Steam Preserved Vegetables Zha Choy Pork
One dish that never fails to comfort me is Steam Preserved Vegetables (Zha Choy) and Pork — a very traditional Cantonese dish that my mom always made for us. It’s salty, savory, crunchy, and deeply satisfying.
Servings 4 people
Calories 195kcal
Equipment
- large steamer
Ingredients
- 300 g pork loin cut into thin strips (like matchsticks)
- 50 g preserved mustard stem (zha choy / 榨菜) finely chopped
- 1 tbsp light soy sauce
- ½ tsp dark soy sauce (optional, for color)
- 1 tsp sesame oil
- ½ tsp sugar
- 1 tsp cornstarch
- 2 tbsp water
- 1 tsp grated fresh ginger
- ½ tsp white pepper
Instructions
- Rinse under cold water to reduce excess saltiness. Pat dry and finely chop.
- In a bowl, combine pork loin strips with light soy sauce, dark soy sauce, sesame oil, sugar, cornstarch, water, ginger, and white pepper. Mix well and let marinate for 15–20 minutes.
- Add chopped zha choy to the pork and mix evenly.
- Place the mixture into a shallow, heatproof dish. Spread it evenly so it cooks through.Steam over high heat for 10–12 minutes, until pork is tender and fully cooked.
- Garnish with chopped scallions if desired. Serve hot with steamed jasmine rice or brown rice for a healthier twist.
Notes
Tips for the lean cut:
- Slicing the pork into thin strips helps keep it tender when steamed.
- If you want even more softness, add ½ tsp neutral oil (like canola) to the marinade.
- This lighter version is just as savory and satisfying but much lower in fat than the classic ground pork style.