Fuss free CNY recipes with AMC cookware : Roast Pork / Siew Yoke

*The recipe in this post was updated on 11 August 2014*


I am "killing two birds with one stone" with this post - join Sonia's Chinese New Year blog event, and share about a range of cookware that has made my cooking XXX times easier! :)
 

You're probably saying "Chinese New Year and fuss free recipes DO NOT go together".

Well, with AMC cookware it does :)

Some of you may have heard of AMC - the international company that manufactures high quality, stainless steel cookware that seriously, last forever! Their products have been in Malaysia since my parents' generation; in fact I know my mum and many aunties who have high regard for AMC products and are still using the cookware until today. 

One of my church friend who is an elderly lady in her 60s told me many mothers used to give AMC cookware sets as marriage-giveaway presents to their daughters.


A few weeks back, I had the opportunity to test some recipes using the AMC Premium System - a range of cookware that is touted as the only system in the world that allows you to cook without added water and roast without added fat.  Using breakthrough technology, the AMC premium cookware range can cook healthy and delicious meals in just mere minutes.

Furthermore, the cooking can be done fully automatic, with the cookware being intelligent enough to regulate the internal heat, thus ensuring perfectly cooked meats and vegetables. 




The automatic heat monitor "Audiotherm"

"Audiotherm" in radio communication with the hotplate "Navigenio"
- providing full automatic cooking, with safety shut-off

The electric, portable hotplate called Navigenio can even be used upside down ontop of a AMC pot to grill or roast meat. This all means more nutritious meals, time saving, less electricity usage, less hassle (automatic cooking) and less washing up.

The Navigenio - portable electric hotplate

Wow. I took some time to digest all these lofty promises.

True or not?

Since Chinese New Year is just round the corner, what better time to test out some CNY recipes than now.  To start with, I picked a recipe that needs a long time to cook, is one of the messiest and oiliest, something that I have always wanted to make, but have always dreaded making.

It's Chinese Roast Pork aka Siew Yoke.

Yup, anyone who has made roast pork before will tell you the aftermath of cooking; ie the washing up.

The oily mess.  The greasy explosion.  Friends who have cooked this with their oven described the cleaning up as a nightmare.  I have a turbo broiler (sometimes referred to as a convection/fan force portable oven) which I thought was a god-send for messy roasting as the meat sits inside a monster size bowl and is covered by the heavy grill lid.  The oily splatter is then limited to just inside the bowl and the grill lid. 

But even then, lifting and washing the huge glass bowl is quite a task.  I am also quite picky with the cleanliness of my kitchen cookware, so I torture myself by meticulously wiping the bottom of the lid and grills.




Web picture of a turbo broiler



But with the AMC Navigenio, making the roast pork was A BREEZE. 

 

Now I could cook a gorgeous piece of roast pork (crispy crackling and juicy meat) within one hour, and all I need to wash are one medium size pot, one bowl and wipe a piece of glass. 

No need to clean an entire oven or even a chunky turbo broiler.  No need to scrub any wire rack or tray.  
 
Hallelujah!


Roast Pork / Siew Yoke with AMC Cookware

• 1kg pork belly with skin (doesn't matter whether the skin is pricked or not)
• Sea salt
• Garlic pips
• Five spice powder 

1.  Rinse the pork belly and pat VERY dry with kitchen towel (If you know the meat from your butcher is already clean enough, then it's better not to rinse).  Sprinkle five spice powder evenly on the meat side. 

2. Make several slits into the meat and insert the garlic pips in.  Apply sea salt liberally over the skin.  Place the meat on a tray and leave overnight in the fridge.  You can even leave it for 2 nights - I have found that this makes the roasting even better and the crackling more crispy.   

 

Prick the skin well and apply sea salt

3.  Half an hour before roasting, remove the meat from the fridge and let it come to room temperature. 
 
4.  To roast, you will need three pieces of the AMC cookware: a steamer pot, a bowl/pan at the bottom and the Navigenio hotplate.  Place the meat skin side down on the steamer and add some water in the bottom bowl to keep the meat moist.  It will also collect all the fat drippings from the steamer holes.  Turn the Navigenio upside down and cover the steamer pot.   

Place the meat inside the steamer, atop a bottom bowl or pan

Then cover the steamer pot with the Navi hotplate, turned upside down.

Fat drippings from the meat will drip through the steamer holes into the bottom bowl

6. Turn the knob to heat #3 and slowly roast it for 40-50min until the meat is nicely browned and tender.  Use a fork to gently poke the meat to test for doneness and tenderness.  (By this time your tummy will be growling due to the delicious aroma!).  

7.  Turn the meat to the skin side up and grill for a further 10 - 15min until the skin is crispy and sizzling.  Grill until the entire skin is all blistered and sizzling.  Switch off the hotplate, remove the meat onto a serving dish and let it sit for about 20min before carving.

Succulent meat and crispy skin

To say that I was impressed was an understatement.  Using the AMC Cookware to make siew yoke means:

1.  Cooking time is significantly reduced by half

2.  No messy oil splatter or major oven cleanup.  I poured away the fat drippings from the bottom bowl and wash it and the steamer as normal.  Wipe the Navi surface with a kitchen towel.  THAT'S IT!

3.  The pork skin was crispy and the meat juicy and succulent. 

Now instead of dreading to make roast pork, I am excited to make it, especially for Chinese New Year coming up.  The Navigenio hotplate is truly a superb gadget, so flexible and useful.  It is great for making char siu, grilled chicken, grill beef and lamb.  You can also use it to bake cakes and muffins.

In the next few posts I will share more successful recipes using the AMC Premium System.  For further information on AMC, their full range of cookware and how to purchase a suitable set, click HERE. 


I am submitting this post to Chinese New Year Delights 2013 hosted by Sonia aka Nasi Lemak Lover.