Szechuan Green Beans and Ground Pork with Sticky Rice

Sweet, salty and aromatic szechuan green beans and ground pork stir fried with sesame oil, fried garlic and sweet tamari sauce.

Difficulty: Easy

Time: 30-35 min

This dish is Gluten-Free

Calories: 610 Fat: 18g Carbs: 64g Protein: 24g

Szechuan peppercorns are a funky little flower bud that bring an intense flavor to many classic southern Chinese dishes. Strong, but not overly hot (maybe not even as hot as an average black peppercorn), the Szechuan version brings a strangely appealing numbing effect and enhances the key flavors that are already in the dish. This dish is a simple way to highlight the uniqueness of Szechuan cuisine without palate-blowing heat. Fresh and simple, you’ll never order this takeout dish again!

Ingredients

Fried Garlic

Sushi rice

Sesame oil

Szechuan peppercorns

Green Beans

Ground Pork

Sweet tamari sauce

Featured Ingredient Partners:

Green beans: Hmong American Farmers Association (HAFA) - St. Paul, MN

Ground Pork: Hidden Stream Farms

Sauté To jump. To fry in a small amount of fat at high heat.

Stir-Fry To fry something over high heat quickly (with little oil) while stirring constantly.

Caramelize To cook a food (fruit or vegetable) slowly until it becomes brown and sweet.

Medium saute pan or wok

Small pot with lid

Step 1: MISE EN PLACE

Read though the entire recipe before getting started. Wash and dry all produce. Remove and discard ends from green beans. Remove ground pork from package and pat dry.

Step 2: COOK RICE

Place sushi rice, 1¼ cups water and a pinch of salt and pepper in medium pot over medium heat. Bring to boil; cover and reduce heat to low. Cook 15-20 min until tender. Fluff with fork. While rice is cooking, begin cooking pork (Step #3).

Step 3: COOK PORK

Heat 1 Tbsp. oil in medium sauté pan or wok over medium heat until very hot. Once hot, add half szechuan peppercorns and sauté for 30 seconds; then, add ground pork and a pinch of salt and pepper. Cook - breaking apart with a spoon or spatula - until done, about 5-8 min. Once fully cooked add half sweet tamari sauce and sauté another 2-3 min until all the liquid has been absorbed. Remove pork from pan. The USDA recommends cooking pork to an internal temperature 145ºF.

Step 4: COOK GREEN BEANS

Add sesame oil to previously used medium sauté pan or work pan. Once hot add green beans and remaining szechuan peppercorns, sauté 2-3 min until blistered and beginning to brown.

Step 5: FINISH SZECHUAN PORK

Add remaining sweet tamari sauce, ground pork and half fried garlic. Stir-fry another 2-3 min until incorporated and sugars are beginning to caramelize.

Step 6: PLATE YOUR DISH

Divide rice between two plates, top with szechuan green beans and pork. Garnish with remaining fried garlic. Enjoy!