Steamed Minced Pork with Preserved Mustard 梅菜蒸猪肉

This photograph has been updated in September 2017.

There are many traditional home-cooked dishes in a typical Singapore Chinese family. Steamed Minced Pork with Preserved Mustard Greens 梅菜蒸猪肉 could easily qualify as one of the all time favourites irregardless of dialect groups.

In my younger days, I had the false impression that this Steamed Minced Pork with Preserved Mustard Greens 梅菜蒸猪肉 was complicated and difficult to prepare. I was so wrong! Trust me, how difficult can it be when this dish requires only 2 main ingredients - minced pork and preserved mustard greens? Perhaps, the most challenging part is to get them in the right texture!

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Ingredients (enough for 4 pax with steamed rice and other dishes) :

250 gm minced pork
100 gm preserved mustard greens (add more if you like)(I prefer those from Hong Kong than China as they are usually less salty. Available from markets/supermarkets)
Thinly sliced ginger (optional)

Seasonings :

1/4 tsp salt
1.5 tsp sugar
1 tbsp light soy sauce
1 tsp sesame oil
1 tbsp corn/potato starch flour
1 tbsp cooking oil

(tsp = teaspoon; tbsp = tablespoon)

Tip : Do not chop the ingredients too fine. Chop most ingredients coarsely for better textures.

Method :

Rinse preserved mustard in running water to rid impurities.

After rinsing, soak preserved mustard in a bowl of water for 10 minutes.

Drain water out of preserved mustard greens and chop into bits.

Set aside the chopped preserved mustard greens.

Chop minced pork to improve meat texture.

When ready, add the chopped mustard greens onto minced pork.

Chop to blend preserved mustard greens into minced pork.

Preserved mustard greens should be evenly distributed.

Transfer minced pork and preserved mustard greens to bowl or plate. Add seasonings.

Use chopsticks to blend seasonings into pork and mustard greens. Blend clockwise or anti-clockwise in one direction for better texture.

Steam in rice cooker or steamer for 30 to 40 minutes (timing is dependent on respective appliances....you know your rice cooker or steamer best). If you like ginger, spread some thinly sliced ginger on top when steaming.

Add a few drops of sesame oil and garnishing before served.

This photograph has been updated in September 2017.

Do note that different brands of preserved mustard greens come in varying level of saltiness. Make your own decision to add a little more light soy sauce to suit your taste if necessary.

Steamed Minced Pork with Preserved Mustard Greens 梅菜蒸猪肉 - surely a nostalgic and flavourful home-cooked dish that many of us grew up with!