制作猪肉炒酸菜 - Make Stir-fried Pork with Sauerkraut

猪肉炒酸菜是一道常见的东北菜，也是我家里的味道。

Stir-fried pork with sauerkraut is a popular dish in the Northeast region of China and also a taste of home for me.

把酸菜切成细条，这里最好用东北酸菜，也可以用德国酸菜。依据酸度不同，用凉水投（浸泡）2-4次。中间可以尝一尝，直到觉得不那么酸了为止。

Cut the sauerkraut into thin strips. It would be best to use sauerkraut from Northeast China, but German sauerkraut can also be an alternative. Depending on their acidity, soak them in cool water 2-4 times. Taste them from time to time until they are not so sour.

选取肥瘦均匀的猪肉，可以包含骨头，将其切成适中的块状。将切好的猪肉块放入清水中烹煮，直到开锅，同时汤面冒出白色的沫子即可。如果不喜欢猪油的味道，就多煮一会儿。将猪肉捞出来，用凉水冲洗干净。放一旁备用。

Choose pork with a balanced fat-to-meat ratio, you can also include some with bones. Cut it into moderate chunks. Boil the cut pork in clear water until it comes to a boil and a white froth forms on the surface. If you don't like the taste of pork fat, boil it a little longer. Remove the pork, rinse it clean with cool water. Set aside for later use.

抓一把花椒（大约30粒），两三颗八角掰碎，一点桂皮掰碎，倒入一锅底油，用小火慢煎，直至花椒等被煎黑，如下图所示。捞出发黑的香料。

Take a handful of peppercorns (about 30 grains), break up two or three star anises, and a bit of cinnamon. Pour them into a pot with some oil and slowly braise them over low heat until the spices are burned as shown below. Remove the darkened spices.

把酸菜和猪肉倒到盛有花椒油的炒锅里翻炒，加入一点盐，一点蒜泥，一点生抽，一点老抽。炒到酸菜几乎不出水了为止。出锅前依个人喜好可以稍稍加一点辣椒粉。如果在这一步，添上热水炖至半干，就是另一道东北名菜：猪肉炖酸菜。

Pour the sauerkraut and pork into the wok with the prepared oil. Stir fry, add a bit of salt, minced garlic, soy sause, and a bit of dark soy sauce. Keep stir frying until the sauerkraut are almost dry. Before serving, you can add a bit of chili powder according to your preference. If you add boiling water at this step and stew it until the water is half gone, you will have another famous dish from Northeast China: Stewed Pork with Sauerkraut. 

如果不用焯水的猪肉，而是用香肠的话，就是酸菜炒香肠，也很好吃。

I simply paired it with some thin pancakes, and the finished dish is roughly as shown below. If instead of boiled pork, you use sausage, then you will have a Stir-fried Sausage with Sauerkraut, which is very delicious too.