Chinese Pork Yak Recipes

CHAR SIU (CHINESE BBQ PORK)

Steps:

• Cut the pork into long strips or chunks about 2 to 3 inches thick. Don't trim any excess fat, as it will render off and add flavor.
• Combine the sugar, salt, five spice powder, white pepper, sesame oil, wine, soy sauce, hoisin sauce, molasses, food coloring (if using), and garlic in a bowl to make the marinade (i.e. the BBQ sauce).
• Reserve about 2 tablespoons of marinade and set it aside. Rub the pork with the rest of the marinade in a large bowl or baking dish. Cover and refrigerate overnight, or at least 8 hours. Cover and store the reserved marinade in the fridge as well.
• Preheat your oven to 'bake' at 475 F (246 C) with a rack positioned in the upper third of the oven. (If you only have a convection oven, keep in mind the oven not only heats more quickly, your char siu will roast faster than what we have described here). It's amazing how oven temperatures can vary-from model to model, in different spots in the oven, and in how ovens pre-heat and maintain heat. Using an oven thermometer to double-check the actual oven temperature is a great safeguard to monitor your food (I say double-check because even oven thermostat calibrations vary and can sometimes be incorrect). Regardless, be sure to check your char siu every 10 minutes, reducing or increasing the temperature as needed.
• Line a sheet pan with foil and place a metal rack on top. Using the metal rack keeps the pork off of the pan and allows it to roast more evenly, like it does in commercial ovens described above. Place the pork on the rack, leaving as much space as possible between pieces. Pour 1 ½ cups water into the pan below the rack. This prevents any drippings from burning or smoking.
• Transfer the pork to your preheated oven. Roast for 25 minutes, keeping the oven setting at 475 F for the first 10 minutes of roasting, and then reduce your oven temperature to 375 F (190 C). After 25 minutes, flip the pork. If the bottom of the pan is dry, add another cup of water. Turn the pan 180 degrees to ensure even roasting. Roast another 15 minutes. Throughout the roasting time, check your char siu often (every 10 minutes) and reduce the oven temperature if it looks like it is burning!
• Meanwhile, combine the reserved marinade with the maltose or honey (maltose is very viscous--you can heat it up in the microwave to make it easier to work with) and 1 tablespoon hot water. This will be the sauce you'll use for basting the pork.
• After 40 minutes of total roasting time, baste the pork, flip it, and baste the other side as well. Roast for a final 10 minutes.
• By now, the pork has cooked for 50 minutes total. It should be cooked through and caramelized on top. If it's not caramelized to your liking, you can turn the broiler on for a couple minutes to crisp the outside and add some color/flavor. Be sure not to walk away during this process, since the sweet char siu BBQ sauce can burn if left unattended. You can also use a meat thermometer to check if the internal temperature of the pork has reached 160 degrees F. (Update: USDA recommends that pork should be cooked to 145 degrees F with a 3 minute resting time)
• Remove from the oven and baste with the last bit of reserved BBQ sauce. Let the meat rest for 10 minutes before slicing, and enjoy!

CHICKEN YOK RECIPE

Steps:

• Using the cutting board, julienne the vegetables, including the onion and bell peppers. Set aside.
• Next, prepare the chicken. Trim the fat off of the chicken before cutting it into long even strips.
• Drizzle olive oil into the wok, setting the burner to medium-high heat. Once the olive oil starts to sizzle, add in the chicken thighs. Season the chicken with salt and Creole seasoning. If not able to find Creole seasoning, Chicken seasoning is applicable as well.
• While the chicken is cooking, it's time to boil the eggs. Place the uncooked eggs in the small pot, adding cold water. The water should cover the eggs by at least one inch.
• Set the small pot on a burner, setting the burner on high to bring the pot's contents to a boil. Once the contents are brought to a boil, cover the pot and turn the burner off. After 9 minutes remove the eggs from the pot and place them in a bowl of ice water. Allow the eggs to sit in the cold water for 10-15 minutes before removing the shells.
• The chicken should be cooking on both sides, starting to brown. It's now time to add in the julienned onion and bell peppers along with the minced garlic.
• If the eggs are done, use the same pot to cook the Lo Mein noodles. Follow the cooking instructions on the box. Cook the noodles al dente.
• The chicken should be done cooking now, reaching an internal temperature of 165 F. In the wok containing the chicken and vegetables, add the chicken broth, Creole seasoning, salt, pepper, water, and chicken bouillon. Stir. Allow the soup base to simmer for 5-10 minutes. So as not to overcook, add in the cooked Lo Mein noodles once done simmering. Turn off the heat.
• Plate the Chicken Yok, adding the boiled egg and chopped green onion to garnish. The ketchup, soy sauce, and hot sauce are all topping used to garnish. The amount added to each depends on the individual's tastes. Enjoy!

YUMMY CHINESE YAKA MEIN SOUP

Steps:

• Chef's Note: My sister and I are in the back seat of our car, and dad is driving with mom at his side... No seatbelts in those days. We've just left Sunday services at Saint Dennis parish, and we're headed to Chinatown to meet up with my Uncle Charlie, and Aunt Adele. Plus my Uncle Ed and Aunt Josephine and my two cousins Jody and Little Adele will be there too. We're headed for Chiam restaurant. As the snow slowly falls, I spend my time looking out at the city of Chicago, slowly being covered in a blanket of white. When we arrive, we get a large table, and I order what I always do... A big bowl of Yaka Mein soup, a side of pork eggrolls, and a "kiddie" cocktail. To those of you that don't know what that is, it's ginger ale with some cherry juice, and a little umbrella. I spend the time talking and laughing with my cousins, and just enjoying life. Ahh, memories.
• Gather your ingredients.
• Cut the pork into 1/4-inch slices.
• Baton the slices.
• Chef's Note: You can get Chinese pork in most Asian markets: however, I just posted a recipe for Asian Oven-Roasted "Red" Pork that I think is exactly what I remember from my youth. You're not looking for Chinese BBQ pork here... although that will do.
• Cook the hard-boiled egg.
• Add the ingredients for the broth in a saucepan.
• Bring the broth to a lite simmer.
• Add the noodles and allow them to simmer in the broth for about 5 minutes.
• Add the noodles to a serving dish.
• Use just enough of the broth to cover the noodles, and add half the pork.
• Add one half of the hard-boiled egg.
• Sprinkle with some toasted sesame seeds.
• Chef's Note: Repeat for the second serving.
• Serve while still hot. Enjoy my memory.
• Keep the faith, and keep cooking.

ROAST PORK LO MEIN

Steps:

• 1. Bring a medium pot of water to a boil. Add the noodles and cook according to the package instructions until al dente, or the minimum amount of time suggested by the package. Drain the noodles, rinse under cold water, and drain again, shaking well to remove excess water. Return the noodles to the pot, toss with the sesame oil until the noodles are well coated, and set aside.
• 2. Prepare the sauce: In a small bowl, combine the soy sauce, oyster sauce, rice wine, and honey. Set aside.
• 3. Heat a wok or large skillet over high heat until a bead of water sizzles and evaporates on contact. Add the peanut oil and swirl to coat the bottom. Add the garlic, ginger, and scallions and stir-fry until aromatic, about 30 seconds. Add the mushrooms and cook until softened, 1 to 2 minutes.
• 4. Add the noodles and pork. Pour in the sauce mixture and toss with tongs or chopsticks until the noodles and pork are heated through and well coated with sauce. Transfer to a platter and serve.

YAKA MEIN

Steps:

• Cook spaghetti according to package directions. While spaghetti is cooking, bring stock and Cajun Seasoning to a boil in a large pot. Add meat and simmer 5 minutes. Reserving stock, strain meat out. Set meat aside and keep warm. Bring stock back to a boil and stir in soy sauce. Simmer 1 minute.
• To assemble, place drained spaghetti in 6 individual bowls. Divide meat and egg halves over spaghetti. Ladle on broth and sprinkle with green onions.

CHINESE PORK 'N' NOODLES

Steps:

• Cook pasta according to package directions. Meanwhile, in a small bowl, combine the hoisin sauce, soy sauce and sesame oil; set aside. , In a large nonstick skillet or wok, stir-fry pork in 2 teaspoons canola oil for 3 minutes or until no longer pink. Remove and keep warm. In the same skillet, stir-fry the red pepper, peas and onion in remaining oil for 3 minutes. Add cabbage; stir-fry 2 minutes longer or until vegetables are crisp-tender. , Stir reserved hoisin sauce mixture and stir into skillet. Return pork to the pan; heat through. Drain pasta and add to skillet; toss to coat. Sprinkle each serving with 1 tablespoon cilantro.

AUTHENTIC YAKISOBA

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Cook soba in boiling water, stirring occasionally, until noodles are tender yet firm to the bite, 5 to 8 minutes. Drain noodles and rinse with cold water. Set aside.
• Heat oil in a wok over medium heat. Add pork and stir-fry with a pinch of salt and pepper, about 5 minutes. Transfer meat to a plate, reserving oil in wok. Add carrots, onion, ginger, and garlic to the wok and stir-fry for 3 to 4 minutes.
• Add cabbage to the wok and stir-fry briefly, about 1 minute. Add drained soba noodles. Pour in 1/2 the yakisoba sauce and stir-fry until noodles and vegetables are covered with sauce, about 3 minutes. Return pork to the wok. Add additional sauce as desired. Remove from heat.
• Garnish yakisoba with kizami nori and a small pile of beni shoga just before serving.