Stir-fried Minced Pork with Crispy Cucumber is a classic home-style dish. The cucumber is crisp and refreshing, while the minced pork is savory and slightly crispy. With simple seasonings, the natural sweetness of the cucumber shines through, complemented by the garlicky and mildly spicy notes. Perfect with steamed rice or noodles.
🌴 Ingredients:
· 2 cucumbers (choose tender ones with bumps on the skin for extra crunch)
· 150g minced pork (choose 30% fat, 70% lean for the best flavor)
🌴 Aromatics:
· 4-5 cloves minced garlic (about 15g)
· 2-3 red chilies (sliced or cut into segments, for flavor and color)
🌴 Seasonings:
· 2 tbsp light soy sauce (about 30ml)
· 1 tbsp oyster sauce (about 15g)
· 1 tsp sugar (about 5g, to enhance flavor)
· A pinch of white pepper powder
· Salt, to taste
· Cooking oil, as needed
🌴 Instructions:
- Prepare the Cucumber
Wash the cucumbers and cut them into thin slices or chunks. Sprinkle with a pinch of salt, mix well, and let them sit for 10 minutes to draw out the moisture. Squeeze them dry. ⚠️ Note: Salting and squeezing the cucumber is the key to keeping it crisp. If you skip this step, it will release water when stir-fried and turn into “boiled cucumber.” I’ve tried skipping this step before, and the dish ended up watery. - Stir-fry the Minced Pork
Heat oil in a pan. Add the minced pork and stir-fry over medium heat until it changes color, releases oil, and turns slightly crispy. Remove and set aside. ⚠️ Note: Fry the minced pork until it’s crispy and fragrant for the best flavor. - Sauté the Aromatics
Leave a little oil in the pan, add the minced garlic and red chili slices, and stir-fry over low heat until fragrant. ⚠️ Note: Don’t burn them. - Combine and Stir-fry
Add the cooked minced pork back to the pan. Add 2 tbsp (30ml) light soy sauce, 1 tbsp (15g) oyster sauce, and 1 tsp (5g) sugar. Stir-fry to combine. Add the squeezed cucumber, turn to high heat, and stir-fry quickly for 1-2 minutes. ⚠️ Note: Keep the heat high to keep the cucumber crisp. Cooking too long will make it soft and watery. - Season and Serve
Sprinkle with white pepper and add salt to taste. Stir-fry quickly to combine. Turn off the heat and serve hot. ⚠️ Note: Add salt at the very end so the cucumber doesn’t release water.
💡 More Delicious Recipes:
If you enjoy this crispy and savory dish, you should also try my [Smashed Cucumber Salad] for a refreshing appetizer, or my [Stir-fried Pork with Tofu and Green Peppers] for another comforting home-style classic.
Want to explore more easy-to-make dishes? Check out my full [Home-style Dishes] category!
💡 Tips:
Always salt and squeeze the cucumber to keep it crisp. Fry the minced pork until crispy for the best flavor. Keep the heat high to keep the cucumber crisp. Add salt at the very end so the cucumber doesn’t release water. For extra heat, you can substitute the red chilies with small spicy chilies.
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