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Pig's trotters, as a part of Chinese food culture, have always been loved. Whether it's at a street stall or in a family kitchen, there's someone making this delicious dish. However, many people ignore a key detail when stewing pig's trotters, and that is whether to lift the lid or not. This seemingly small difference has a significant impact on the taste of the trotters.
The traditional method of stewing pig's trotters usually consists of several steps: cleaning the trotters, blanching to remove the smell, simmering in a casserole, adding spices, etc. Among them, the step of blanching is underestimated by many people. During the blanching process, many people usually put the lid on the pot by mistake, and this is one of the reasons why the pig's trotters taste bad.
The purpose of blanching is to remove the fishy smell of pig's trotters and residual odors. However, until the water is boiling, the lid must be kept open. This step is critical because the fishy and odorous smells are gradually released before the water starts to boil. If the lid is closed, these smells will circulate in the pot, causing the trotters to retain unwanted flavors and ultimately affect the taste of the stewed trotters.
The process of stewing pig's trotters needs to be meticulous as each step affects the final taste. Once the blanching is complete, the trotters are placed in a casserole and various spices are added. These seasonings include spices, green onions, ginger and garlic, rock sugar, Sichuan peppercorns, star anise, bay leaves, etc., which add a rich aroma to the pig's trotters. When stewing pig's trotters, using a casserole will keep them warm and heat up faster, which will help the trotters better absorb the flavor of the seasoning.
In the process of stewing the pig's trotters, an appropriate amount of light soy sauce, dark soy sauce, tempeh oil, and cooking wine or white wine are added, which give the pig's trotters their unique flavor. But it is also important that even at this stage, the pot should still not be covered to fully preserve the original flavor of the ingredients.
After the sauce is added, the pig's trotters need to be simmered over medium heat for more than an hour, and then reduced to low heat and simmered for another hour. Finally, add the oyster sauce and salt, and you've got a delicious stewed pig's trotters. The soup used to stew pig's trotters can also be used as an old soup, and the pig's trotters themselves can be eaten directly, killing two birds with one stone.
In summary, stewed pig's trotters are a delicious traditional Chinese dish, however, the key detail of stewing – lifting the lid – is often overlooked. During the blanching and stewing process, it is crucial to keep the lid open, as it effectively removes fishy and odorous odors, ensuring that the pig's trotters remain authentic. So, whether you're a chef or a home cook, if you want to stew delicious pig's trotters, don't forget to lift the lid. 30-year-old pig's trotters will no longer be eaten in vain!