Cantonese salt and pepper pork spare ribs or pork chops is a widely available and popular dish. At a Chinese restaurant and particularly Cantonese restaurants. The origin of salt and pepper dishes has its roots in Cantonese cuisines. Likewise, salt and pepper dish has many variations, other well-liked seafood versions are squids and prawns. Sometimes, salt and pepper beef is also available. Besides, other modern variations are chicken ribs, chicken wings, quails and tofu. All these delectable dishes are also favourite Chinese restaurant take-away dishes. Moreover, when you serve salt and pepper dish at a party, it is definitely a crowd pleaser.
Gluten Free Cantonese Salt and Pepper Pork
For my Cantonese salt and pepper pork gluten free recipe, I am using skinless and boneless pork legs. Then I pan fried the pork leg pieces. And I serve them with a garlic, spring onion and chilli oil and garnished with freshly ground black pepper. You can also use pork shoulder or pork butt. This Cantonese salt and pepper pork recipe is not only gluten free. But also low carb, soy free, dairy free, nut free and egg free.
Check out my other gluten free salt and pepper dishes:
Nutritional Values and Health Benefits of Pork
In Southeast and Eastern Asian, they most frequently consume pork. Likewise pork is the most eaten red meat worldwide. Besides, lean pork is high in protein and abundant in numerous vitamins and minerals. Making it a superb addition to a healthy eating regime. Moreover, pork is a rich source of zinc, phosphorus and iron. As well as vitamin B1 (thiamine), vitamin B3 (Niacin), vitamin B6 (pyridoxine), vitamin B12 and vitamin D. Pork also naturally comprises Conjugated Linoleic Acid (CLA).
On the whole, the health benefits of pork may include:
- Reduce risks of cancerous tumours;
- Anti-inflammatory properties.
- Increases vitamin B1 (thiamine) level in human body;
- Lower risks of cardiovascular diseases;
- Prevent type 2 diabetes by supporting optimum blood sugar levels; and
- Regulate glucose levels in type 2 diabetes patients.
Cantonese Salt and Pepper Pork
Ingredients
- Rice bran oil for pan frying
- 1.5 kg skinless and boneless pork leg trimmed and cut into 2 to 3 inch pieces and roughly 1cm in thickness
- corn starch (or potato starch) for coating the pork pieces
- Steamed basmati rice to serve
For The Marinade:
- 2 teaspoons salt
- ½ teaspoon ground white pepper
- 2 tablespoons medium dry sherry
- 2 teaspoons Chinese five spice powder
- 1 teaspoon ground paprika
- 1 teaspoon ground turmeric
For the garlic oil:
- 3 tablespoons rice bran oil
- 5 cloves garlic finely minced
- 1 large fresh red chillies finely chopped
- 2 spring onion (shallots) finely sliced
For the Garnish:
- 1 large fresh red chillies finely chopped
- 1 spring onions shallots, finely sliced
- black peppercorns Freshly grind
Instructions
For the garlic oil:
- Heat up a small pot with the rice bran oil, pan fry the garlic on low heat until lightly golden, then add in the chillies and spring onion (shallots) and briefly stir-fry for another 1 minute. Turn off the heat and set aside in a small bowl.
For cooking the pork:
- Marinade the pork pieces with the marinade prepared, rub and mix well into the pork pieces. Set aside for 10 minutes.
- Lightly coat the pork pieces with corn starch or potato starch, shake off excess.
- Heat up a non-stick frying pan with one inch of rice bran oil, and pan fry the pork pieces for 3 minutes on each side or until pork are golden brown. Pan fry in 3 to 4 batches, adding more rice bran oil as needed.
- Pre-heat fan forced oven to 160C or 320F. Place the pork pieces in a baking tray lined with baking paper. Bake the pork pieces for 5 minutes or until the pork pieces are well browned. Place on a serving plate.
- To serve, drizzle with the garlic oil, garnish with red chillies, spring onions (shallots) and freshly grind black peppercorns.
- Serve with steamed basmati rice.
This looks so good and the title belies how good it is:-)
Cantonese salt and pepper dishes are really enticing and full of flavour no matter what meat, seafood or tofu you use to cook this dish. 🙂
You’ve got great flavours going on here. I can see this working really nicely with tofu.
You are right, salt and pepper tofu is another very popular variation of Cantonese salt and pepper dish, especially for vegan. 🙂