You can find these strange cans filled with "vegetarian mock pork" in most shops specialising in Chinese foods.
This stuff is actually just wheat protein texturised to imitate meat, developed as many eastern cultures became vegetarian, mostly with the onset of Buddhism. It's a good source of protein, and is also known as "Seitan"~ It also comes in "mock chicken" and "mock duck" varieties.
In Dublin, it is sold in the Asia Market on Drury street, and the Oriental Emporium beside Jervis LUAS station. It costs around €1.50 per can. Each can contains three servings.
The mock pork tastes a little meaty, but it absorbs all other strong flavours around it, like onion and any spices, and instantly turns delicious when cooked in a stir-fry~ ^_^
Ingredients:
- One can of Mock Pork
- 3 medium-sized onions (red or white, red+sweetness white+savoury)
- One bell pepper
- Broccoli, sliced.
- One small bag of beansprouts
- Two heads of medium-sized Pak choi
- One tablespoon of soy sauce (dark or light, dark is more salty)
- One nubbin of fresh ginger
- One fresh chilli.
- Two or three cloves of garlic, depending on personal taste~
- For even MORE protein, add a cup of cooked mung beans!
- Egg noodles, or Udon Noodles, cooked. (or any type! Ramen, rice.. etc..)
- One cup of mushrooms. (shiitake preferably)
- Peanut or Rapeseed oil for frying.
- One teaspoon of "Chinese five-spice" powder.
- Four spring onions.
If you have time, marinade the mock pork in a mixture of a little soy sauce and sprinkling of Chinese five-spice for an hour beforehand~
Directions:
-Heat oil in a wok or frying pan to a high heat.
Add the mock pork to the wok and stir-fry for about 30 seconds.
If you haven't marinated, add the Chinese five-spice now, and stir fry for a further 2 minutes.
-Add the vegetables that need extra cooking time, like garlic, ginger, chilli, broccoli. Let them flavour the mock pork.
-Add the peppers, onions, mushrooms. Stir-fry for a further 3 minutes, still on a high heat!!
-Add a splash of soy sauce to the mixture and stir evenly!
In the final minute of frying, add the perishable vegetable like pak choi and beansprouts, cooked mung beans or spring onions.
-Serve on a bed of cooked noodles, drizzled with soy sauce.
Enjoy!
HP recovered: 800! This is very healthy and filling. The only drawback is salty soy sauce. Use less if you want to~ Extra Noodles add more bulk.
Feel free to add: Asparagus, water chestnuts, sweetcorn, french beans, broad beans, baby-corn.
~^_^~
