Chinese Ham Recipe: Crispy Stir-Fried Ham!
Ham is often overcrowded with a lot of ingredients and spices. It causes the ham to lose its natural flavor. If you are fond of authentic flavors like me, I promise you will love this Chinese ham recipe. It uses only a few ingredients and will be ready in minutes.
This is probably one of the easiest recipes I have ever shared with you. And it tastes so good that you will want to make it over and over again. Without any further delay, let’s get into the preparation and cooking.
Table of Contents
Recipe Overview
I compiled the crucial information about the recipe in the following chart. Check it before you start cooking Chinese ham.
| Course: Side dish | Cuisine: Chinese | Difficulty: Easy | ||
| Total Time: 15 minutes | ||||
| Serving | Preparation Time | Cooking Time | Calories | |
| 1 person | 5 minutes | 10 minutes | 266 kcal | |
Ingredients Needed for the Recipe
You can count the required ingredients with two of your fingers. Still, I am making a list so that it is easier to read.
- Ham: 200g of processed low-salt ham
- Ginger: 20g, cut into julienne
- Sichuan Peppercorn: 10-12 pcs
- Dried Chili: 8-10 chilies, cut into segments
- Green Pepper: 5-6 green pepper, cut into segments
- Chicken Essence: 1 tsp
- Sesame Seed: 1 tsp
- Cilantro: ½ cup of chopped cilantro
- Cooking Oil: 1 tbsp
I hope you have these ingredients ready in your kitchen. This is cooking time!
Chinese Ham Recipe: Step-By-Step Instructions
You will be able to make one of the best ham recipes by following the steps below.
Step 1: Cut and Wash the Ham
Cut the block of ham into thin slices. Each slice should be about ⅛ inches thick. Wash the ham slices with warm water a few times so that they are clean. Then, pat the slices dry with a paper towel.
Step 2: Prepare the Spices
Peel and cut the ginger. Then, cut the green pepper and dried chili pepper into segments. Also, chop the cilantro roughly.
Step 3: Fry the Ham
Add oil to a pan. Once the oil is hot, put the sliced ham into the pan. Stir-fry the ham over high heat for about 2-3 minutes.
Step 4: Add the Spices
Ginger shreds will go first. Then, add Sichuan peppercorn and dried chili peppers. Once they are fried for one minute, put the green pepper segments, chicken essence, and white sesame seeds.
You Can Also Try Chicken on a Stick Chinese Recipe
Keep frying everything over high heat for about 5-6 minutes. After the ham has got a dark color, add the chopped cilantro and stir-fry for one more minute.
Step 5: Garnish and Serve
Sprinkle some more cilantro on top of the stir-fried ham if you want. Or, you can also serve the ham directly. Gānbēi!
Nutrition Facts of the Recipe
Processed ham is high in Sodium, but it can be a good source of minerals like zinc and selenium. Here are some nutritional facts of the recipe.
- Total Carbohydrates: 2g
- Protein: 34g
- Total Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g
- Monounsaturated Fat: 2.5g
- Total Dietary Fiber: 1g
- Total Sugar: 1g
- Cholesterol: 93mg
- Sodium: 1150mg
- Potassium: 682mg
- Calcium: 234mg
- Iron: 0.3mg
- Zinc: 72mg
- Selenium: 115mg
- Vitamin A: 32IU
Do’s and Don’ts of the Recipe
I couldn’t stop myself from sharing the following tips to make your cooking easier.
Do’s
- If you are using ham that is too salty, soak the slices in warm water for 30 minutes and rinse them. It will remove a lot of saltiness.
- Always fry ham over high heat. It will make them crispier.
Don’ts
- Don’t put any additional salt as the ham is already salty.
- Don’t put any sauce or liquids in the dish. They will make the ham soggy.
Chinese Ham Recipe
Ingredients
Method
- Cut the block of ham into thin slices. Each slice should be about ⅛ inches thick. Wash the ham slices with warm water a few times so that they are clean. Then, pat the slices dry with a paper towel.
- Peel and cut the ginger. Then, cut the green pepper and dried chili pepper into segments. Also, chop the cilantro roughly.
- Add oil to a pan. Once the oil is hot, put the sliced ham into the pan. Stir-fry the ham over high heat for about 2-3 minutes.
- Ginger shreds will go first. Then, add Sichuan peppercorn and dried chili peppers. Once they are fried for one minute, put the green pepper segments, chicken essence, and white sesame seeds.
- Keep frying everything over high heat for about 5-6 minutes. After the ham has got a dark color, add the chopped cilantro and stir-fry for one more minute.
- Sprinkle some more cilantro on top of the stir-fried ham if you want. Or, you can also serve the ham directly. Gānbēi!
FAQs
The following questions to frequently asked questions about this recipe might help you make the dish better.
Can I adjust the recipe to make it less salty?
Yes. You can soak the ham in warm water to make it less salty. Another option is to add a pinch of sugar to balance the saltiness and give the ham a nice caramelization.
Are there any specific cuts of ham preferred for Chinese cuisine?
Yes. Ham may be made from different cuts of pork. But cured ham made from pork legs is preferred for Chinese cuisine. These hams have a dense texture and richer flavor.
Can I make this recipe in advance and reheat it later?
Unfortunately, no. This recipe calls for fresh cooking. If you make the stir-fried ham in advance and reheat it later, you will miss the crispiness and freshness of the dish.
Are there any regional variations of Chinese ham recipes?
Yes. Ham is cooked in a lot of ways across different regions of China. For example, you will commonly see stir-fried ham, baked ham, glazed ham, slow-cooked ham, etc.
What type of ham is typically used in Chinese ham recipes?
Jinhua ham is the most traditional ham for Chinese recipes. This was first produced in the city of Jinhua and named after the city.
Conclusion
If you are bored with eating the same ham recipes day after day, this dish will eliminate your boredom and comfort you with a breeze of freshness. This stir-fried Chinese ham recipe is so easy to make that you can cook it while making other dishes.
I recommend you try this recipe and enjoy the authentic taste of Chinese ham. You can pair it with many carb options to make amazing meals. Let me know your experience about the recipe in the comments and keep checking for new recipes.
