried until the fat renders and the edges crisp, then tossed with blistered fresh green chilies, garlic and salty fermented black beans. The heat is fresh and grassy rather than fiery, and the smoky aroma comes from a very hot wok. It is simple to make and goes through a lot of rice.
Instructions
- Toss the sliced pork with the wine and leave for 10 minutes. Partly freezing the belly for 30 minutes beforehand makes it easier to slice thinly.
- Heat a dry wok over high heat until smoking. Add the green chilies and fry for 2 to 3 minutes, pressing them down, until the skins blister and brown. Sprinkle with the salt and remove.
- Return the wok to medium-high heat and add the oil. Lay the pork in a single layer and fry for 3 to 4 minutes, turning, until the fat renders and the edges are crisp and golden.
- Push the pork to one side. Add the garlic, black beans and red chilies, if using, and stir for 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Add both soy sauces and the sugar and toss everything together for 30 seconds. Return the green chilies and toss for 1 minute until glossy. Serve with rice.
Tips
- Hunan chilies are medium hot. Anaheim, banana or shishito peppers work well, with a couple of small hot red chilies added for heat.
- Pork belly gives the best crisp edges, but pork shoulder works. Add a little more oil and cook it a minute longer.
Questions and answers
How spicy is farmhouse stir-fried pork?
It has a fresh, medium heat that depends on your chilies. Mild peppers make it gentle, and adding hot red chilies makes it fierce.
What are fermented black beans?
They are small black soybeans that have been salted and fermented, sold in jars or packets at Asian grocery stores. Rinse them briefly and use sparingly because they are salty.
Can I make it with leaner pork?
Yes. Use pork shoulder or loin sliced thin and add an extra tablespoon of oil, but it will be less rich and the edges will not curl as much.
How long does it take to make Farmhouse Stir-Fried Pork with Green Chilies (Nongjia Xiaochao Rou)?
About 27 min in total: 15 min of preparation and 12 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Farmhouse Stir-Fried Pork with Green Chilies (Nongjia Xiaochao Rou)?
About 375 kcal per serving, with 10 g of protein, 9 g of carbohydrates and 33 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 375 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 10 g |
| Carbohydrates | 9 g |
| Fat | 33 g |
| Fiber | 3 g |
| Sugar | 4 g |
| Sodium | 820 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
