Long-stewed Claypot Pork Belly

Description
serves 4 to 6

Ingredients

 * 15 large dried Chinese mushrooms
 * 4-6 sticks of dried bean curd
 * 2½ pounds pork belly or beef brisket
 * 2 tbsp peanut oil
 * 6½-inch thick ginger slices (young fragrant ginger preferred)
 * 5 garlic cloves peeled and crushed
 * ¼ cup bamboo shoots sliced ¼-inch thick
 * 10 fresh or canned water chestnuts, or 8 arrowroot
 * 4 tbsp bean sauce (whole bean preferred but crushed is fine too)
 * 4 tbsp oyster sauce
 * 3 tbsp sugar
 * 2 slices each of lemon and orange peel
 * 3 tbsp rice wine or dry sherry
 * 5 tbsp soy sauce (if you've got light and dark sauces, make it 2 of the former and 3 of the latter)
 * optional: a bunch of Chinese greens

Directions

 * 1) Soak mushrooms in warm water until soft, about 20 minutes.
 * 2) Squeeze out the excess water and discard woody stems.
 * 3) Strain mushroom water into a measuring cup and add plain water to equal 4 cups.
 * 4) Soak bean curd sticks in hot water until soft, then drain and set aside.
 * 5) Cut pork belly or beef brisket into bite-size chunks, then blanch for 20 minutes in boiling water, then drain and set aside.
 * 6) Heat cooking vessel and add peanut oil, ginger, and garlic, and stir-fry for 30 seconds.
 * 7) Add bamboo shoots, water chestnuts (or arrowroot), mushrooms, citrus peels, and bean curd sticks.
 * 8) Stir-fry for a minute.
 * 9) Add the rest of the ingredients and bring to a boil.
 * 10) Add blanched meat, bring back to a boil, and then simmer at least 1½ hours, partially covered, until meat is very tender (skim surface occasionally for excess fat, if you wish) if using greens, lay them on top of the stew, bring it to a steady simmer, and replace the cover.
 * 11) Steam the greens till tender, and then serve them on the side (or serve the stew ladled over a bed of greens).