SPICY SZECHWAN PORK STEW

SPICY SZECHWAN PORK STEW image

Yield 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 13

8 large green onion
2 lbs boneless pork,cut in 1" cubes
6 cloves of garlic, minced
1 TB cooking oil
7-8 large dried shitake mushroom
1 can whole water chestnuts
2 cups whole baby carrots
1/3-1/2 cup soy sauce
1/2 cup sherry
2 TB grated ginger root or crushed ginger (jar)
1/2 to 1 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
1 tsp 5 spice powder
cornstarch to thicken

Steps:

Soak mushooms in warm water until rehydrated, save soaking water, diced mushrooms and set aside. Add water to soaking water to make 3 cups, set aside. Cut green onion into 1" pieces, separating the white from the green pieces.. Heat oil in a 4 qt dutch oven. Brown garlic and pork in two batches. Return all meat to pot, add diced mushrooms and white part of onions, stir to brown slightly. Add reserved soaking liquid,soy sauce, sherry, spices, simmer covered for 30 minutes. Add carrots and simmer another 25 minutes, or until tender. Add water chestnuts and green part of onions, cook another minute or two. Make a slurry of cornstarch and water, add to simmering stew to thicken. Serve over hot rice or pan fried noodles.