Name: Fried stuffed cucumbers
Prep time: 35 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 55 min
Yield: 4
Cuisine: Chinese
Ingredients: 2(about 750g/1lb 10oz), cut into 2.5cm/1in slices cucumber; 2 tbsp cornflour; 3 tbsp groundnut oil; 225g pork mince; 1 egg white; 1 ½ tbsp finely chopped spring onions; 1 tbsp finely chopped fresh ginger; 2 tbsp Shaohsing rice wine or dry Sherry; 2 tbsp light soy sauce; 2 tsp white caster sugar; 1 tsp sesame oil; 300ml chicken stock; 2 tbsp light soy sauce; 2 tbsp Shaohsing rice wine or dry Sherry; 1 tbsp oyster sauce; 2 tsp sugar; 1 tsp cornflour mixed with 2 tsp water; 2 tsp sesame oil; ½ small pack coriander finely chopped

2(about 750g/1lb 10oz), cut into 2.5cm/1in slices cucumber
2 tbsp cornflour
3 tbsp groundnut oil

For the stuffing mixture

225g pork mince
1 egg white
1 ½ tbsp finely chopped spring onions
1 tbsp finely chopped fresh ginger
2 tbsp Shaohsing rice wine
or dry Sherry
2 tbsp light soy sauce
2 tsp white caster sugar
1 tsp sesame oil

For the sauce

300ml chicken stock
2 tbsp light soy sauce
2 tbsp Shaohsing rice wine
or dry Sherry
1 tbsp oyster sauce
2 tsp sugar
1 tsp cornflour
mixed with 2 tsp water

For the garnish

2 tsp sesame oil
½ small pack coriander
finely chopped

Method

step 1
Using a small sharp knife, remove the seeds and fleshy pulp from the centre of each cucumber slice. Further hollow the cucumber with a teaspoon so that you have tubes with a roughly 5mm shell. Lightly dust the hollow interiors of the slices with the cornflour. Mix all the stuffing ingredients together in a bowl with 1 tsp salt and pepper, and stuff each cucumber ring with the mixture.
step 2
Heat a wok or large frying pan, then add the groundnut oil. When it is moderately hot, add some of the stuffed cucumber rings. Cook slowly until they are slightly browned, then turn them over and brown the other side. You may have to do this in several batches, adding more oil if necessary.
step 3
When the cucumber rings are browned, remove them with a slotted spoon and place on a plate. When you have fried all the rings, wipe the wok or pan clean.
step 4
Reheat the wok or pan, add the sauce ingredients and bring to a simmer. Add the stuffed cucumber rings, cover the pan with a lid and simmer slowly for 7 mins or until the cucumbers are completely cooked. Lift them out of the sauce with a slotted spoon and transfer to a warm serving platter.
step 5
Return the pan to the heat and reduce the sauce by a third over a high heat. Add the sesame oil and coriander, then pour the sauce over the stuffed cucumbers to serve.