Bingtang Zhouzi (Rock Candy Pork Hock) is a traditional dish from Shandong Province, made using rock candy and pork hocks, prepared through methods like roasting, frying, and steaming. It is one of the famous “Three Hocks of Jinan” and is a signature dish of Tan Family Cuisine in Beijing. The dish uses pork hocks as the main ingredient, which are boiled and steamed to perfection. The final dish has a bright red color, tender and juicy pork, and a gelatinous, flavorful sauce. It offers a rich, sweet-salty taste and is known for being nutritious, promoting skin elasticity, and contributing to beauty and skin health.
Chinese Name: Bingtang Zhouzi (冰糖肘子)
Cuisine: Beijing Cuisine
Flavor: Sweet and Savory
Main Ingredients: Rock Candy, Pork Hock
Health Benefits: Improves skin elasticity, beautifies skin
Region: Jinan Cuisine
Ingredients:
- 500g deboned pork hock
- 50g soy sauce, cooking wine
- 5g each of green onion, garlic
- 10g ginger slices
- 100g rock candy
Cooking Method:
- Clean the pork hock thoroughly, then slice it along the bone to expose the large bone. Cut off the surrounding fatty meat to form a round shape.
- Boil the hock in water for about 10 minutes until the skin tightens.
- In a wok, place a bamboo mat, put the pork hock skin-side down, and cover with water. Add cooking wine, soy sauce, salt, rock candy, green onion, and ginger. Bring to a boil, cover, and simmer for 30 minutes. Flip the hock and cook until tender, then increase heat to reduce the sauce to a gelatinous consistency.
- Remove the hock, place skin-side down in a bowl, discard the green onion and ginger, and pour the sauce over the hock.
Microwave Method:
- In a microwave-safe pressure cooker, coat the pork hock with soy sauce and marinate for an hour, flipping halfway.
- Add the remaining ingredients, ginger, onion, garlic, and boiling water to cover the hock.
- Seal the pressure cooker and cook on high for the recommended time.
- Let the hock sit in the sauce for 2-3 hours before serving.
Tips:
- Pork hocks are best bought early in the morning for freshness.
- If there is any pork hair, ask the butcher to remove it, or do it yourself at home.
- Adjust the amount of rock candy based on your sweetness preference.
Regional Cuisine:
- Cultural History: This dish, made with rock candy and pork hock, is a famous Shandong dish, one of the “Three Hocks of Jinan.” It has spread widely across China and is often served as a large entrée during important meals.
Health Benefits:
- Nutritional Value: The pork hock is rich in protein and collagen, which are excellent for skin health, promoting firmness and moisture. It also helps to nourish the body, making it a great food therapy option.
Phoenix Lee https://chinese-tradition.com/bingtang-zhouzi-rock-candy-pork-hock.html