braised pork with radish

Braised Pork with Radish: A Step-by-Step Guide

Braised pork with radish is a comforting Chinese dish that tenderizes meat with savory flavors and balances richness with the vegetable’s freshness. Here’s a simple recipe to recreate it at home.

Ingredients: 500g pork belly (cut into 2cm cubes), 1 large white radish (peeled and chunked), 3 tbsp cooking oil, 5 slices ginger, 2 cloves garlic, 1 star anise, 2 tbsp light soy sauce, 1 tbsp dark soy sauce, 1 tbsp sugar, 1 cup water, and a pinch of salt.

Steps:

1. Sear the pork: Heat oil in a pot over medium-high. Add pork and stir-fry until golden brown. Remove excess oil, leaving 1 tbsp.

2. Aromatics: Sauté ginger, garlic, and star anise until fragrant. Return pork to the pot.

3. Season: Stir in soy sauces and sugar, coating the pork evenly. Add water, bring to a boil, then simmer on low for 30 minutes.

4. Add radish: Toss in radish chunks, cover, and simmer for another 20–25 minutes until radish is soft and pork is melt-in-your-mouth tender.

5. Thicken (optional): If desired, simmer uncovered for 5 minutes to reduce the sauce. Adjust salt to taste.

Serve hot with steamed rice. The radish soaks up the broth, making it a perfect complement to the succulent pork. Enjoy this hearty, flavorful meal!