It’s our next recipe in the “Cooking with Grandma” series!
With only five ingredients, it’s amazing how good this is: Pork Belly with Bell Peppers and Woodear Mushrooms. But I think that has a lot to do with what Chinese cooking is: just a few simple ingredients and amazing results.
Virtually the only prep you need to do is to soak the mushrooms. You can find them in any Chinese grocery store, labeled “wood ear mushrooms” or maybe “dried black fungus.”
Okay, we’re fully aware of how decidedly unappetizing that sounds, but these mushrooms are so good. They really give the dish a great texture and are great vehicles for absorbing all the flavor of the sauce and the meat. Another perk? They’re supposed to be really good for you. Just try it!
Recipe Instructions
The first step would be to add the pork pieces to a dry wok over medium high heat.
Sear the meat for a few minutes, until it’s golden brown.
Then add the bell pepper and stir-fry for a couple minutes.
Chop up your wood ear mushrooms…
Then add them to the pan along with the soy sauce. Stir-fry for about 5 minutes to marry all the flavors.
Add ¼ cup water, cover, and simmer for 5-10 minutes over medium heat. Stir occasionally to prevent burning.
Serve!
Pork Belly with Peppers and Wood Ear Mushrooms
Ingredients
- 1 pound lean pork belly (cut into half-inch slices)
- 1 cup dried wood ear mushrooms (soaked in cold water for 2 hours and chopped roughly)
- 1 bell pepper (cut into chunks)
- 3 1/2 tablespoons soy sauce (or low sodium soy sauce)
- ¼ cup water
Instructions
- Sear pork in a dry wok over medium high heat until golden brown on all sides.
- Then add the bell pepper and stir-fry for a couple minutes. Add the soy sauce and mushrooms. Stir-fry for about 5 minutes to marry all the flavors.
- Add ¼ cup water, cover, and simmer for 5-10 minutes over medium heat. Stir one last time and serve!
Our market had fresh wood ear mushrooms when we went today. How much would the fresh equivalent be? We need to try this.
Hi Sarah, I’d say it’s about 2 packed cups fresh wood ears!
Wow, so good! Beyond expectation. And so quick and easy. Thank you.
So glad you enjoyed it, Kay.
Another wonderful recipe, Thank you!
So glad you liked it, Charlie.
I love wood ear mushrooms – for me, it’s also about the mouth feel! I can’t wait to give this recipe a try!
Hope you like it, Robin!
I just made this. The only adjustment I made was half soy sauce and half teriyaki sauce. It is the absolutely delicious with steamed rice. Thank you so much!!!
You’re welcome, Nita! This is one of my favorite dishes. I’ll have to make it again soon myself!
Omigosh, this was so deceptively delicious. How can something so simple be so good? Gotta be the wood ear mushrooms.
Bookmarked
Great! So glad you like it.
I know right!? Wood ears are the bomb.
Wood ear mushrooms are my absolute faaaavorite. I just can’t have enough of them! This looks SO yummy.