Tiger Skin Peppers is a classic home-style dish. The peppers are pan-fried until their skins blister like tiger stripes, resulting in a soft and mildly spicy texture. Coated in a tangy, savory sauce, it’s the perfect match for steamed rice.
🌴 Ingredients:
· 6-8 green bell peppers (choose thick-fleshed ones)
· 50g minced pork (optional, for extra flavor)
🌴 Aromatics:
· 4-5 cloves minced garlic
· A small piece of minced ginger
· 1 stalk chopped scallion
🌴 Seasonings:
· 2 tbsp light soy sauce (about 20ml)
· 2 tbsp Chinkiang vinegar (about 20ml)
· 1 tsp sugar (about 5g, to enhance flavor)
· 1 tbsp oyster sauce (about 10ml)
· 1 tsp cornstarch (about 5g, mixed with water)
· Salt, to taste
· Cooking oil, as needed
🌴 Instructions:
- Prepare the Peppers
Wash the peppers, remove the stems and seeds, and gently smash them with the side of a knife. ⚠️ Note: Smashing helps them blister and absorb the sauce. I’ve tried it without smashing, and they didn’t blister. - Pan-fry the Peppers
Heat a little oil in a flat-bottomed pan. Add the peppers and pan-fry over medium heat until they blister and develop tiger stripes on both sides. Remove and set aside. ⚠️ Note: Press them with a spatula for even cooking. I’ve tried it without pressing, and some parts burned while others stayed raw. - Stir-fry the Pork and Aromatics
Add a little oil to the pan, add the minced pork (if using), and stir-fry over medium heat until it changes color. Add the garlic and ginger, and stir-fry until fragrant. ⚠️ Note: Don’t overcook the pork; just until it changes color. - Make the Sauce
In a small bowl, mix the light soy sauce, vinegar, sugar, oyster sauce, cornstarch, and a pinch of salt. ⚠️ Note: The ratio of vinegar to sugar is about 2:1 for the perfect balance. - Combine and Serve
Add the pan-fried peppers back to the pan, pour in the sauce, and stir-fry over high heat until it thickens and coats the peppers. Sprinkle with scallion and serve. ⚠️ Note: Be quick to keep the peppers tender. I’ve tried cooking too long, and they turned mushy.
💡 More Savory and Spicy Veggie Dishes:
If you enjoy these tiger skin peppers, you should also try my [Hand-torn Cabbage] for another incredibly flavorful and satisfying vegetable dish.
Want to explore more? Check out my full [Home-style Dishes] category!
💡 Tips:
The key to Tiger Skin Peppers is “blistered skin, soft and flavorful.” Smash the peppers and press them while pan-frying to get those tiger stripes. The ratio of vinegar to sugar is about 2:1. Be quick when combining to keep the texture.
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