Quick recipe finder Chunky bacon and cucumber salad
A spicy Sichuan-style salad of cucumber and fried bacon.
By Ching-He Huang From Chinese Food Made Easy
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp groundnut oil
- 6 long dried chillies
- 2 tsp Sichuan peppercorns
- 1 whole star anise (optional)
- 100g/3½oz smoked lardons, cut into 1cm/½in thick pieces
- 1 red chilli, de-seeded, finely chopped
- 1-2 tbsp Shaoxing rice wine or dry sherry
- 2 tbsp clear rice vinegar or cider vinegar
- 2 tbsp toasted sesame oil
- 200g/7oz cucumber, halved lengthways, de-seeded and sliced into 1cm/½in thick wedges
- pinch sea salt
- 1-2 pinches dried chilli flakes
- 1 tbsp lime juice
- 1 tbsp chilli oil
- 1 small handful fresh coriander leaves, roughly chopped
- dry-roasted peanuts (optional)
Method
Heat a wok until smoking and add the groundnut oil, then add the dried chillies and Sichuan peppercorns. Stir fry for a few seconds, or until fragrant.
Add the star anise (if using), bacon lardons and chilli and stir fry for 2-3 minutes, or until the lardons have turned golden-brown at the edges.
Add the rice wine or sherry, vinegar and sesame oil and stir-fry for a few seconds, then add the cucumber and stir-fry for a few more seconds.
Season with sea salt, dried chilli flakes and lime juice, stirring well.
Pile the stir-fry onto a serving plate, drizzle over the chilli oil, garnish with the chopped coriander, sprinkle over some peanuts, if using, and serve immediately.
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