Pork Patatim (Filipino-Chinese Stewed Pork Leg/Knuckles)

Directions

1. 1
   bake pork pata in oven at 450 until the skin turns brown. this is what prevents the skin from breaking when it is stewing. while the pork pata is baking, soak the shitake mushrooms in hot water.
2. 2
   when done, place pata in a casserole. add the 6 cups of water, soy sauce, hoysin sauce, brown sugar, pepper corns and bring to a boil.
3. 3
   add the star anise (or anise extract) and sesame oil. simmer for an hour, or until pork is tender that the meat almost falls off the bone.
4. 4
   mix constarch in 1/4 cup cold water, and add to the pot. continue to let it simmer until sauce thickens.
5. 5
   blanch the bokchoy in boiling water seasoned with garlic salt. do not overcook the veg to retain its bright green color.
6. 6
   to serve, take out the pata and place them in the middle of a serving dish surrounded by the strained blanched bokchoy. pour the sauce over the pata and vegetables.
7. 7
   enjoy.
8. 8
   ** optional - you can add hard-boiled eggs to the stew towards the end of the simmering process for sumptuous "humba eggs".