Pig Trotter in Black Vinegar (猪脚醋)

This is a typical confinement dish for Chinese after giving birth.  Use of ginger will drive "wind" out of the body system, while vinegar breaks down calcium from the bones hence supplements calcium to the needy mother after childbirth (as most of calcium in mum's body has passed on to baby for growth).  Use of sesame oil also helps to improve blood circulation and eggs are good nourishment for the body.  Though it is mainly a confinement dish but it can be eaten by everyone. 


Serves 6-8 as part of a shared meal

Ingredients:
Pork trotter*, cleaned & hair removed, ~2kg
Egg, hard boiled and shells removed, ~10 units
Old ginger, cleaned, peeled & smashed, 1.2kg
Garlic, peeled and smashed, 3 cloves
Black rice vinegar (双料糯米甜黑醋)**, 750 ml (1 bottle)
Water, 750 ml (measured using the vinegar bottle)
Raw sugar, 500g
Salt, 1 tsp
Cooking oil, 5 tbsp
Sesame oil, 1 tbsp

* Fore limbs are less fatty, so is the preferred healthier choice
** Must use the 双料 version



Method:
1. Parboil the cleaned trotters to remove dirt and blood.

2. Add cooking oil and sesame oil to a big claypot over medium heat.  Stir fry smashed ginger and garlic till aromatic, then add in vinegar, water sugar and salt.  Let mixture boils over medium heat for at least 1 hr.

3. Add in trotters and hard boiled eggs and allow to simmer for at least 30 mins or till trotters are fully cooked and softened.



Serving:
1. Serve with steam rice.  For best result, it is recommended to be eaten on 2nd day after reheating.

Tiger Meatballs Stuffed with Winter Bamboo Shoots and Tiger Beer Sauce

Serves ~6 as part of a shared meal



Ingredients:
Winter bamboo shoot, drained & chopped, 100g
Minced pork, 200g
Minced beef, 200g
Soft breadcrumb, ½ cup
Egg, beaten, about 60g size, 1 unit
Soy sauce, 2 tbsp
Garlic salt (= 1 part garlic powder + 3 parts salt), ½ tsp
Onion, peeled & chopped, 50g
Cooking oil, to pan fry meatballs

Tiger Beer sauce:
Butter, 3 tbsp
Onion, peeled, 1 slice
Red onion, peeled, 1 slice
Garlic, 1 tsp
Brown sugar, 2 tbsp
Tiger Beer, 250ml
Rice vinegar, 2 tbsp
Cayenne pepper, ½ tsp
Red paprika, 1 slice
Yellow paprika, 1 slice
Breadcrumb, 2 tbsp
Cherry tomato, halved, 15 units



Method:
1. Mix all main ingredients, except cooking oil, under main list together, and roll into meatballs.  Pan fry the meatballs.

2. Prepare sauce.  Heat butter over medium heat.  Saute sliced onion, red onion and garlic.  Add in brown sugar and cook till it caramelises, then add in beer, rice vinegar and peppers.

3. Add in fried meatballs, then breadcrumbs, and allow to simmer for 15 mins.   Finally add in cherry tomatoes, stir for a while before off heat.