Moo Shu Pork

Tip: Read directions completely before preparing.

Ingredients:

1 lb pork butt, trimmed and thinly sliced into strips across grain

4 tablespoons light soy sauce

4 tablespoons rice wine

1/4 teaspoon ground white pepper

2 tablespoons sugar

1/2 teaspoon ginger paste

2 tablespoons cornstarch

1/2 cup dried Chinese black mushrooms (also known as black fungus or wood ear mushrooms)

2 tablespoons oyster sauce

1 teaspoon Asian toasted sesame oil

2 large eggs, lightly beaten

1/4 cup vegetable oil

3 cups shredded cabbage

4 cloves garlic, minced

4 scallions (white and green parts), thinly sliced on diagonal (about 1/2 cup)

6 Moo Shu Pancakes (Store bought or click here for Moo Shu Pancakes recipe. I have also used thin flour tortillas! They work great!)

Directions:

In large nonreactive bowl, toss together pork, 2 tablespoons soy sauce, 3 tablespoons rice wine, white pepper, and cornstarch. Let marinate 30 minutes.

Meanwhile, in small bowl, combine dried black mushrooms and boiling water to cover. Let stand until tender, about 10 minutes. Drain, squeezing out excess liquid, rinse to remove any grit, discard stems, and coarsely chop caps. Set aside.

 In small bowl, stir together remaining 2 tablespoons soy sauce, remaining 1 tablespoon rice wine, oyster sauce, and sugar. Set aside.

In small sauté pan over moderate heat, heat sesame oil until hot but not smoking. Add eggs and scramble until softly set, about 1 minute. Transfer to small bowl and set aside.

 In wok or heavy large sauté pan over moderately high heat, heat vegetable oil until hot but not smoking. Add ginger, garlic, half of scallions (reserve remainder for garnish), and pork and stir-fry until pork is cooked through and caramelized, about 5 minutes. Add black mushrooms, cabbage, and stir-fry until vegetables are tender, 2 to 3 minutes. Add eggs and soy sauce-rice wine-oyster sauce mixture and stir-fry until heated through, about 1 minute.

To serve, divide pork mixture into six equal portions and add to pancakes and roll up to enclose mixture. Enjoy!

Tip: Moo Shu Pork is a typical stir-fried dish in northern China. It's made with pork, green onions, mushrooms, and scrambled eggs, all rolled into small, thin pancakes instead of being served over rice. If you cannot find the store bought pancakes, I have also used thin flour tortillas! They work great!