Lu Rou Fan (Taiwanese Braised Meat)

Lu Rou Fan (Taiwanese Braised Meat) Ingredients

2 cups tempe/tofu or ground/sliced meat of choice5 dried shiitake mushrooms1 cup carrot (finely diced, optional)2 tbsp oil1 cup onion (finely diced)3 cloves garlic (grated)1 inch ginger (grated)1 tsp Chinese five spice2 tbsp dark soy sauce2 tbsp sweet soy sauce1 tsp rice vinegar1/4 tsp salt (to taste)1/4 tsp ground white pepper (to taste)

Steps

Rehydrate shiitake mushrooms in 1 cup of boiling hot water, set aside for 15 mins, finely dice (reserve soaking water) & set aside.Heat 1 tbsp oil in a pan or wok on medium high, add tempe/tofu or meat of choice (cut into bite sized pieces), cook for 5 mins till they start to brown on all sides, remove & set aside.Into the same pan, add remaining oil, when hot, add onion & cook for 2 mins, add garlic & ginger & cook another min.Add spice powder, cook for 1 min & add mushrooms & carrots.Cook for 2 mins, add mushroom water, both soy sauces, vinegar, salt, pepper & protein back in.Cook for 5 mins, taste to adjust seasoning & remove from heat when gravy reaches desired consistency (if not, add more water)Serve over rice, with fresh or blanched vegetables, pickles, egg & chilli oil (optional)