This entry was posted on Thursday, March 18th, 2010 at 7:34 pm and is filed under Contests, Holidays. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.

We’re going to start with our Staff Favorite Award, which is given to the entry that although it doesn’t quite capture the essence of Valentines Day, is SO AWESOME that we have to award it something.

So our STAFF FAVORITE AWARD goes to JIAMIAN Y. and the PHOENIX REBIRTH DISH.

(The following recipe is taken directly from the instructions submitted from the contest.  We are also using 1/2 pound lobster tails since we couldn’t find 1 pound lobster tails on short notice)

The ingredients are as follows:

• 2 lobster tails (about 1 pound each)
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 tablespoons flour
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1 tablespoon salted black beans, (also called fermented black beans) pounded and soaked in 1 tablespoon water
• 1 tablespoon ginger, chopped fine
• 1 scallion, chopped fine
• 1/4 pound ground pork
• 2 tablespoons sherry
• 1 tablespoon light soy sauce
• 1 cup chicken stock
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch, dissolved in 2 tablespoons water
• 2 scallions, cut into 1-inch pieces
• 1 egg, beaten
• 2 to 4 cups oil for deep-frying and stir-frying

WARNING:  THERE IS HOT OIL IN THIS RECIPE.  HANDLE WITH CARE AND DO NOT MIX WITH WATER.  VENTILATE YOUR KITCHEN AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE WHEN TRYING THIS RECIPE. (Believe us, we made that mistake)

Recipe:

1. Cut each lobster tail in half. Wash thoroughly. Drain. Cut tails into pieces 1 1/2 inches in length, leaving shells on.
   

   Easy does it...

   

   Straight down the middle...

   

   I would like to remind everyone to watch their fingers here...

   

   If anyone has a better cutting technique, please let us know!

   

   If at first you don't succeed....

   

   ...Try, try again until you can make it work.

2. Sprinkle 1/2 teaspoon of salt and the flour on lobster.
3. Mix garlic with black bean mixture in a bowl. Stir well.
   

   Some of these ingredients (like the black beans sauce) you will need to get at specialty stores in your local Chinatown

4. Heat oil for deep-frying to smoking hot. Put in lobster pieces. Deep-fry until shells are red. Drain. Remove.
   

   CAREFUL WITH THIS! Hot Oil is no joke!

   

   This is what your lobster tails should look like after they are deep fried. Don't they look pretty?

5. Reheat 1 tablespoon of oil in wok. Stir-fry black bean mixture 30 seconds. Remove.
6. Reheat 2 tablespoons of oil in wok. Stir-fry ginger and scallion until there is an aroma, about 30 seconds. Add pork. Stir-fry on high heat until color changes. Add 1 tablespoon of sherry, soy sauce, black bean mixture, and stock. Bring to boil.
   

   The meat sauce mixture is a vital complement to the deep fried lobster

7. Add lobster to meat mixture. Add 1 tablespoon sherry. Cover. Cook 3 minutes.
   

   Mmmmm... once you add in the lobster this starts to smell real good

   

   Just a little bit more...

   

   Now THAT ladies and gentlemen, is going to be delicious when its done.

   

   We like using a glass lid so we can keep an eye on the food while it is covered.

8. Remove lid. Bring to boil. Thicken gravy with dissolved cornstarch.
   

   Say what you want but it holds water.

9. Season with 1/2 teaspoon salt. Add scallions. Slowly pour in beaten egg. Stir-fry about 10 seconds. Remove
   

   We like little bowls

   

   One beaten egg coming right up!

   

   Using chopsticks to beat eggs saves us time in cleanup

   

   It takes some practice though to get it right

Then in the end it comes out looking like this:

So there you have it, people.  The “Phoenix Rebirth” entry by Jiamian Y.  Thank you for your participation and we look forward to future entries from you!

Up next is the Runner’s Up Prize!