Ingredients
400 g pork spare ribs, 350 g lean pork, 50 g green peas.
Seasonings
50 g (about 1/4 cup) sugar, 20 g (about 2) pickled red chili peppers, 15 g (about 1 tablespoon) soy sauce, 15 g (about 3 tablespoons) chopped scallions, 15 g (about 1 tablespoon) fermented bean curd juice, 10 g (about 2 teaspoons) caramel coloring, 10 g (about 2 teaspoons) minced ginger, 5 g (about 1 teaspoon) fermented rice wine, 3 g (about 1/2 teaspoon) salt, 3 g Sichuan peppercorns, 3 g star anise, 2 g (about 1/2 teaspoon) white pepper, 1 g (about 1/4 teaspoon) MSG, 5 lotus leaves, 20 g (about 1 1/2 tablespoons) Pixian broad bean paste, and rice as needed.
Instructions
1. Scrape and clean the pork belly, then cut into pieces about 5 cm long, 3.5 cm wide, and 0.5 cm thick; cut the lean pork into pieces the same size as the pork belly but 3 cm thick; place both the pork belly and lean pork in a bowl, add salt, soy sauce, ground pepper, MSG, fermented rice wine, Pixian broad bean paste (finely chopped), sugar, caramel coloring, fermented bean curd juice, minced ginger, and chopped scallions, mix well, and marinate until flavorful; combine rice, Sichuan peppercorns, and star anise (crushed), dry-fry over low heat until golden, then grind into a coarse rice flour.
2. Remove seeds from pickled peppers and cut into diagonal slices; rinse and drain green beans; wash fresh lotus leaves, blanch in boiling water, then remove and cut into equilateral triangles about 15 cm (6 inches) long (20 pieces total).
3. Mix the rice flour with the marinated pork slices. Take one lotus leaf, place one piece of rib meat on it, add a few green beans and a section of pickled chili, then top with one piece of lean meat. Wrap it up, repeating to make 20 bundles total. Arrange them neatly in a steaming bowl, place in a steamer, and steam until very tender (about 3 hours). Remove, invert onto a serving plate, and serve. This dish features a green exterior and golden interior, with tender, melt-in-your-mouth meat, the fragrant aroma of lotus leaves, and a savory-sweet flavor with a unique, distinctive character.