Serves 3
2-3 tablespoons neutral oil
1 pound ground chicken, pork, beef or meat substitute
2 cloves garlic (minced)
24 ounces cole slaw mix
2 scallions (thinly sliced with the green and white parts separated)
½ cup water (divided)
1½ tablespoons brown sugar
1¼ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon five spice powder (or more to taste)
¼ teaspoon white pepper (or more to taste)
1 tablespoon hoisin sauce
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1 teaspoon sesame oil
Sesame seeds
wonton chips for topping
hot mustard for topping
plum sauce for topping
Heat a wok or large, deep skillet over high heat. When it just starts smoking, add the oil (2 tbsp for ground pork/beef, or 3 tbsp for leaner ground chicken) and the ground meat. Break up the meat, cooking until there’s no pink left, and it’s golden around the edges. Transfer to a dish and set aside, leaving behind any residual oil in the pan.
Add the garlic and white parts of the scallions, and fry for 20-30 seconds. Add the cole slaw mix, and cook until wilted. Add ¼ cup of water if the pan starts to dry out. This will also help steam the vegetables.
While that’s happening, mix your sauce: brown sugar, salt, five spice powder, white pepper, hoisin sauce, soy sauce, sesame oil, and another ¼ cup water. Add the meat back in to the pan, along with the green parts of the scallions, reserving a generous pinch for garnish later. Add the sauce, and toss until well-combined.
To serve, top with scallions, sesame seeds, wonton chips for an aromatic crunch as well hot mustard and plum sauce, serve over a bed of grains (rice, quinoa, etc.).