This delightful steamed pork patty with water chestnuts is a savory and juicy dish that combines the rich flavors of ground pork with the refreshing crunch of water chestnuts. It's a simple yet satisfying meal that can be enjoyed as a main course or as part of a larger spread.
If you're not familiar with water chestnuts, they are a crunchy, slightly sweet vegetable often used in Asian cuisine. You can find them in the canned vegetable section of most supermarkets. Oyster sauce and sesame oil are also common in Asian cooking and can be found in the international foods aisle.

Ingredients for Steamed Pork Patty with Water Chestnut Recipe
Ground pork: The main protein of the dish, providing a rich and savory base.
Water chestnuts: Adds a refreshing crunch and subtle sweetness to the patty.
Egg: Helps bind the ingredients together, ensuring the patty holds its shape.
Soy sauce: Adds a salty, umami flavor to the mixture.
Oyster sauce: Enhances the savory taste with a hint of sweetness.
Sesame oil: Provides a nutty aroma and depth of flavor.
White pepper: Adds a mild heat and peppery note.
Salt: Enhances all the flavors in the dish.
Green onion: Adds a fresh, mild onion flavor and a touch of color.
Technique Tip for This Recipe
When mixing the ground pork with the other ingredients, ensure that you stir in one direction only. This helps the meat mixture bind better, resulting in a more cohesive and tender pork patty.
Suggested Side Dishes
Alternative Ingredients
ground pork - Substitute with ground chicken: Ground chicken provides a similar texture and absorbs flavors well, making it a suitable alternative.
water chestnuts - Substitute with jicama: Jicama has a similar crunchy texture and mild flavor, making it a good replacement for water chestnuts.
egg - Substitute with flaxseed meal and water mixture: Mix 1 tablespoon of flaxseed meal with 3 tablespoons of water to create a binding agent similar to an egg.
soy sauce - Substitute with tamari: Tamari is a gluten-free alternative to soy sauce with a similar umami flavor.
oyster sauce - Substitute with hoisin sauce: Hoisin sauce provides a sweet and savory flavor that can mimic the taste of oyster sauce.
sesame oil - Substitute with olive oil: Olive oil can be used as a neutral oil substitute, though it won't have the same nutty flavor as sesame oil.
white pepper - Substitute with black pepper: Black pepper has a similar heat profile, though it is slightly more pungent than white pepper.
salt - Substitute with soy sauce: Soy sauce can add both saltiness and umami flavor, reducing the need for additional salt.
green onion - Substitute with chives: Chives have a similar mild onion flavor and can be used as a direct substitute for green onions.
Other Alternative Recipes Similar to This Dish
How to Store or Freeze This Dish
- Allow the steamed pork patty to cool completely at room temperature before storing.
- Transfer the cooled patty to an airtight container. If you have multiple patties, separate them with parchment paper to prevent sticking.
- Store the container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. For longer storage, proceed to freezing.
- To freeze, wrap each pork patty individually in plastic wrap or aluminum foil to prevent freezer burn.
- Place the wrapped patties in a resealable freezer bag or airtight container, ensuring to remove as much air as possible.
- Label the bag or container with the date to keep track of freshness.
- Store in the freezer for up to 2 months for optimal taste and texture.
- When ready to eat, thaw the pork patty in the refrigerator overnight.
- Reheat by steaming over medium heat for 10 minutes or until heated through. Alternatively, you can microwave on medium power until warm, ensuring to cover with a microwave-safe lid to retain moisture.
How to Reheat Leftovers
Microwave Method: Place the steamed pork patty on a microwave-safe plate. Cover it with a damp paper towel to retain moisture. Heat on medium power for 1-2 minutes, checking halfway through to ensure it heats evenly.
Steaming Method: Set up a steamer with boiling water. Place the pork patty on a heatproof plate and steam for 5-7 minutes until heated through. This method helps retain the original texture and moisture.
Pan-Frying Method: Heat a small amount of oil in a non-stick pan over medium heat. Add the pork patty and cover with a lid. Cook for 3-4 minutes on each side, or until thoroughly heated. This method adds a slight crispiness to the exterior.
Oven Method: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Wrap the pork patty in aluminum foil to prevent it from drying out. Place it on a baking sheet and heat for 10-15 minutes, or until warmed through.
Air Fryer Method: Preheat the air fryer to 350°F (175°C). Place the pork patty in the basket and heat for 5-7 minutes, flipping halfway through. This method gives a slightly crispy exterior while keeping the inside moist.
Best Tools for Preparing This Recipe
Mixing bowl: Use this to combine the ground pork, water chestnuts, egg, soy sauce, oyster sauce, sesame oil, white pepper, salt, and green onion.
Chopping board: Essential for finely chopping the water chestnuts and green onion.
Knife: Needed for chopping the water chestnuts and green onion finely.
Heatproof plate: Place the shaped pork patty on this before steaming.
Steamer: Use this to steam the pork patty over high heat.
Measuring spoons: Necessary for accurately measuring the soy sauce, oyster sauce, sesame oil, white pepper, and salt.
Spatula: Helpful for mixing the ingredients thoroughly in the mixing bowl.
How to Save Time on Making This Dish
Pre-chop ingredients: Finely chop water chestnuts and green onion in advance to save time during preparation.
Batch preparation: Double or triple the ground pork mixture and freeze extra portions for future use.
Use a food processor: Quickly combine ground pork, water chestnuts, and other ingredients using a food processor.
Steam multiple patties: Steam several pork patties at once to save time on cooking.
Prep the steamer: Set up your steamer while mixing ingredients to streamline the process.

Steamed Pork Patty with Water Chestnut
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 300 g ground pork
- 50 g water chestnuts, finely chopped
- 1 egg
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon oyster sauce
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- ½ teaspoon white pepper
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 green onion, finely chopped
Instructions
- In a bowl, mix ground pork, water chestnuts, egg, soy sauce, oyster sauce, sesame oil, white pepper, salt, and green onion until well combined.
- Shape the mixture into a patty and place it on a heatproof plate.
- Steam over high heat for 20 minutes or until fully cooked.
Nutritional Value
Keywords
Suggested Appetizers and Desserts for This Dish
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