Braised Pork and Tofu with Black Fungus. I had a pack of fresh black fungi in my ref. which was sitting for some time. It did take a few days before I could think of what to cook out of it. We Pinoy are more familiar with the dried ones called “Tenga’n Daga” which literally means rat ear. Black fungus or would it be fungi are usually used in cooking pansit, the more popular one is Cebu’s Bam-i.
On today’s dish, Braised Pork and Tofu with Black Fungus, I simply braised the whole black fungi together with pork and fried tofu with some soy sauce, oyster sauce and Hoisin sauce with some star anise to pump up the aroma. This is done by simmering at low heat for about an hour and a half.
Here is the recipe of my Braised Pork and Tofu with Black Fungus.
Ingredients:
250 grams pork belly cut into large cubes
1 big block, firm tofu, cut into rectangles, fried and cut into cubes
100 grams fresh black fungus
1/2 head garlic, peeled, crushed
2-3 pcs. bay leaf
2-3 pieces star anise
1/4 cup soy sauce
2 tbsp. Hoisin sauce
1/4 cup oyster sauce
2-3 tbsp. brown sugar
1 tsp. ground peppercorns
1/4 cup cornstarch
salt
cooking oil
3-4 boiled egg, shelled
Cooking procedure:
Place the pork, fried tofu, garlic, ground peppercorns, bay leaf, star anise, soy sauce and black fungi in a medium size sauce pan. Add enough water to about 2 inches above the meat line. Bring to a boil and simmer for 1 to 1 1/2 hour at low to medium heat, add more water as necessary. Now add in the boiled eggs, oyster sauce, Hoisin sauce and sugar, continue to simmer for another 5 to 10 minutes or until the liquid I reduced to about half. Correct saltiness if required. Thicken sauce with the cornstarch diluted in 1/4 cup of water, cook for about a minute more. Serve hot.
