Din Tai Fung Pork Chop Fried Rice

 

Ingredients: (serves 2)

2 cups cooked rice

1 tbsp. cooking oil, plus more for frying pork chops

2 large eggs

1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. chicken stock granules

Dash ground white pepper

1/2 sprig spring onions (chopped) - to garnish

Pork Chop brine solution:

250 ml. water

1/2 tsp. baking soda

15 g. salt

1/2 tbsp. sugar

Pork Chop marinade:

2 pieces boneless pork chop (about 3/4" thick)

1/2 tsp. five spice powder

1 1/2 tbsp. cornflour

1 tsp. light soy sauce

1/2 tbsp. sugar

1/2 tbsp. Shaoxing Wine

Methods:

(A) Prepare the brine solution

• Put water, salt, sugar and baking soda in a saucepan.  You don't need to bring to a rolling boil,  just cook until the salt and sugar dissolves.  Set aside to let it cool down completely.

(B)  Prepare the pork chops

• Cut some short slits on the fat side of the pork chops.  This prevent the meat from curling up during cooking.
• Use a meat tenderizer to tenderize the pork chop, but not too thin.

(C)  Brine the pork chops

• Once the brine has cooled down, put the pork in the brine solution and let them soak in the brine for 1 hour, maximum.  Do not over do it or the pork chops will have mushy texture from over brining.
• After brining, rinse the pork chops to get rid of salt and baking soda with clean water.  There is no need to pat dry.

(D)  Marinate the pork chops

• Combine all the ingredients in a bowl and set aside.
• Pour the marinade over the pork chops and rub all over, cover and let them marinate overnight in the fridge for best result.

(E)  Cook the fried rice 

• Use clean hands to separate any clumps from the rice.
• Preheat wok over medium-high heat.  Add 1 tbsp. oil.  Crack in eggs and scramble about 10 seconds.  The eggs should be only 50% cooked at this point.  Add rice and stir to break up any lumps and make sure rice grains are coated with the eggs.  Add seasonings and continue to stir-fry until rice grains are really dry.
• Taste for correct seasoning, add more chicken stock granules as needed to suit your taste.

(F)  Frying the pork chops

• Bring the pork chops out from the fridge 1 hour before cooking.
• In a heated pan with medium heat, add about 1" oil.  Oil is ready when you put a wooden chopstick into the oil and bubbles form around the chopstick.
• Add in the pork chops, if you are making larger portions, fry them in batches.  Fry until golden brown, turning over to ensure evenly fried.  Remove from oil and place on kitchen paper.  Rest for 5 minutes before cutting.

(G)  Serving

• Portion rice into 2 serving plates.
• Top with pork chop slices.
• Sprinkle with chopped spring onion and serve immediately.

This recipe is adapted from 'whattocooktoday.com' with slight adjustment to suit my cooking peference.