青椒土豆片Braised Bell Pepper and Potato Slices

 

There are some really cool techniques used in this dish that make it really unique in a delicious way. I love the technique of frying the potatoes in melted sugar, whoever thought of this is brilliant. It doesn't make the potatoes sweet as much as it just adds a ton of flavor and texture, similar to what frying and salting does to the humble potato when making french fries. This technique is used frequently in braised meat dishes also and really brings out the flavor of the meat as well.

A great addition to this dish if you like spicy food is some Thai chilies. You can also swap out the green onions for some ever so flavorful leeks.

4 medium yellow potatoes, sliced thin ( if you like you can turn the potato between each cut to create different shapes)
1 green bell peppers, cut in pieces about the same size as potato slices
1/4 cup oil
1 Tbsp. brown sugar
1/2 inch piece of ginger thinly sliced
5 cloves garlic, sliced
3 green onions, whit parts thinly sliced and green parts cut into 2-3 inch segments
1/4 cup soy sauce
2 Tbsp. Chinese black vinegar
water
salt
sesame oil

Peel the potatoes and slice into thin slices about 1 mm thick.

Wash the potato slices in water to remove some of the starchiness of the potatoes. Dry with a towel.

 Prepare all ingredients. 

 Cut off the ends of the bell peppers  

Cut into medium size pieces. I like to cut along the natural groves in the pepper then cut these rectangular strips in half on an angle to get shapes like you see below.

Heat the oil over medium heat and stir-fry bell pepper slices 1/2 minute then remove (should still be very fresh and crisp). Remove from the oil.

Pour sugar into the oil and then immediately turn the heat to high. Stir constantly until sugar is completely dissolved. Add potato slices. Stir-fry quickly until they begin to brown and carmelized.

Add the garlic, and ginger and the white part of green onion or leek. Toss until you start to smell the fragrance of the aromatics.

Add soy sauce, black vinegar and water to just below the level of the potatoes.

Boil until potatoes are cooked but still slightly crisp. Add green onion segments, bell peppers and a splash of sesame oil. Salt to taste and toss.

Yummy! love how the potatoes and the garlic and ginger slices get caramelized in the sugar. Makes them so tasty.

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