Chinese Five Spiced Bacon with Crispy Cabbage

Mon, 17 March 2025

Serves 4 People

1lb of Bacon

180g Cabbage (approximately 2-3 large green leaves)

1 small onion chopped

2 bay leaves

1 tsp Chinese five spice powder

8 cloves

1 cinnamon stick

Sprinkle of salt

Sprinkle of sugar

Cooked Rice for serving

Vegetable oil for shallow frying

Sauce:

2 tsp Sugar

200ml Water

2 tsp Chu Hou Paste

2 tsp of potato starch

1/3 tsp Chinese five spice powder

1 tbsp soy sauce

Method:

1. Put your bacon in a medium pot and cover with cold water. Add a chopped onion, bay leaves, Chinese five spice powder, cloves and a cinnamon stick. Heat on medium heat until it bubbles then turn to a low simmer.

2. Cook your bacon for 40 mins per pound and then turn the heat off and leave the bacon to cool down in the liquid.

3. To prepare your cabbage, cut out the stalks and use the leafy part only. Wash and finely slice it then blanch them in hot water for 1 minute. Drain and pat them dry using kitchen paper.

4. Fill and heat a quarter of a small pan with vegetable oil. Add in the shredded cabbage and fry for 1-2 minutes until cooked and crispy. Drain on kitchen paper and then season with a sprinkling of salt and sugar.

5. To make the sauce, add the potato starch and five spiced powder into a bowl, then the water and mix together well. Into a small pot on low heat, add your Chu Hou paste, soy sauce, sugar and potato starch liquid. Slowly simmer until well combined.

6. Slice your ham, serve with some rice, shredded cabbage and five spice sauce.