star anise – yummy food share

Slow Braised Pork Belly with Tiger Skin Eggs

2025-10-18

Welcome to one of my all-time favorite comfort food recipes! If you’re looking for a dish that is deeply savory, incredibly aromatic, and guaranteed to impress, you’ve come to the right place. This slow-braised pork belly is a masterpiece of flavor and texture. While it requires a couple of hours of simmering to reach perfection, the active preparation time is minimal, and the process is surprisingly straightforward, even for novice cooks. We’ll use a classic technique of caramelizing sugar to create a beautiful, deep mahogany color and a subtle sweetness that perfectly balances the rich pork. The end result is fork-tender pork that literally melts in your mouth, springy quail eggs that have soaked up all the delicious sauce, and slightly smoky peppers, all coated in a glossy, irresistible glaze. It’s the perfect project for a lazy weekend afternoon, filling your kitchen with the most incredible aromas. To get started, let’s gather our ingredients. The list might seem long, but many of these are pantry staples or can be easily found. Don’t worry, I’ll provide plenty of substitution tips! For the Main Ingredients: Pork Belly: About 2 lbs (900g), preferably skin-on, cut into 1.5-inch thick slices. Quail Eggs: 12-15, hard-boiled and peeled. If you can’t find quail eggs, you can use 4-5 regular chicken eggs, hard-boiled, peeled, and halved. Long Green Peppers: 3-4. Jalapeños or Anaheim peppers are an excellent substitute if you can’t find long green peppers. For the Braising Liquid & Aromatics: Rock Sugar: 3 tablespoons. Rock sugar gives a cleaner, more complex sweetness and a better glaze. You can substitute with granulated white sugar. Light Soy Sauce: 4 tablespoons. This is your primary source of saltiness and umami. It’s thinner and lighter in color than dark soy sauce. Dark Soy Sauce: 1 tablespoon. This is mainly for…

Aromatic Sweet and Savory Fish Bites

2025-10-13

If you’re searching for a spectacular dish that hits all the right notes—crispy, sweet, savory, and aromatic—all while being surprisingly straightforward to make, you’ve just found your new favorite recipe. This dish, ready in about 45 minutes, transforms simple fish fillets into an irresistible treat that will have everyone asking for more. The magic lies in a classic combination of whole spices that create a deeply fragrant sauce, which beautifully coats the crispy, fried fish. Despite its complex flavor profile, the process is perfect for home cooks of any skill level. It’s a fantastic appetizer for a party or a stunning main course served with a side of steamed rice. Prepare to fill your kitchen with the most incredible aromas! Let’s gather our ingredients. The key is to use a firm, white-fleshed fish that holds its shape well during frying. Don’t worry if you can’t find the exact types mentioned; there are plenty of excellent alternatives. For the Fish: 1.5 lbs (about 700g) firm white fish fillets, such as cod, halibut, tilapia, or catfish, cut into 1-inch thick strips or chunks. 1-inch piece of ginger, thinly sliced 2 scallions, cut into 2-inch lengths 1 tsp salt 1/2 tsp MSG (optional, for an umami boost) 1 tbsp light soy sauce Vegetable or canola oil, for frying For the Aromatic Sauce: 2 star anise pods 1 tsp Sichuan peppercorns 1 small cassia bark stick (or a 2-inch cinnamon stick) 1 piece dried tangerine or orange peel 2 bay leaves 1 gardenia pod, lightly crushed (This is mainly for a beautiful golden hue and is optional. If you can’t find it at an Asian market, you can skip it or add a tiny pinch of turmeric for color). 1-inch piece of ginger, sliced 2 scallions, cut into 2-inch lengths 3 tbsp granulated sugar…

Unforgettable Savory Pork Buns

2025-10-09

Have you ever bitten into a steamed bun so perfectly soft and fluffy, with a filling so juicy and savory it stops you in your tracks? That’s the magic we’re creating today. This recipe unlocks the secret to incredible homemade pork buns, a beloved comfort food that feels special yet is surprisingly simple to master. Forget complicated techniques; this filling comes together in under an hour and relies on a brilliant two-part method that guarantees a moist, flavorful center every time. The taste is a deep, satisfying savoriness, known as “jiang xiang,” that comes from rich, fermented bean pastes. This is the kind of recipe that will make your kitchen smell amazing and have everyone asking for seconds. Get ready to impress yourself and anyone lucky enough to share these with you! Let’s gather our ingredients. The key to the irresistible flavor lies in a few special pantry items, but don’t worry if you can’t find them all—I’ve included some easy and accessible substitutions that work beautifully. This recipe makes enough filling for approximately 16-20 buns, depending on their size. For the Filling: Ground Pork: 1 lb (or about 500g). A mix with around 20% fat is ideal for a juicy result. Scallions: 1 large bunch (about 4-5 stalks), finely chopped. Ginger: 1-inch piece, peeled and finely minced. For the Aromatic Water: Water: ½ cup Star Anise: 2 whole pods Sichuan Peppercorns: 1 teaspoon (optional) Bay Leaf: 1 leaf For the Savory Sauce: Sweet Bean Paste: 2 tablespoons. Soybean Paste: 1 tablespoon. Thirteen-Spice Powder: 1 teaspoon. Substitutions & Notes: Sweet Bean Paste & Soybean Paste: Can’t find these? No problem! Hoisin sauce is an excellent substitute. Use 3 tablespoons of Hoisin sauce in place of both pastes for a similar sweet and savory depth. Thirteen-Spice Powder: This is a fragrant…