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Bak Ku Teh (Pork Rib Tea Soup)

Category: Side Dishes

Author: The Savvybearcat

Date: 1/1/2007

Rating:

(3.0) by 1 users

Ingredients:

1 lb Pork back ribs, chopped into 2-inch lengths
1 large Clove garlic, crushed
6 cup Water
1 Stick cinnamon
3 Whole star anise
1 tsp Whole white peppercorns
1 1/2 tsp Sugar
3 tsp Salt
3 tbsp Dark soy sauce, or to taste

MMMMMGARNISHES

2 tbsp Crisp Fried Shallot Flakes
Soy sauce and thinly sliced red chiles for dipping
2 Chinese crullers, sliced (Optional)
Steamed white rice

Instructions:

I think the only "Singaporean" dish I have is one for a curried
noodle dish known as Singapore Noodles every where in Asian except
Singapore where they never seem to have heard of it. Stay tuned
though. I'll see what I can come up with.

Well, it's a little later and we're in luck! I found three Singapore
recipes in Joyce Jue's "Asian Appetizers". Here's da foist...

Although most Asian lunches and dinners include a soup, there are
certain soups which are served as a snack or even for breakfast. In
Singapore, one of my favorite ways to start a day is to trek over to
a hawker's stall and have a bowl of pork rib "tea" (actually a clear
soup tinted with soy sauce). It comes with Chinese crullers for
dunking, and a strong black tea which I think of as the "espresso" of
teas. This recipe comes from the Straits Cafe in San Francisco. The
crullers, baguette-shaped fried savory pastries, may be purchased at
better Asian markets.

1. Combine the pork, garlic, and water in a large saucepan; bring to
a boil and cook for 5 minutes. Skim and discard the scum from the
surface. Add the cinnamon, star anise, peppercorns, sugar, salt, and
soy sauce. Reduce the heat to low and simmer until the pork is
tender, about 45 minutes. Discard the excess fat from the soup
before serving.

2. Serve the soup in deep bowls with 3 to 4 rib pieces per serving
and shallot flakes scattered over the top. Combine soy sauce and
chiles to taste in small bowls as a dipping sauce for the ribs. Serve
with cruller slices for dunking into the broth, and a bowl of rice on
the side.

Makes 4 to 6 servings.

CRISP FRIED SHALLOT AND GARLIC FLAKES:

Cut 8 shallots or garlic cloves crosswise into 1/8-inch-thick slices;
you should have 3/4 cup of slices. The slices must all be of equal
thickness to assure even cooking. Heat 2 cups of vegetable oil to
300F in a preheated wok, saucepan, or skillet. Add the slices and
fry slowly for 3 to 5 minutes or until golden brown and crisp. They
should be completely dry with no remaining moisture. Remove with a
fine strainer and drain on paper towels. When cool, store in an
airtight container. The flakes will keep for several weeks. Makes
about 1/2 cup.

Makes about 1/2 cup.

NOTE: The flavored oil can be strained and used for stir-frying.

From "Asian Appetizers" by Joyce Jue, Harlow and Ratner, 1991. ISBN
0- ISBN 0-9627345-1-9.

Posted by Stephen Ceideberg; December 8 1992.