pork belly stewed with beans

How to Make Braised Pork Belly with Green Beans

Braised pork belly with green beans is a comforting, flavorful dish that balances rich, tender meat with crisp-tender beans. Here’s a simple yet delicious recipe to master it.

Ingredients:

500g pork belly, cut into 1-inch cubes; 400g green beans, trimmed and snapped into 2-inch pieces; 3 garlic cloves, minced; 1 tbsp ginger, grated; 2 tbsp soy sauce; 1 tbsp light soy sauce; 1 tbsp sugar; 1 tbsp Shaoxing wine; 4 cups water or broth; 2 tbsp cooking oil; 1 star anise (optional).

Steps:

1. Prepare the pork: Boil pork cubes in boiling water for 3 minutes to remove scum. Drain and rinse.

2. Sear the pork: Heat oil in a pot over medium heat. Add pork belly and sear until golden brown (5-7 minutes). Add garlic, ginger, and star anise, stirring until fragrant.

3. Simmer the pork: Pour in Shaoxing wine, soy sauces, and sugar. Stir, then add water. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 30 minutes until pork is tender.

4. Add green beans: Toss in green beans, stir, and simmer uncovered for 10–15 minutes until beans are crisp-tender and the sauce thickens slightly.

5. Serve: Adjust seasoning if needed. Garnish with sesame seeds or chopped scallions. Enjoy hot with steamed rice!

Tips: For extra flavor, blanch beans in salted water before adding. Control saltiness using light soy sauce sparingly. This dish tastes even better the next day as the flavors meld!