Ming Tsai, chef at Blue Ginger in Wellesley, Massachusetts, and host of Simply Ming on PBS, experienced the power of the pressure cooker during a taping of Iron Chef America. Using the device, he was able to make one of his favorite childhood dishes, slow-braised pork shoulder, in just an hour. "At a restaurant you have all day to braise," Tsai says. "That's not true on Iron Chef." Now he's always looking for new ways to exploit his cooker, making duck legs, chicken thighs and spareribs as well as the juicy glazed pork shoulder he's eaten his whole life. More Pork Recipes
How to Make It
In an 8-quart pressure cooker, combine the soy sauce, wine, water, vinegar, sugar, scallion lengths, chiles, ginger, garlic, orange and cinnamon stick. Cook over moderately high heat, stirring, until the sugar is dissolved. Season the pork with pepper and add it to the pressure cooker. Close and lock the cooker and bring to full pressure over high heat. Adjust the heat to maintain full pressure and cook for 1 hour or until the pork is very tender. Slowly release the pressure and open the cooker. Transfer the pork to a cutting board and cover with foil.
Strain 1 cup of the cooking liquid into a small saucepan; discard the remaining liquid. Boil over high heat until the liquid is reduced by two-thirds and thick, about 5 minutes. Brush a light coating of the sauce over each piece of pork to glaze it. Thinly slice the pork and serve.
Make Ahead
Serve With
Steamed Chinese broccoli.