Friday 23 August 2013

Rice with Chinese Five Spice Pork Belly - Video

Update: Thank you everyone who watched, liked and shared the video.  I truly appreciate it.  But unfortunately the video did not make it to the next stage :(  Not to worry though, I'm sure there will be other opportunity.  I also have a new video which will be uploaded very soon, so be sure to check it out.  Again, thank you and have a delicious day! x

Rice is a staple ingredient in my family... We eat it almost everyday and we buy it by the sackful... It makes sense because rice is indeed a great neutral carbohydrate to which you can cook and eat with many dishes... both savoury and sweet... Vanilla rice pudding with cinnamon-y stewed apples, anyone? :)

This time I want to share with you a lovely one pot (or wok, in my case) meal, that is, rice with Chinese five spice pork belly.  It's super quick to make, affordable and utterly delicious...


I adore Chinese five spice... It's a wonderful blend of spices including fennel seeds, star anise, cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg.  And it is brilliant with pork belly.  Try rubbing the five spice on the pork belly rind with some salt and oil for your next Sunday roast... and you'll have amazing crackling, I promise.  My mouth waters just thinking about it...

Moving on... I cook the rice with homemade pork stock... and please do not panic!  It takes hardly any work to make...  If you get your pork belly from the butcher, do ask for some of the pig bones.  They are fantastic and they give wonderful sweetness to the stock.  Simply cover the bones with water in a pot and cook with a few couple of cloves of garlic, salt and black peppercorns (by all means add some carrots, onions, bay leaves and thyme if you want to go the whole shebang)... Let it comes to a boil and then simmer... carefully skim off any foam that comes to the top and voila... you have a pork stock.

Veg-wise I use pak choi, and you can use others... But I would suggest you use greens that can stand to the cooking and won't wilt to a mush... soft lettuces will not work here, but cabbage, kale or Swiss chard will be lovely.

This video is also my entry for Jamie Oliver's search for a food tube star competition.  I must say, filming a video for the internet is scary, and submitting it for a competition is just scary at a whole new level... but exciting at the same time :) I want to say a huge thank you to my friends Oflavia and Vincent for lending their cameras and talents... You guys are awesome.

I hope you will enjoy watching the video and I'd appreciate it if you can support me by hitting the 'thumbs-up' button on the channel.  Thank you so much in advance... Have a delicious day!

Rice with Chinese Five Spice Pork Belly
Recipe by Me

1 onion
4 red chillies
A small bunch of fresh coriander stalks
8 dried shiitake mushrooms, soaked in 100 ml of hot water
200 grams pork belly, diced
2 tablespoons Chinese five spice powder
300 grams rice, rinse under cold running water until the water underneath runs clear
100 ml Shaoxing rice wine
700 ml pork stock or chicken stock
Baby pak choi
Fresh coriander leaves
Olive oil
Salt and freshly ground black pepper

30 comments:

  1. This is something I would enjoy everyday and still want more! I am too a fan of 5-spice!
    Have a great weekend, Michael.

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    1. Thank you Angie! Hope you had a great one yourself!

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  2. I am LOVING your videos Michael. You're a natural! Lovely and very tasty recipe too. Well done you!

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    1. THANKS Dom! I am so pleased that you love them.

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  3. This looks wonderful - and GREAT video - love the ingredients - simply yummy
    Mary x

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  4. There are not many videos around that make me as hungry as yours. That's a lovely dish. Good luck in the competition.

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  5. Awesome job Michael!! I miss rice if I haven't had it in a while too :) I'm off to give this a thumbs up-best of luck!! :D

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  6. Your videos just keep getting better and better Michael!! :)
    And I'm with Angie, I could eat this every single day and still want more.... but, then again, how could you go wrong with pork belly???

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    1. The answer is simple, you can't! :) I absolutely love pork belly. Thanks Jenn!

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  7. Aw good luck with the entry Micahel- I'm sure you'll do amazing, it's a great video! You'ere a natural in front of the camera! Five spice pork belly is one of my ultimate favourite ways with pork, nothing beats the smell of those familiar chinese spices with yummy fatty pork belly! Love your take on it cooking the rice in pork stock too! Good one.

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    1. Thank you Shu Han. I'll keep you updated. To be honest, I'm not putting my hopes too high, but you never know :)
      Oh yes to the pork belly and the Chinese five spice. Glorious!

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    2. Oh come on if you think that way it's half the battle lost already! Good luck!!!

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    3. I know... I should be more positive and optimistic about it! Thank you for your support!

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  8. Hi Micheal,

    Hope that you win this competition! I gave you a thumb up for your video!!! Good luck!

    Zoe

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    1. Thank you for your support Zoe! That would be amazing to win :)

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  9. 'I happen to have some homemade Shaoxing rice wine'? Michael, you are AMAZING! I mean, I always thought you were but this video has confirmed it. I can't wait to watch your other vids. And thanks for the pork stock tip. Genius! xx

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    1. Thank you Lucy!! Totally a #SmugFace moment about the Shaoxing rice wine :)

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  10. Sometimes simple is best. This looks so delicious!

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    1. Thank you... and I totally agree with you.

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  11. Michael, I sincerely hope you win the completion. I love your stir-fry pork belly with the 5 spice, so fragrant, inviting and super delicious. You are always such a natural on your videos and know how to introduce the dish you're making and not boring your audience! Awesome! xo

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    1. Many thanks Elisabeth for your kind words. It'll be brilliant to win the competition. I'll keep you updated.

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  12. I love rice dishes, and this one with pork belly and the Chinese 5 spices really sounds and looks delicious...I can almost taste it.
    Hope you are having a wonderful week Michael :D

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    1. Thank you Juliana. It really is delicious and I think you'll enjoy this rice dish very much. I had the most wonderful week in Singapore and I look forward to the weekend!

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  13. Michael, this looks sooooo good! I'm going to watch the video after lunch, but I just had to take a minute now to comment on the dish!

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    1. Thank you Jean. I hope you'll enjoy watching the video, and it's probably best to have something to eat beforehand :)

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  14. Hey Michael, Thank you so much for posting this one. I really love rice dishes. I always cook the rice with homemade pork stock. Your recipe is something I would enjoy everyday and still want more!

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    1. Hi Robin! Thank you for stopping by and for the kind comment. Whenever I have the time, I think making homemade stock is definitely worth it. Thanks again.

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