Sprouts with Pork & Peanuts

This winter recipe with a difference, from BBC Good Food, makes the most of in-season Brussels sprouts.

At a glance

Ingredients

  • 400-500g pork loin steaks
  • 1 tbsp cornflour
  • 5 tbsp light soy sauce
  • 2 tbsp balsamic vinegar
  • 2 tbsp caster sugar
  • 1 tsp rice wine or dry sherry
  • vegetable oil
  • 4 tbsp unsalted peanuts
  • 400g Brussels sprouts
  • thumb-sized piece of ginger, shredded
  • 3 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
  • 1/2 tsp chili flakes or a few small whole chilies
  • 1 tsp sesame oil, to serve
  • sticky rice, to serve

Method

  1. Slice the pork thinly. Mix the cornflour with 2 tbsp of the soy, add the pork and toss to coat. Set aside for 5 mins. Stir together the rest of the soy, the vinegar, sugar, rice wine and 2 tbsp water. Let the sugar dissolve.
  2. Heat 1 tsp oil in a wok or frying pan. Fry the peanuts for 1-2 mins, stirring often, until toasted and golden, then set aside in a dish. Add 1 tbsp oil to the pan, and stir-fry the pork for 3-4 mins until golden but not completely cooked through. Set aside.
  3. Wipe out the pan if needed, then add another 1 tbsp oil and stir-fry the sprouts over a high heat for 5 mins, adding 1 tbsp water at the end to provide a shot of steam. They should be bright green and just tender, but not soft. If the pan seems dry, add another 1 tsp oil, then tip in the ginger, garlic and chilli. Sizzle for 1 min, then add the sauce, pork and any resting juices. Simmer for a few mins until the sauce thickens and the pork is cooked through. Scatter with the nuts, drizzle over the sesame oil and serve with rice.