Ruan zha li ji facts for kids
Ruan zha li ji (Chinese: 软炸里脊; pinyin: ruǎnzhàlǐjí) is a yummy and traditional dish from Beijing cuisine in China. It's made from strips of pork tenderloin that are cooked until they are soft and lightly fried. This dish is famous for its tender meat and crispy coating.
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How to Make Ruan Zha Li Ji
Making Ruan zha li ji involves a few simple steps. It starts with preparing the meat and then frying it until it's just right.
Gathering Your Ingredients
To make this dish, you will need a few key ingredients. These include about 200 grams of pork tenderloin. You will also need four eggs, 30 grams of cooking wine, and 30 grams of flour. Don't forget 10 grams of sesame oil and some salt for flavor. Traditionally, 1 kg of pork fat was used for frying.
Preparing the Pork
First, the pork tenderloin needs to be cut into small pieces. These pieces are usually about 4 centimeters long and 2 centimeters thick. After cutting, the pork strips are soaked. They go into a mix of rice wine and salt. This helps to give the meat a good flavor and makes it tender.
Making the Batter
Next, you'll prepare a special batter for the pork. The egg whites are separated from the yolks. Then, the egg whites are mixed with flour in a bowl. You need to stir them until they form a thick paste. This paste should be thick enough to hold a chopstick standing upright in it. This thick batter will make the pork crispy when fried.
Frying the Pork Strips
Now it's time to cook the pork. First, the pork fat is heated in a pan. Once it's hot, the marinated pork slices are dipped into the batter. Then, they are carefully placed into the hot fat. The pork strips are fried for about five minutes. They should turn golden and crispy on the outside.
Finishing Touches
Once the pork tenderloin slices are cooked, they are ready to be served. Just before serving, a little bit of sesame oil is added. This gives the dish a wonderful aroma and a final touch of flavor.
Choosing Your Oil
Traditionally, pork fat was used to fry Ruan zha li ji. Some people believe this gives the dish its unique and best taste. However, many people now use vegetable oil instead. This is because vegetable oil is often seen as a healthier choice. While some say the taste might be slightly different, it's still a delicious dish!
