Lion's Head Casserole

The name of this dish - shi zi tou in Chinese - derives from the rather strange idea that the pork meatballs look like a lion's head and the chinese leaves resembles its mane.

Ingredients:
Minced pork - 450 gms
Mushrooms - 50 gms
Prawns - 50 gms (cooked, peeled and finely chopped)
Spring onion - 2 tsp (Finely chopped)
Fresh root ginger - 1 tsp (finely grated)
Light soy sauce - 1 tbsp
Light brown sugar - 1 tsp
Chinese rice wine or dry sherry - 1 tbsp
Corn flour - 1 tbsp
Chinese leaves - 675 gms
Vegetable oil- 3-4 tbsp
Salt to taste
Basic stock or water - 300 ml

Method:

• Mix together the pork, spring onion, ginger, mushroom, prawns, soy sauce, brown sugar, rice wine and corn flour. Shape the mixture into 4-6 meatballs.
• Cut the chinese leaves into large pieces, all about the same size.
• Heat the oil in a wok or large frying pan. Add the chinese leaves and salt and stir fry for 2-3 minutes.
• Add the meatballs and the stock, bring to the boil, cover and simmer gently for 30-45 minutes.
• Serve immediately.