Recently I had braces put it (yeah, yeah, in adulthood) and everytime my orthodontist tightens them, I scratch my head and think of food that isnt a challenge to tender teeth. One can only eat so much whizzed up broccoli soup, pumpkin soup... Watties tinned Spaghetti (horror! - but hey, it isnt that bad, especially when I am at work and have to inhale my lunch in 5 minutes). A good Asian alternative is rice porridge accompanied by something nice and savoury... like Pork belly braised in Aromatic Soy Sauce
Ingredients:
0.5kg Pork Belly
1/4 cup each dark & light soy sauce
1 cup water
2 cloves garlic (unpeeled)
1/2 tsp fennel seeds
1/2 tsp chilli flakes
1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
2 whole star anise
4 cardamom pods
3 cloves
1 cinnamon stick
1/2 tsp white peppercorns
pinch of sugar
2 pieces hard tofu (tau kwa) cut into half
Method:
- Cut pork belly into inch wide strips, after making sure that all gristlehas been removed
- Wash dried shitake mushrooms and trim stems off (you can keep them for making soup stock)
- Place all ingredients into a pot, bring to boil then transfer to a slow cooker and braise at very low heat till meat is tender (about 2h)
- Remove meat, mushrooms and tofu
- Strain sauce to remove spices, season to taste
- Slice meat into 5mm thick slices (or however thick you like them), tofu into 2cm thick slices, arrange on plate, with meat and mushrooms
- Serve Sauce alongside
