I love potatoes, whether they are baked, fried, boiled, steamed, stewed or grilled – all are my favourite! This particular dish is one that my mom prepares often – it’s a very quick and easy potato stew with minced pork that can be made in less than 30 minutes. When I was younger, I would drizzle the salty and slightly starchy dark sauce over my rice or porridge, pile on the potatoes and minced pork and ate it all up with gusto – double the carbohydrates, double the comfort!
As I grow older, I left out the rice and eat it on its own as I’m watching my weight. And now that I’m thousands of miles away from my mom, I have to make this comfort food by myself, which I guess it’s a good thing, otherwise this recipe won’t appear on the blog so soon heh.
My mom prefers using waxy potatoes instead of starchy ones because of its texture and its ability to hold its shape and stay firm after the frying and stewing. I’ve tried with both waxy and starchy ones and found that starchy potatoes indeed tend to break apart easily towards the end (especially if I’m too violent with the stew). But other than that, I felt that both types of potatoes taste equally good, so I guess it’s a matter of personal preference.
I’m not sure why my mom fry the potato slices in oil before stewing, but I’m guessing it’s to partially cook the potato and to allow the exterior to firm up so that it doesn’t break apart so easily.
My mom likes to keep the seasoning simple, so there’s no oyster sauce or other fanciful sauces, just simple seasoning that can be found in all Chinese families’ pantries. I remember she didn’t even use sesame oil to marinate the pork, but since I love the taste of sesame oil, I added a little bit into the dish.
And as we all know, there is no such thing as detailed recipes for parents and grandparents. They’ve been cooking for so long that they no longer need this thing called tablespoon – they simply splash in a bit of this and dollop in a bit of that. So after a few attempts and play around with the seasoning, here is my best replica of my mom’s potato and minced pork stew!
Step-by-step Photos | |
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| 1) Marinate minced pork with light soy sauce, sesame oil and white pepper. | 2) Fry the potato slices in oil until lightly golden-brown on the edges. Drain the potatoes. |
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| 3) Drain off all the oil and add back 1 to 2 tablespoons of oil. Add in garlic and fry until garlic is lightly browned. | 4) Add in minced pork and fry until the pork is no longer pink in colour. |
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| 5) Add in the potato. | 6) Followed by water. |
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| 7) And dark soy sauce. | 8) Simmer until the potato slices have softened. |
Mom's Chinese Potato and Minced Pork Stew
INGREDIENTS
- 1 potato
- 150 grams minced pork
- 1 tablespoon light soy sauce
- 1/2 tablespoon sesame oil
- Dash ground white pepper
- Oil
- 2 cloves garlic, peeled and crushed
- 1½ tablespoons dark soy sauce
- 125 ml water
- Chopped spring onion, for garnish (optional)
INSTRUCTIONS
- Peel the potato and slice into 1/4-inch thick slices. Dry both sides of the potato slices thoroughly with paper towel.
- Mix minced pork, light soy sauce, sesame oil and white pepper in a small bowl. Set aside to marinate.
- Heat 1/2- to 3/4-inch deep of oil in a large frying pan over medium heat until hot but not smoking. Add in the potato slices in a single layer and fry, flipping the potato slices, until both the edges are slightly golden. Drain the potatoes. Repeat until all the potato slices have been fried.
- Drain all the oil in the frying pan until about 1 to 2 tablespoons of oil is left. Heat over medium heat and add in the garlic. Fry the garlic until slightly golden and add in the marinated minced pork, flattening it into a single layer. Cook, untouched, for a few minutes until slightly browned then break up the pork and cook until the pork is no longer pink.
- Add in the potato slices, dark soy sauce and water. Bring to a boil then turn down the heat to a simmer. Cover and simmer for about 5 to 7 minutes until the potatoes are soft and the sauce is slightly thickened. If it's too dry, splash in a little more water.
- Transfer the potatoes into a serving plate, garnish with chopped spring onion and serve with porridge or rice.
Kerry says
This is absolutely delicious, it’s definitely making into regular rotation in my house. I added some ginger to the marinade and served with sesame roasted carrots – but it would also be amazing with salad. Thank you so much for sharing and thanks to your mum for being awesome.
Foodie Baker says
Thanks Kerry for the sweet compliments! I’m glad you and your family like it. The sesame roasted carrots sound delicious!
Winniewinters Wong says
Thanks for your recipe. I made it and it turned out delicious! Gonna keep this recipe for future reference
Kitchengeeky says
Hehe I also love potatoes in any way it is cooked. This recipe looks very appealing to me. Btw can I made this with beef in replacement of pork?
Jasline N. says
Hi! Yes you can definitely replace the minced pork with minced beef or minced chicken! 🙂
Kristy Bernardine says
I am going to try to make this tonight. My grandmother used to cook this for the whole household way back when. I missed this and hope my kid will like this too. Thank you for sharing this recipe.
Jasline N. says
Hi Kristy, I do hope you and your kid will like it, this is one of my top favourite dishes!
Gillian says
Success 1st time cooking it! Taste good!!! Thanks for this! 🙂
Jasline N. says
You are welcome Gillian! I’m so happy you like it!
Mrs Dahlgren says
Fantastic! My 2 years old daughter like it, including her dad! 🙂 thanks for the recipe!
Jasline N. says
Thanks Mrs Dahlgren, I’m so happy your family like it!
BRENDA says
I just tried cooking it! totally awesome! thanks for sharing ((:
Amanda stott says
Just made this for tea tonight and it was delicious. Hubbie is on his second helping. Thank you for sharing your mum’s recipe.
Jasline N. says
I’m so happy you and your husband like it! (:
Nagi@RecipeTinEats says
Easy to make dishes are the best. This stew looks delish. And I love potatoes too!
emptyzafu says
I had tried this recipe out last Sunday. Really yummy. :..) Thank you for sharing.
Jasline N. says
Yay I’m so glad you like it! 🙂
Maggie | Omnivore's Cookbook says
Always enjoy a bowl of comforting dish like this! Me too, now I’m thousands miles away from home so I need to cook things like this myself. I still have a bag of ground turkey in the fridge. Can’t wait to try this out soon 🙂
Choi Yen says
This go well with rice!
TOMYCook says
Definitely, but almost everything goes well with rice so I don’t think that’s really saying much 🙂
kaboom says
one question : how do you prep the ground pork, without the sticky raw meat smell?
Jasline N. says
Hi Kaboom, the meat I usually get do not have the “porky” smell. See if you can get your butcher to grind the pork of your choice in front of you instead of buying the already-minced pork. Marinating the pork will also remove some of the smell, and if you find that your pork has a very strong smell, add 1/2 tablespoon shaoxing wine or sake into the marinade. Hope this helps!
Susan says
I love when you share your family recipes, Jasline! This sounds wonderful and not too complicated to make at all. I envy your trip to Denmark. I’m 75% Danish and I’ve never been there 🙁
delishar says
Hi Jasline! I love this post and the recipe too! This dish reminds me of my primary school days when my grandma used to make this. Plus it was also one of my favourite dish to order at my canteen! Thank you for your kind sharing!
bentodays says
Comfort food! Looks so yummy!
Charmaine says
Hi Hi Jasline…its been awhile…
Oh yes…i love these too…they are my fav!!
Im cooking these potatoes with variations for a simple one pot meal for my family too…simply too easy n fuss free plus the kids eat them…
I can just eat them on its own…i have jus cooked chix potatoes…perhaps…pork soon…and i hope mine dun get tired of this lovely dish…:)
apuginthekitchen says
That looks so good Jasline. What a comforting and delicious dish. Love potatoes.
Anna @ shenANNAgans says
YES, totes agree about potatoes. They are the best vegetable ever invented. Digging your Mommas dish too, hearty and delicious. Cant wait to try it. 🙂
Hope you are enjoying your holiday lady, will pop over to Insta & Facey for a cheeky perv on what you are up too. x