stew dried beans with pork belly pork

Braised Pork Belly with Dried Beans: A Culinary Guide

Braised pork belly with dried beans is a hearty, comforting dish that balances rich, savory flavors with a chewy, satisfying texture. Here’s a step-by-step guide to crafting this classic meal.

Ingredients:

500g pork belly, cut into 2cm cubes; 200g dried beans, soaked overnight; 3 dried chili peppers; 1 star anise; 1 cinnamon stick; 2 tbsp soy sauce; 1 tbsp dark soy sauce; 1 tbsp cooking wine; 1 tbsp sugar; 3 slices ginger; 2 cloves garlic; cooking oil; water or broth.

Steps:

1. Prep: Soak dried beans until soft; blanch pork belly in boiling water to remove impurities, then rinse.

2. Sear: Heat oil in a pot, sear pork belly until golden brown. Add ginger, garlic, and dried chilies until fragrant.

3. Simmer: Return pork to the pot, add soy sauces, cooking wine, sugar, star anise, and cinnamon. Stir-fry 1 minute.

4. Slow Cook: Add drained beans and enough water to cover. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer for 1.5–2 hours, until pork is tender and beans absorb the broth.

5. Thicken (Optional): Uncover, increase heat slightly to reduce sauce if desired. Serve hot with rice.

Tips: For extra flavor, use homemade dried beans. Adjust spice levels by removing chilies. This dish tastes even better the next day as flavors meld. Enjoy this rustic, flavorful meal that warms the soul!