Braised Ground Pork & Potatoes

A hearty meal of braised ground pork, potato, and Chinese flavors is our unique take on “meat and potatoes”!

This easy and simple formula is one I turn to again and again when I want to exert minimal effort on dinner, but I am craving that long-braised taste.

Chines braised pork, potato, and bell pepper over rice on a red rimmed oval plate on a pink marble counter — Braised Ground Pork & Potatoes 59

The best part is, I think it’s equally delicious when served over rice or noodles. In either case, you get a satisfying meal that may be a little heavy on the carbs, but that sometimes you just need.

Another Winning Ground meat Recipe

Whether you call it ground meat or mince, recipes that call for this handy ingredient are always so popular with our readers. It cooks so fast, making these recipes simple and quick for any weeknight. I think this one with ground pork is going to win you over, thanks to the addition of hearty potatoes.

I did include a vegetable component to make this recipe a bit healthier. As for which to include, my starting point would be peas, carrots, bell peppers, or broccoli—either just one or even a mix! I used red bell peppers, which gave the dish a pleasant sweetness.

Clear bowl of minced soy sauce marinated pork and cubed potatoes on a cutting board — Braised Ground Pork & Potatoes 60

My one tip is to avoid leafy greens, as the dish will turn messy, and they won’t stand up well to the salty sauce. If you want to serve this with leafy greens, keep them on the side with a dish like our Garlic Baby Bok Choy or Easy Yu Choy.

A Kid-friendly Recipe

This recipe is great for kids, who can easily eat it over rice with a spoon. The gravy soaking into the rice is hard to resist, even for a picky eater!

It’s why we’ve included a note that you can use either spicy bean paste or plain bean paste to suit spice-sensitive palates.

I know summer is here and school is just about over, but it’s also an easy lunch option. Just scoop rice and a ladleful of the pork mixture into a thermos, and you’ve got a piping hot lunch ready and waiting for you.

Want more?

Easy Chinese Dinners with Ground Meat!

Other Easy Asian Favorites Over Rice

Braised Ground Pork & Potato Recipe Instructions

Rinse the dried shiitake mushrooms, then soak them in hot water for at least 2 hours (or overnight). Squeeze out the liquid and reserve it for later (you’ll use the liquid later in the recipe). Trim away any tough stems, and dice the mushrooms into ½-inch pieces.

Cutting board with piles of diced red bell pepper, shiitake mushrooms, red onion, scallions, and minced ginger and garlic — Braised Ground Pork & Potatoes 61

Use store-bought ground meat, or use our hand-chopped meat technique, which will yield the best texture. Add the meat to a medium bowl along with the marinade ingredients: water, Shaoxing wine, dark soy sauce, and white pepper. Mix well until the meat has absorbed the marinade, and set aside for 15-20 minutes.

After peeling and dicing the potatoes, soak them in a bowl of cold water if you’re not cooking them right away. This prevents oxidation (i.e. the potatoes turning brown).

Heat the oil in a wok or large skillet over medium heat. Increase the heat to medium-high, and add the minced ginger and mushrooms. Cook for 2-3 minutes, until fragrant.

Wok with oil and sizzling ginger — Braised Ground Pork & Potatoes 62

Wok with sizzling shiitake mushrooms — Braised Ground Pork & Potatoes 62

Add the pork, and increase the heat to high.

Wok with minced raw pork and shiitake mushrooms off to the side — Braised Ground Pork & Potatoes 64

Break up any large chunks with your spatula, cooking until the meat is opaque and lightly browned. Stir in the Shaoxing wine to deglaze the wok or pan.

Wok with mixed minced cooked pork and shiitake mushrooms — Braised Ground Pork & Potatoes 65

Next, add the potato cubes (drained).

Cubed potatoes over pork and mushroom mixture in a wok with wok spatula — Braised Ground Pork & Potatoes 66

Add the oyster sauce, bean sauce, light soy sauce, dark soy sauce, white pepper, five spice powder, and water, using the mushroom soaking water (be careful to avoid any sediment from the mushrooms) and adding additional fresh water so you have 1½ cups total.

spicy douban jiang in pork and potato dish in wok — Braised Ground Pork & Potatoes 67

Stir well, and bring to a boil. Once boiling, cover, reduce the heat to medium, and simmer for 5 minutes—until the potato is just about cooked through.

bean paste, pork, and potato mixture stirred together — Braised Ground Pork & Potatoes 68

Stir in the garlic, onion, and your choice of vegetables.

Chinese pork potato rice plate 11 — Braised Ground Pork & Potatoes 69

Chinese pork potato rice plate 12 — Braised Ground Pork & Potatoes 69

Cover and cook for 1-2 minutes. until the potatoes and vegetables are tender (note that denser vegetables like carrots and broccoli stems may take an additional 1-3 minutes to cook). Add more water—up to an additional ½ cup—if needed to prevent the sauce from drying out.

braised ground pork and potato in wok — Braised Ground Pork & Potatoes 71

wok spatula stirring braised ground pork and potato in wok — Braised Ground Pork & Potatoes 71

Stir in the cornstarch slurry and simmer until the sauce is thick enough to coat the back of a spoon. Salt to taste. Stir in the chopped scallions.

wok spatula stirring braised ground pork and potato in wok with green scallions over top — Braised Ground Pork & Potatoes 73

finished braised ground pork and potato mixture in wok — Braised Ground Pork & Potatoes 74

Serve with steamed rice. Enjoy!