Long-stewed Claypot Pork Belly

== Description ==
serves 4 to 6
==Ingredients==
* 15 large dried Chinese mushrooms
* 4-6 sticks of dried bean curd
* 2½ pounds pork belly or beef brisket
* 2 tbsp peanut oil
* 6½-inch thick ginger slices (young fragrant ginger preferred)
* 5 garlic cloves peeled and crushed
* ¼ cup bamboo shoots sliced ¼-inch thick
* 10 fresh or canned water chestnuts, or 8 arrowroot
* 4 tbsp bean sauce (whole bean preferred but crushed is fine too)
* 4 tbsp oyster sauce
* 3 tbsp sugar
* 2 slices each of lemon and orange peel
* 3 tbsp rice wine or dry sherry
* 5 tbsp soy sauce (if you've got light and dark sauces, make it 2 of the former and 3 of the latter)
* optional: a bunch of Chinese greens 
==Directions==
# Soak mushrooms in warm water until soft, about 20 minutes.
# Squeeze out the excess water and discard woody stems.
# Strain mushroom water into a measuring cup and add plain water to equal 4 cups.
# Soak bean curd sticks in hot water until soft, then drain and set aside.
# Cut pork belly or beef brisket into bite-size chunks, then blanch for 20 minutes in boiling water, then drain and set aside.
# Heat cooking vessel and add peanut oil, ginger, and garlic, and stir-fry for 30 seconds.
# Add bamboo shoots, water chestnuts (or arrowroot), mushrooms, citrus peels, and bean curd sticks.
# Stir-fry for a minute.
# Add the rest of the ingredients and bring to a boil.
# Add blanched meat, bring back to a boil, and then simmer at least 1½ hours, partially covered, until meat is very tender (skim surface occasionally for excess fat, if you wish) if using greens, lay them on top of the stew, bring it to a steady simmer, and replace the cover.
# Steam the greens till tender, and then serve them on the side (or serve the stew ladled over a bed of greens).
Category:Arrowroot Recipes
Category:Bamboo shoot Recipes
Category:Beef brisket Recipes
Category:Bhutani Appetizers
Category:Orange peel Recipes
Category:Peanut oil Recipes
Category:Pork belly Recipes
Category:Recipes that need photos
Category:Rice wine Recipes
Category:Sherry Recipes