Long-stewed Claypot Pork Belly

Recipe Description

serves 4 to 6

15 large dried shiitake mushroom|Chinese mushrooms
4-6 sticks of dried tofu|bean curd
2½ pounds pork belly or beef brisket
2 tbsp peanut oil
6½-inch thick ginger slices (young fragrant ginger preferred)
5 garlic cloves peeled and crushed
¼ cup bamboo shoots sliced ¼-inch thick
10 fresh or canned water chestnuts, or 8 arrowroot
4 tbsp bean sauce (whole bean preferred but crushed is fine too)
4 tbsp oyster sauce
3 tbsp sugar
2 slices each of lemon and orange peel
3 tbsp rice wine or dry sherry
5 tbsp soy sauce (if you've got light and dark sauces, make it 2 of the former and 3 of the latter)
optional: a bunch of Chinese greens

Soak mushrooms in warm water until soft, about 20 minutes.
Squeeze out the excess water and discard woody stems.
Strain mushroom water into a measuring cup and add plain water to equal 4 cups.
Soak tofu|bean curd sticks in hot water until soft, then drain and set aside.
Cut pork belly or beef brisket into bite-size chunks, then blanch for 20 minutes in boiling water, then drain and set aside.
Heat cooking vessel and add peanut oil, ginger, and garlic, and stir-fry for 30 seconds.
Add bamboo shoots, water chestnuts (or arrowroot), mushrooms, citrus peels, and tofu|bean curd sticks.
Stir-fry for a minute.
Add the rest of the ingredients and bring to a boil.
Add blanched meat, bring back to a boil, and then simmer at least 1½ hours, partially covered, until meat is very tender (skim surface occasionally for excess fat, if you wish) if using greens, lay them on top of the stew, bring it to a steady simmer, and replace the cover.
Steam the greens till tender, and then serve them on the side (or serve the stew ladled over a bed of greens).