Pig's Trotter with Old Ginger and Vinegar

Post-Natal Diet

Many new mothers, this generation prefer not to practice the 100 days confinement diet whereas there are many who still take this opportunity to sit back and be pampered, following only certain restrictions dictated only by ourselves and no one else. I am one of those products!

In fact, I have my own mom and darling hubby to thank greatly for taking great care of me during this time of deserved pampering. The first thing I did when I found out I was expecting was not to run out to get a cute infant romper but to plan a long list of what I was going to eat for my 1st, 2nd and 3rd trimester! I was that determined when it came to food. Sadly, eventhough I did not have morning sickness throughout my pregnancy, I had no special cravings for food altogether. I ate pretty much of anything except for chicken, just could not imagine the taste. Thank God! sometime during my 2nd trimester everything changed, I just must have char-grilled steaks, huge bowls of oats, Ramly burgers and extra creamy cakes. Boy! did I enjoy those times!

Some new-mothers simply did not enjoy confinement food but as for me I was overjoyed with every single meal served. Food was so, so, so appetising during this period of time. I remember eating so much and so fast. I secretly wish it could have gone on like this forever! Here is a popular 'confinement diet' consumed to nourish the body back to perfect health after delivery.

Pig's Trotter with Old Ginger and Vinegar

1 pig's trotter (front trotters preferred)

1 kg old ginger, washed and smashed with skin on

8 hard boiled eggs

5 Tbsp sesame oil

600 ml black vinegar

300 ml sweet vinegar or 200 gm brown sugar

500 ml filtered water

1. Have the butcher clean and chop the trotter into big pieces.
2. Blanche the trotter in a pot of boiling water for 10 minutes. Drained.
3. Heat sesame oil in a wok and fry ginger till golden brown and fragrant.
4. Put in the trotter in the wok and brown the pieces slightly. Take the trotter pieces out and set aside in a plate.
5. Transfer ginger, sesame oil into a claypot. Pour in the black vinegar and the sweet vinegar. If no sweet vinegar, brown sugar will do. (you may vary with the vinegars or sugar, as per your own taste).
6. Bring to boil and gradually add the filtered water. Simmer the ginger for 30 minutes and add in the trotter pieces. Continue to simmer for 40 minutes to 1 hour. Make sure trotter still springy and not all soft. Take out all the trotter pieces, cool and refrigerate overnight in a glass bowl covered in a cling wrap. (Do not use plastic bowl. Plastic and vinegar don't get on very well)
7. Put the shelled hard boiled eggs into the vinegar gravy and cover. Let it sit overnight in room temperature.
8. Next morning, add trotter pieces into the vinegar gravy and simmer for 20 minutes. Serve with steamy hot rice.

Black vinegar - purifies blood and cleanses the arteries of stale blood.
Old ginger - gets rid of wind in the body.
Brown sugar - rids dampness in the body.
Sesame oil - promotes blood circulation.
Collagen in the pig trotters - to strenghen joints and ligaments.
Eggs - to nourish the body.