Sichuan Salt And Pepper Pork Chops Recipe

• 1/2 ounce Facing Heaven dried chiles or chiles de árbol, about 1/2 cup (see note below)
• 2 tablespoons Sichuan peppercorns
• 1 tablespoon plus 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
• 1 teaspoon Chinese five-spice powder

About 1/2 cup grapeseed oil or canola oil

• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/4 cup cornstarch
• 1/4 cup rice flour
• 4 bone-in pork rib chops, each about 2 ounces and 1/4 inch thick
• 1 1/2 cups white onion, julienned
• 1 large onion
• 1 bunch cilantro, leaves picked, about 20 (3-inch) stems reserved
• 3 large jalapeño peppers, thinly sliced into rings (about 1/4 cup)
• 6 cloves garlic, thinly sliced (about 3 tablespoons)
• 3-inch piece of fresh ginger, peeled and finely julienned (about 3 tablespoons)
• 6 scallions, root and tough ends removed, very bias sliced (about 1 cup)

1. 1. In a spice grinder or using a mortar and pestle, coarsely grind the chiles* and peppercorns. Add the salt and Chinese five-spice and grind to a powder.
2. 2. Heat a 1-inch depth of oil in a wok or deep, heavy skillet to 350°F.
3. 3. In a shallow bowl, whisk the all-purpose flour, cornstarch, and rice flour to combine. Pat the pork chops dry and cut in 1-inch intervals around the chop, through the outer layer of fat just down to the meat. (This helps keep the meat from curling up.)
4. 4. One by one, dredge the chops in the flour mixture, shaking off any excess, and fry for 1 minute. Transfer the chops to a paper towel-lined plate and lightly sprinkle with the spice mix.
5. 5. Carefully pour the oil from the wok or skillet, reserving and returning 1/4 cup back to the wok. Heat over high heat until just smoking. Have your vegetables ready to go; the cooking time here is very quick. Add the onion and cilantro stems to the wok and aggressively stir by holding a spoon in the center and shaking or rotating the wok or skillet vigorously quickly to mix everything together, about 20 seconds.
6. 6. Continue cooking for 20 seconds after each addition, adding the jalapeño, garlic and ginger, then the scallions and reserved cilantro leaves, then the pork chops and 2 teaspoons of the spice blend. Serve immediately.
7. *Note: Facing Heaven chiles are common in Sichuan home cooking. When they grow on the plant, the peppers point towards the sky and look similar to red jalapeño peppers but are a bit longer. If you can’t find them, the same amount of chiles de árbol makes a good substitute.
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