Be Celeng Base Manis
Time to take a break from Thai food and try a little Balinese cuisine for a change. While Thai dishes tend to be quick light stir-fries, many Balinese and Indonesian dishes often take a bit more time and are a bit heavier.
Balinese Pork & Ginger in Sweet Soy Sauce served with cooked rice.
I got this recipe from the Bali Post, which in turn got it from Bali Guide’s food section. I’ve adapted this recipe a bit by using thin-sliced pork and shredded ginger, which are commonly available in Bangkok supermarkets. If I were serving this as a main dish at a party, I would garnish it with a little of the fresh ginger as well as the chilies. I also added the chilies with the chicken stock so they cooked with the sauce, which made the dish very hot. I love it that way, but if you have a limited capacity for spiciness, then use fewer chilies or use them as a garnish only.
(4 Servings)
| Ingredients | ||
| Vegetable (or Olive) Oil | 2 Tbl | |
| Shallots | 5 | Peeled and sliced |
| Garlic | 5 Cloves | Peeled and sliced |
| Boneless Pork Loin | 600 g / 1 ¼ lb | Thinly sliced |
| Ginger | 8 cm / 3 inch | Peeled and shredded |
| Sweet Soy Sauce (Kecap Manis) | 4 Tbl | |
| Soy Sauce | 2 Tbl | |
| Black Peppercorns | 1 tsp | Crushed |
| Chicken Stock | 440 ml / 2 cups | |
| Bird’s Eye Chilies | 6 – 10 | Coarsely sliced |
Preparation Method
- Heat the oil in a heavy skillet or wok (I prefer a skillet for this dish). Add the shallots and garlic, and sauté over medium heat until lightly colored.
- Add the pork and ginger; continue to saut&eacut; for two more minutes over high heat. Add the soy sauces and crushed black pepper; continue to stir-fry for another minute.
- Pour in the chicken stock (and, optionally, the chilies), lower the heat, and simmer for about an hour. When fully cooked, the meat will be dark and shiny, with very little sauce remaining. If you didn’t cook the chilies with the pork, use them as garnish.
