Aromatic Pan-Fried Five Spice Meat Cake (香煎五香肉饼)

“The very own homemade meat cake to be marked 100% by your kids!”

Just like what my reader, Anne, told me that her son rated her cooking with 100 marks, for some pork dishes cooked with my recipes. I created this pork meat cake,and hope Anne (and any of you) could try and receive compliments from her loved ones again (winking smile)! My little one did praise me for making this meat cake for her.. As for her who does not really like pork, she loved this meat cake so much! This meat cake creates aromas in the bites. And I loved it with a touch of five spice flavour, not too strong but enough to taste its fragrance. However, not many children like five spice flavour, if your kid doesn’t, omit the five spice powder and substitute with some ground white pepper. Yeah, just call it a pan-fried meat cake dish will do (smile).

This meat cake can be served with rice during meals. Or, cook it as the filling to make a burger lunch box for your child to bring it to school! Hope you like it.

Ingredients
300 grams of minced pork meat

Sprinkle of ground black pepper
1 stalk of scallion aka spring onion, julienned

5 tablespoons of cooking oil (to use for pan frying)

Seasoning:
1 chilled Chicken stock cube without MSG (鸡精块)，mashed
1 tablespoon of oyster sauce
1 teaspoon of five spice powder
1 teaspoon of light soy sauce
1 teaspoon of sugar
1 tablespoon of corn starch

Method:
1) Season minced meat with the listed seasoning ingredients. Mix well and marinate for at least 10 minutes. Shape marinated minced meat into circular flat cakes (about the size of disgestive biscuit).

2) Heat large frying pan with oil over high heat. Sprinkle some salt when oil heated. Reduce fire to medium. Place meat cakes on the pan, but avoid over-crowding.

3) When the frying side is almost done, sprinkle black pepper, followed by scallion on the surface of each meat cake before over-turning the meat cake. OK now to flip the meat cake to the other side and pan-fry till golden browned. Serve meat cakes with the side having black pepper and scallions on top.

A slice of meat cake counts about 120kcal.

Tips: Use your clean palms to make a ball of minced meat, and then, place it on a clean table top. Flatten it with your whole palm to just about 0.5cm thick. Or, make your kids do it for you! Do not make the meat cake too thick to avoid under-cooking inside it.
* Cook this as patty for burger, too.