Budget and everyday cooking

We are looking at low-cost, budget-friendly meals that are packed full of flavour, for the coming week. Today we will start of with......

Sichuan-style pork & green bean stir-fry

A cost-conscious Chinese-style meal for two with rich soy and pepper sauce, ginger, spring onions and sesame oil, Just the thing to replace your Saturday night Chinese take away.

Ingredients

100g basmati rice

200g green bean, topped and tailed, then halved

1½ tbsp sunflower oil

140g pork mince

4 tsp dark soy sauce

2 tsp rice wine

1 tsp caster sugar

¼ tsp Sichuan pepper, lightly crushed using a pestle and mortar

1 red chilli, halved and sliced

4 fat garlic clove, finely chopped

1 small knob of ginger, finely chopped

3 spring onion, 2 finely chopped, 1 sliced for garnish

2 tsp sesame oil

Method

Cook the rice following pack instructions. Boil the beans for 4 mins, then drain under cold water, pat dry and set aside.

In a large non-stick wok or frying pan, heat 1 tbsp of the oil. Add the pork mince and fry for a few mins, breaking up into small pieces with the back of a spoon. Stir in half the soy, the rice wine and sugar and cook for 30 secs more. When the meat is cooked through, tip onto a plate.

Heat the remaining oil in the pan. Add the pepper, chilli, garlic, ginger and chopped onions, and stir-fry for 2 mins until ginger and garlic are softened. Tip in the beans, heat through, then add the mince – stir-fry for 2 mins until hot. Stir in the rest of the soy and sesame oil. Scatter with spring onions and serve with rice.