The classic northern dish of pork belly stewed tofu is tender and fresh and nourishing and served with rice, and 2 bowls of rice are not enough to eat

#秋日生活打卡季#

Deep in the hutongs of old Beijing, there is a small restaurant owned by Lao Zhang, an authentic Beijinger, whose specialty dish is stewed tofu with pork belly. This dish is not only a dish, but also Lao Zhang's philosophy of life.

One day, Lao Zhang's restaurant came with two customers, one was a food critic and the other was a discerning diner. They were full of praise for Lao Zhang's pork belly stew and tofu, but at the same time challenged: "Lao Zhang, although your dish is delicious, can it be a little more innovative?" Lao Zhang smiled slightly, and already had an idea in his heart.

He started to get busy in the kitchen, with the pork belly slowly simmering in one pot and the tofu gently sliding through another pot. He gently stirred with a spoon to let the fat of the pork belly slowly penetrate into the tofu, and the tofu absorbed the aroma of the meat and became more delicious. Lao Zhang's pork belly stewed tofu is not only a dish, but also a feast for the palate.

The climax of the story came, and at the last moment, Lao Zhang added his own secret seasoning, which is a mysterious recipe that combines star anise, cinnamon, cloves and other spices. The taste of this dish instantly improved, and the aroma was overflowing, which made the two guests full of praise.

The ending was a happy ending, Lao Zhang's pork belly stewed tofu not only conquered the two guests, but also let more people know about this delicacy. Lao Zhang stewed tofu with his pork belly, telling a story about food and life.

Description:

Pork belly stewed with tofu, this dish is not just a dish, it carries the food culture of northern China. The fat but not greasy of the pork belly, the tender but not the crushed tofu, the combination of the two is like the ups and downs of life, blending with each other and setting off each other.

The golden color of this dish, the fat of the pork belly and the tenderness of the tofu are intertwined to create a unique taste. The aroma is mouth-watering. And its taste, which has both the mellow of pork belly and the freshness of tofu, is a delicacy that makes people have endless aftertaste.

Cooking process:

Ingredients:

• 500 grams of pork belly
• Tofu 300 grams
• Ginger 10 grams
• 1 green onion
• Star anise: 2 pcs
• Cinnamon 1 small piece
• Cloves 5 capsules
• Soy sauce 30 ml
• Cooking wine 20 ml
• Salt to taste
• Water to taste

Cooking Steps:

1. Prepare the pork belly: Clean the pork belly and cut it into 2 cm cubes. The key to this step is to cut the meat evenly, so that each piece of meat can be evenly heated and have a consistent taste when stewing.
2. Tofu Processing: Cut the tofu into 1 cm thick slices and soak in salted water for 10 minutes to remove the beany smell. The trick of this step lies in the concentration of the brine, which should not be too thick to avoid hardening the tofu.
3. Stir-fry the pork belly: Put a little oil in the pan, heat until it is 50% hot, add the pork belly pieces, and stir-fry over low heat until both sides are slightly yellow. The key to this step is to control the heat to avoid the meat from being scorched.
4. Stir-fry spices: Leave the bottom oil in the pot, add the chopped ginger slices, green onions, star anise, cinnamon and cloves, and stir-fry over low heat to bring out the fragrance. The skill of this step lies in the stir-frying of the spices, which should not be too long, so as not to fry the spices.
5. Stewed pork belly: Pour the fried pork belly into a saucepan, add soy sauce, cooking wine and enough water, bring to a boil over high heat, turn to low heat and simmer for 30 minutes. The key to this step is the time of simmering, so that the pork belly is simmered until tender.
6. Add the tofu: Gently place the tofu slices in the saucepan and continue to simmer for 10 minutes to allow the tofu to absorb the aroma of the broth. The skill of this step lies in the timing of the tofu, not too early, so as not to stew the tofu into pieces.
7. Seasoning out of the pot: Add an appropriate amount of salt according to personal taste, simmer for another 5 minutes, and finally sprinkle with chopped green onions, remove from the pot and serve on a plate. The key to this step is seasoning, to make the whole dish taste more harmonious.

Regional Flavors:

In different regions, pork belly stewed tofu has different flavors. In the north, people like to add more spices to make the dish more mellow; In the south, people like to add some seafood to make the dish even more delicious. The pork belly stewed tofu in each place contains the understanding and love of the locals for life.

Cooking Tips:

1. The choice of pork belly is important, and the fat and lean pork belly is best for stewing.
2. Soaking the tofu can remove the beany smell, but it should not be too long.
3. When stewing pork belly, add enough water at one time to avoid adding water halfway through to affect the taste.
4. After the tofu is in the pot, turn it gently to avoid breaking the tofu.
5. Seasoning before cooking can make the flavor of the whole dish more balanced.

Popular Science Knowledge:

1. Pork belly is the meat of the belly of the pig, which is called pork belly because of its fat and lean mixture.
2. Tofu is a traditional Chinese food with a long history, recorded as early as the Han Dynasty.

1. Star anise, cinnamon, and cloves are common spices that can add aroma to dishes.
2. The cooking method of pork belly stew and tofu varies in different regions, reflecting the diversity of Chinese food culture.

Stewed with pork belly and tofu, this dish has become a classic delicacy in northern China with its unique flavor and rich cultural connotation. It is not only a dish, but also an attitude to life. Encourage everyone to try this dish at home and experience the joy of cooking.

Question interaction:

1. Which flavor of pork belly stew do you prefer? Mellow in the north or delicious in the south?
2. Do you have any unique tips or secrets when cooking pork belly stew and tofu?
3. Which step do you think is the most important in pork belly stew with tofu?
4. Have you tried this dish at home? How does it feel?

Through these questions, we encourage readers to share their experiences and opinions in the comment section to make the article more interactive. Follow the Taste of Food and bring you more stories, knowledge and tips related to food.