The more I cook Hunan food, the more I realize that some of its most distinctive flavors don’t come from complicated recipes. They come from the ingredients that Hunan cooks keep on hand. Duo Jiao (剁椒), chopped salted chilies allowed to ferment until they become tangy, savory and deeply aromatic, is one of those ingredients.
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Red Braised Pork, Mao’s Favorite Dish

When I was traveling in China, I was told to visit a very special restaurant in Shanghai. They said this restaurant specialized in “revolutionary dishes“. The place was called Mao Jia Cai or Mao’s Family Restaurant.
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