Red Fermented Bean Curd Pig's Trotters with Rice Noodles (南乳猪手捞米粉)
This dish combines the rich flavors of pig's trotters braised with red fermented bean curd and serves them with rice noodles, creating a comforting and hearty meal. Here’s a step-by-step recipe to prepare it at home.
Ingredients
For the Pig’s Trotters:
- 4 pig’s trotters cleaned and chopped into chunks
- 4 pieces of red fermented bean curd 南乳
- 1 tablespoon of the sauce from the red fermented bean curd
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon oyster sauce
- 1 tablespoon dark soy sauce for color
- 500 ml chicken stock or water
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1 piece of ginger sliced
- 2 star anise
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 2 tablespoons cooking oil
For the Rice Noodles:
- 400 g dried rice noodles
- Garnish:
- Green onions finely chopped
- Fresh cilantro chopped
- Fresh chili sliced (optional)
Instructions
Prepare the Pig’s Trotters:
- Parboil the pig’s trotters in boiling water for 5 minutes to remove impurities. Drain, rinse, and set aside.
- In a bowl, mash the red fermented bean curd with its sauce, soy sauce, oyster sauce, and dark soy sauce. Coat the trotters in this marinade and let sit for at least 30 minutes.
Cook the Trotters:
- In a large pot, heat the cooking oil over medium heat. Add minced garlic and ginger, and sauté until fragrant.
- Add the marinated trotters, star anise, and cinnamon stick. Stir-fry until the trotters are slightly browned.
- Sprinkle the sugar over the trotters and let it caramelize lightly.
- Add chicken stock or water, bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer. Cover and let cook for 2-3 hours, or until the trotters are tender.
Prepare the Rice Noodles:
- Soak the rice noodles in warm water until soft, then drain. Alternatively, cook according to package instructions until just tender.
Assemble the Dish:
- Once the trotters are tender, adjust the seasoning of the sauce if needed.
- Place a portion of rice noodles in each bowl. Top with the braised pig’s trotters and ladle some of the cooking broth over the noodles.
- Garnish with chopped green onions, cilantro, and optional fresh chili slices.
