Chinese Pickled Garlic Recipe 45

PICKLED GARLIC

Steps:

• Fill a large bowl with ice and fill halfway with water. This is the ice bath you will use to stop the cooking after you blanch the garlic.
• Bring a very large pot of water to a full rolling boil. Place all the garlic in the boiling water and blanch for 1 minute. Do not wait for the water to return to a boil, begin timing the minute as soon as you place the garlic in the water.
• Drain the garlic and place it in the ice water bath. Let the garlic stay in the ice water until it is entirely cool.
• In a large nonreactive pot, combine the vinegar, pickling salt and sugar. Bring just to a boil over high heat, stirring to make sure all the salt and sugar are dissolved.
• Distribute the spices evenly between 4 pint jars: 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes, 1/8 teaspoon celery seed, 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano, 3 peppercorns and one bay leaf in each jar. If you are using Pickle Crisp, now is the time to add it. Add 1/4 teaspoon to each jar.
• Distribute the garlic evenly between the 4 jars, leaving 1" headspace.
• Ladle the boiling vinegar mixture into the filled jars, leaving 1/2" headspace.
• Use a chopstick or other thin, non-metal utensil to run around the sides of the jar to make sure there are no air bubbles left in the jar. Wipe the rims of the jars with damp paper towels to remove any brine which got on the rims or the threads. Place the lids and the bands on the jars, just tightening the bands fingertip tight.
• Process in a boiling water bath for 15 minutes, then remove and let sit, undisturbed, for at least 12 hours before checking seals. It is important to let them sit undisturbed for 12 hours because the sealing compound on the lids is still cooling and hardening, completing the seal. While the jars cool, you will hear a "plink" type sound from each jar - this is the jars completing the vacuum seal as the final air escapes the jar. After 12 hours have passed, remove the bands and check the lids - press down in the center of the lid. If you cannot push the lid down any further, the jar is sealed. If the lid "gives" a bit, and you can push it down, the jar did not seal. You can either put the band back on the jar, and reprocess it for another 15 minutes, or you can just put it in the fridge and use it within 3 months.
• Let the garlic sit for at least a month before using, so the flavors can develop. The longer it sits, the better it gets.

PICKLED GARLIC

Steps:

• Combine canning salt and vinegar in a large saucepan. Bring to boil; reduce heat and simmer 10 minutes (180 degrees).
• Meanwhile, pack garlic into 4 sterilized pint jars (about 8 ounces per jar) leaving 1/2-inch of headspace. Add 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes and 1 head of dill to each jar. (If using fresh dill, add 1/2 cup to each jar.)
• Using a ladle, divide hot pickling liquid between the 4 jars, leaving 1/2-inch of headspace. Remove air bubbles, clean jar rims, center lids on jars, and adjust band to fingertip-tight.
• Chill in the refrigerator until pickled as desired (I recommend at least 3 weeks in the refrigerator). Store in refrigerator for up to 4 months (see notes) or seal jars following the instructions below (the pickled garlic must still be refrigerated; it will not be shelf-stable).

CHINESE PICKLED CUCUMBERS (酱黄瓜)

Steps:

• Rinse off the cucumbers and wipe them dry. Trim off both ends, and cut each cucumber into 4 equal sections. Cut each section into 6 equal-sized strips. Transfer to a bowl and add ½ teaspoon sugar and 1 teaspoon salt. Toss, cover, and refrigerate for 1 hour.
• At the same time, make the sauce by combining 2 ½ teaspoons sugar, ½ teaspoon salt, 1 tablespoon black vinegar, 2 tablespoons light soy sauce, ¼ teaspoon dark soy sauce, 2 bay leaves, 4 cloves of garlic, and the chili peppers. Stir and make sure the sugar and salt are completed dissolved.
• Once the cucumber has marinated for 1 hour in the fridge, dump out the liquid from the bowl they were sitting in. You should be able to get rid of at least ¼ cup of liquid. Now add the prepared sauce, and mix everything well. Cover and marinate in the refrigerator overnight. The cucumbers should be ready to serve the next morning with a hot bowl of congee!

CHINESE PICKLED GARLIC RECIPE - (4/5)

Steps:

• Put garlic into sterile, half-pint jar. Stir together vinegar, sugar and salt; pour liquid over garlic. Cover jar tightly with a nonreactive cap. Store in refrigerator at least one month before using garlic. It will keep well for one year in the refrigerator. This recipe yields 1 cup. Cook's note: I used commercially peeled garlic in this recipe. After a week, I noticed that some of the cloves had turned a blue-green color. Ziedrich said that the discoloration is harmless, and added that the cloves that discolored were probably either immature or old.

NORTHERN CHINESE SOUR CABBAGE STEW WITH GLASS NOODLES

Steps:

• Start by prepping the pork. In a medium thick-bottomed pot, add the water, whole pork belly (or ribs), Shaoxing wine, ginger, scallions, Sichuan peppercorns, star anise, and salt. Cover and bring to a boil. Once boiling, reduce the heat to medium/low, and simmer for 15 minutes.
• If using pork belly, remove it from the pot to let it cool, and save the stock. If substituting pork ribs, don't remove them from the stock. Just turn off the heat and let them continue "cooking" in the hot broth while you prepare the rest of the dish.
• Make the dipping sauce by combining the minced garlic, light soy sauce, sugar, and chili oil (if using) in a small bowl. Set aside.
• Slice the sour cabbage about ¼" (0.6 cm) thick, transfer to a large metal bowl, and fill with fresh water. Agitate the vegetables in the water with your hands a bit, drain, and thoroughly squeeze out any remaining water from the cabbage. This quick rinse will soften the saltiness and sourness of the cabbage. Set aside.
• Once the pork belly is warm to the touch (not hot), slice it into 1/4" (0.6 cm) slices. Set aside.
• In a thick-bottomed, relatively shallow pot (a clay pot, stone pot, or cast iron dutch oven is ideal for retaining heat while eating), heat the vegetable oil, and add the ginger, julienned scallion whites, and the sour cabbage. Stir-fry for 5-7 minutes, until any liquid has evaporated.
• Strain the liquid used to boil the pork into the pot. Stir in the oyster sauce and chicken stock (optional if you like a more broth-like consistency), and then add the sliced pork belly (or ribs). Bring to a simmer, cover, and cook for 15 minutes over medium low heat.
• Add the glass noodles, stir, and cover again. Cook for 2-3 more minutes, or according to the package instructions.
• Finally, stir in the white pepper and salt to taste. Top with the chopped green parts of the scallions, and serve immediately with the dipping sauce for the pork and the steamed rice.

EGGPLANT WITH GARLIC SAUCE

Steps:

• Whisk all the ingredients for the sauce into a bowl and set aside.
• In a large pan over medium high heat, add 1 tablespoon peanut oil and eggplant. Stir fry for a few minutes (about 5 minutes) until the sides are golden brown and the center is tender.
• Transfer eggplant to a plate and add remaining 1 tablespoon peanut oil to the pan. Add garlic, ginger, red chilis and cook for 1 minute.
• Add eggplant and scallions, toss and pour the sauce. Stir fry for 1 minute, until all the vegetables are coated.
• Turn the heat off and serve with white or brown rice.