Minchee is a Macanese version of minced meat with potato hash dish made with minced beef and pork combination with fried potato served with rice and fried eggs. They are easy to put together and perfect as an easy meal.
Macau’s National Dish
Minchi/minchee/免治 (mian zhi) is one of Macau national dishes. It’s an East-Meets-West type of dish. Macau’s food has a fusion of Cantonese, Portuguese, South America, Malay, Africa, and India. It’s an amazing robust combination of flavors I must say! Take minchee as an example. Looking at the seasonings, spices, and herbs used, you can tell that it’s a marriage between continents.
The recipe rundown
Taste: It’s savory, umami, and has an amazing aroma from the seasoning combination
Texture: Depending on the fat content of the meat you choose. Lean meat won’t be as tender and soft
Level: Easy
Pros: It’s an easy meal perfect for any day of the week and it spells “comfort” food all over (to me anyway!)
Ingredients
1. Ground meat
Traditionally, the meat is “manually” minced by hands using a cleaver, but in this modern-day, ground meat is an acceptable substitute (though grandma may disagree). You can use a combination of ground beef and ground pork, or just ground beef or just ground pork. I have also used ground turkey and ground chicken before. If you choose leaner meat, the texture won’t be as tender, but it’s still acceptable
2. Potato
I use Russet potatoes. Gold Yukon is a good one too. Try not to use waxy-type of potatoes. They aren’t good for potato hash
3. Onion
I use purple onion, you can use yellow or white onion
4. Garlic
5. Bay leaves
I use Indonesian dried bay leaves (daun salam). You can use any variety you can find
6. Soy sauce
Also known as light soy sauce. The savory taste of this dish mainly comes from here
7. Dark soy sauce
Dark soy sauce is not as salty compare to soy sauce. It contributes to the dark color and usually thicker and slightly sweet
8. Worcestershire sauce
This contributes to the umami and molasses aroma to the dish
9. Cumin powder
10. Dark brown sugar
I love dark brown sugar in this dish as it gives a deeper molasses aroma,but you can use light brown sugar
11. Ground white pepper
Most Asian cooking use ground white pepper, which is a bit stronger and “spicier” (according to my kids)
How to cook Macanese minchi
1. Cook the potatoes (I used air fryer instead of deep frying)
Peel the potato and cut into about 1/2 inch cubes. Pat them dry. If you use air fryer, coat the potatoes with a bit of oil and then air fry at 400 F (200 C) for 10 minutes, then take them out and give it a little shake and then cook again for another 10 minutes until golden brown and cooked through. The time is just a reference. Your air fryer may cook it faster or need a longer time
2. Preheat a large wok or skillet. When it’s hot, add 2 Tbsp of oil. Add onion and garlic and stir fry until fragrant, about 3 minutes
3. Add bay leaves and ground meat.
4. Use the spatula to break any lumps on the meat
5. Stir fry until the meat started to turn color and no longer pink. Add the seasonings and cumin powder and stir to mix everything. Cook for another 2 minutes or so. Have a taste and adjust to your preference. It should be savory with just a hint of molasses (from the dark brown sugar and Worcestershire or molasses if you use it).
6. Turn off the heat and add the fried potato. Stir to mix everything evenly
7. Garnish with chopped green onion
Easy peasy and you have yourself a delicious meal. If you want to go further, top with a fried egg! crispy edge with a runny yolk will do it for me 🙂
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Easy Macanese Minchi/Minchee (Minced Meat Potato Hash)
Ingredients
- 500 gr potato about 1 large potato
- 2 Tbsp oil
- 300 gr ground beef see notes
- 300 gr ground pork
- 1 small onion diced
- 2 cloves garlic finely minced
Spices and herbs:
- 2 dried bay leaves
- ¼ tsp cumin powder
Seasonings: (just a reference, adjust to your taste)
- 2 Tbsp soy sauce
- 2 Tbsp dark soy sauce
- 1 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tsp dark brown sugar you can use light brown sugar or use molasses
- ¼ tsp ground white pepper
Garnish:
- 1 stalk green onion finely chopped
Serving suggestions:
- cooked rice
- Fried egg
Instructions
Cook the potato (air fryer or deep-frying):
- Peel the potato and cut into about 1/2 inch cubes. Pat them dry. If you use air fryer, coat the potatoes with a bit of oil and then air fry at 400 F (200 C) for 10 minutes, then take them out and give it a little shake and then cook again for another 10 minutes until golden brown and cooked through. The time is just a reference. Your air fryer may cook it faster or need a longer time
- If you choose to deep fry, preheat about 1 inch of oil. When the oil is hot, add the potatoes and fry until they are golden brown and crispy. Remove and place on an absorbent paper towel
Cooking:
- Preheat a large wok or skillet. When it's hot, add 2 Tbsp of oil. Add onion and garlic and stir fry until fragrant, about 3 minutes
- Add bay leaves and ground meat. Use the spatula to break any lumps on the meat. Stir fry until the meat started to turn color and no longer pink. Add the seasonings and cumin powder and stir to mix everything. Cook for another 2 minutes or so. Have a taste and adjust to your preference. It should be savory with just a hint of molasses (from the dark brown sugar and Worcestershire or molasses if you use it). Turn off the heat and add the fried potato and stir to mix evenly
- Garnish with chopped green onion and serve immediately with a rice and fried egg if you like
