Stir Fry Long Beans with Pork - 乱棍打死猪八戒

乱棍打死猪八戒 This was the name my Mum used for this dish and it stuck in my head for years! It's a clever name as the string beans were the poles while the pork was Zhu Bajie, one of the characters in the story Journey to the West.

Names aside, this is a simple home-style dish that is easy to whip up and it goes nicely with a bowl of rice. I cooked the long beans a little more softer because of the kids, but you can cut the cooking time if you prefer it more crunchy.

Long beans
Pork shoulder
Seasoning:
1 tsp Bean paste with garlic
1 tsp Sugar
a dash of pepper

1. Slice pork shoulder into thin slices. Marinate with seasoning for 15 to 20 minutes. 
2. Wash the long beans, cut into segments. 
3. Add a teaspoon of salt and oil in boiling water and cook long beans until desired texture. Drain and set aside. 
4. Stir fry marinated pork slices. 
5. Add a little water until just half of meat level. Bring to boil, cover up and simmer in lowest heat for 10 minutes. 
6. After 10 minutes, stir in cooked long beans and thicken sauce with corn starch and water slurry. 
7. Serve.

See video here.