Recipe
The Taiwanese Meat Sauce Giving Bolognese a Run For Its Money
肉燥饭 (rou zao fan), or Taiwanese meat sauce, is a popular dish across Taiwan as well as the Fu Jian province of China. Some variations of the dish consist of the use of pork belly and a long braise in the oven.
However, this recipe is fast, easy, and perfect to make in large batches to store in the freezer for quick meals in the future. This sauce is great to serve over rice, noodles, and rice cakes – the options are endless.
Taiwanese Meat Sauce
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Total Time: 60 minutes
- Servings: 4-6
- Medium
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon oil
- 2 cup shallots, finely sliced
- 16 oz ground pork
- 4-6 hard boiled eggs, depending on number of people to serve
- 1 tablespoon five spice
- 1/2 teaspoon white pepper
- 1/4 cup soy sauce, more to adjust seasoning
- 1 teaspoon rock sugar
Photo by Helena Lin
Step 1
Heat 1 tablespoon of oil over medium high heat in a saucepan. Toss in the shallots and stir fry until translucent.
Photo by Helena Lin
Step 2
Add the ground pork and sauté until cooked. Make sure to stir the pork constantly so that large clumps do not form.
Photo by Helena Lin
Step 3
Season with the soy sauce, five spice, white pepper, and rock sugar. Cover pork with water and simmer uncovered on low heat for 20 minutes.
Photo by Helena Lin
Step 4
Drop in the eggs and cover with meat sauce. Continue to simmer for an additional 20 minutes.
Photo by Helena Lin
Step 5
If needed, skim off some of the pork fat that has risen to the top and adjust for seasoning.
Photo by Helena Lin
- To boil eggs perfectly, place the eggs in a pot and cover with an inch of water. Place the lid on and bring the pot to a boil. Turn off the heat and let the eggs cook for 8 minutes. Drain the water and peel when the eggs are cool enough to handle.
- Peel the shallots and then wash them. Like onions and garlic, if the skin is wet, it becomes significantly harder to remove the skin.
- Use a bigger pot than is photographed... it will make it easier to cook the pork in step 2.