Zha Jiang Lettuce Cups

Name: Zha Jiang Lettuce Cups
Prep time: 25 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 1 h 10 min
Yield: 4 to 6
Cuisine: Chinese
Ingredients: 300 g minced pork; 12 lettuce cups; 2 tbsp sweet bean sauce; 1 water chestnut — diced; 1 tbsp soy sauce; to taste fine sea salt

25 minutes prep 45 minutes cook Serves 4 to 6 meat

Zha Jiang Lettuce Cups find their roots in the bustling kitchens of modern Beijing, where home cooks balance tradition with their own family flair. This dish, a beloved presence at gatherings, demonstrates the unique blend of hand-measured salt and the unapologetic use of fat, inviting everyone at the table to indulge in a shared culinary experience. Here, the recipe is preserved in its homey authenticity, as a Chinese family would have it.

Each bite promises a rich, savory medley of finely minced pork, enveloped in the crisp embrace of cool lettuce. The sweet bean sauce and soy sauce meld seamlessly, punctuated by the subtle crunch of water chestnut. This dish delivers a satisfying contrast of textures and flavors, carefully crafted to delight every palate around the table.

Ingredients

300 gminced pork
12lettuce cups
2 tbspsweet bean sauce
1water chestnut — diced
1 tbspsoy sauce
to tastefine sea salt

Method

Begin by finely dicing the water chestnut to add a crunchy texture to the filling. Set aside the diced water chestnut and prepare the lettuce cups by washing and drying them thoroughly. Ensure they are crisp and ready to hold the filling.
In a large skillet or wok, heat 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil over medium-high heat. Add the minced pork, breaking it apart with a spatula to ensure even cooking. Stir frequently until the pork turns a light golden brown and is cooked through, with no pink remaining.
Add the diced water chestnut to the skillet, stirring to combine with the pork. Cook for an additional 2 minutes until the water chestnut is heated through and the mixture is well integrated.
Lower the heat to medium and stir in 2 tablespoons of sweet bean sauce and 1 tablespoon of soy sauce. Mix thoroughly, ensuring the pork is evenly coated with the sauces. Cook for another 2-3 minutes until the sauce thickens slightly and clings to the pork.
Taste the mixture and add fine sea salt to your preference, ensuring the flavors are balanced and to your liking. The mixture should be savory with a hint of sweetness from the bean sauce.
Remove the skillet from heat and let the mixture cool slightly. This will make it easier to handle when assembling the lettuce cups.
To serve, spoon the pork mixture into each lettuce cup, distributing it evenly. Arrange the filled lettuce cups on a platter, ready for sharing at the table.