Steamed Pork with Rice Flour (Fen Zheng Rou)

Chinese Steamed Pork with Rice Flour (Fen Zheng Rou) — Detailed Recipe

Fen Zheng Rou is a traditional Chinese dish featuring tender slices of pork coated in seasoned rice flour and steamed until soft, fragrant, and full of flavor. The rice coating absorbs the pork juices while keeping the meat moist. This dish is especially popular in Sichuan, Hunan, and central China.

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Ingredients

Main Ingredients

• 600 g pork belly (or pork shoulder), sliced into 0.5 cm pieces

• 1 cup coarse rice flour (or homemade toasted rice powder)

For the Marinade

• 1 tablespoon light soy sauce

• 1 tablespoon dark soy sauce

• 1 tablespoon cooking wine (Shaoxing wine)

• 1 tablespoon bean paste (Doubanjiang) — optional but flavorful

• 1 teaspoon sugar

• ½ teaspoon five-spice powder

• ½ teaspoon white pepper

• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil

• 2–3 slices ginger (minced or finely chopped)

• 2 cloves garlic, minced

Optional Ingredients

• 1 small potato, sliced (placed underneath to absorb flavor)

• Pumpkin or taro slices (classic variations)

• Chopped scallions for garnish

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Instructions

1. Prepare the Rice Flour (If Homemade)

If you want authentic texture:

1. Rinse 1 cup of uncooked rice and drain.

2. Dry-fry in a wok over medium heat until lightly golden and fragrant.

3. Let it cool, then grind into coarse powder — not too fine.
   This creates the signature sandy texture.

If using store-bought steamed meat powder, skip this step.

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2. Slice and Marinate the Pork

• Cut pork belly into thin slices, about 0.5 cm thick.

• Place into a bowl and add:

  • Light soy sauce

  • Dark soy sauce

  • Cooking wine

  • Doubanjiang (if using)

  • Sugar

  • Five-spice powder

  • White pepper

  • Minced ginger and garlic

  • Vegetable oil

• Mix thoroughly.

• Marinate for 30 minutes to 1 hour for deeper flavor.

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3. Coat the Pork with Rice Flour

• Add the rice flour to the marinated pork bowl.

• Gently mix to coat each pork slice evenly.

• The mixture should be moist but not watery.
  If too dry, add a splash of water or broth.

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4. Prepare the Steamer Setup

• If using potatoes, pumpkin, or taro, place slices at the bottom of a heat-safe dish.

• Spread the coated pork evenly on top.

• Arrange loosely instead of pressing down — this helps even steaming.

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5. Steam the Pork

• Place the dish into a steamer.

• Steam over medium-high heat for 60–90 minutes:

  • 60 minutes for softer but slightly chewy pork

  • 90 minutes for meltingly tender pork

• Make sure the water doesn’t dry out.

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6. Final Seasoning and Garnish

• Once fully steamed, remove from the steamer.

• Sprinkle chopped scallions or cilantro on top.

• Optionally drizzle a few drops of sesame oil for added aroma.

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Serving Suggestions

Fen Zheng Rou is delicious served with:

• Steamed white rice

• Chinese pickled vegetables

• A light soup such as seaweed egg drop soup

It works as a main dish in a family-style Chinese meal.