Bak Kwa/Long Yoke (2)

Bak Kwa

Since we're not back in Singapore this year, I've decided to make some Bak Kwa (BBQ Minced Pork Slices) for the children. It was a treat for them coming back always hungry from the pool, and as Hub said, I've even managed to attract the owners' dog with my BBQ meat slices.

Babies at the pool

I've blogged about my Bak Kwa last year and while it wasn't Lim Chee Guan or Bee Cheng Hiang, it wasn't too bad for a home-made attempt. Actually it's really quite easy to make, only difficulty is getting it to feel and taste the way I was used to having it.

The last time, I felt that it wasn't sweet enough. So I've increased the sugar dosage. I've also made the effort to glaze and BBQ the meat slices and the result was immediately much better. I also played with the thickness of the slices, trying both very thin and thicker ones. And I've tried cooking them longer or shorter in time. The conclusion is that you have to do it the way you like it, e.g. the Teenager prefers it harder, the Babies softer etc. I will have to continue experimenting until I find a version that suits everyone, I guess. But this one I'm reasonably happy with at the moment.

Bak Kwa :

The Meat :

500g minced Pork

2 Tbsp Fish sauce

1 Tbsp Dark Soy sauce (preferably made-in-Singapore)

1 Tbsp Kecap Manis

2 Tsp Light Soy sauce

1 Tbsp Chinese cooking wine

1 Tsp 5-spice powder

1 Tsp ground Chilli

1/2 Tsp Salt

1 Tsp ground White pepper

125g Sugar

The Glaze :

2 Tbsp Sugar

2 Tsp Sesame oil

1 Tbsp dry Sherry

2 Tsp Light Soy sauce

Mix all the ingredients with the pork and marinate for a few hours if not overnight.

Pre-heat the oven to 125°C.

Place the marinated meat between 2 large sheets of baking paper and roll it flat with a rolling pin. The thickness is as you desire, very thin = drier and crispier.

Raw and just rolled out

Remove the top piece of baking paper and bake in the oven for 20 minutes. Drain any liquid remaining in the baking tray. Leave the meat to cool and dry out in the open.

"Dried" in the oven

Prepare the BBQ. Cut the meat into smaller slices so that it would be easier to BBQ, turn them over etc. Glaze the meat on both sides with the sugar-sesame oil-sherry-soy mixture.

On the BBQ

It is best eaten hot, but cool it properly before storing in a tupperware and it can easily keep for a few days. Mine didn't keep for long. The cleaning lady came this morning and helped herself to the remaining few slices in the tupperware!