cola braised pork

Coca-Cola Braised Pork Belly: A Sweet and Savory Masterpiece

Coca-Cola braised pork belly, a beloved Asian twist on traditional braised dishes, combines the richness of pork with the caramel sweetness of cola, creating a tender, glossy masterpiece. Here’s a simple yet delicious recipe to recreate it at home.

Ingredients:

500g pork belly (cut into 2cm cubes), 1 can (330ml) Coca-Cola, 3-4 tbsp soy sauce, 2 tbsp dark soy sauce, 1 tbsp cooking wine, 1 star anise, 1 cinnamon stick, 3 slices ginger, 2 cloves garlic, and 1 tbsp sugar (optional).

Steps:

1. Prepare the pork: Blanch cubed pork in boiling water for 3 minutes to remove impurities. Rinse and set aside.

2. Sauté aromatics: Heat oil in a pot over medium heat. Stir-fry ginger, garlic, and star anise until fragrant.

3. Brown the pork: Add pork cubes and cook until lightly golden on all sides.

4. Simmer with cola: Pour in Coca-Cola, soy sauces, cooking wine, and sugar (if using). Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low.

5. Braise gently: Cover and simmer for 1.5–2 hours, or until pork is fork-tender, occasionally spooning the sauce over the meat.

6. Thicken the sauce: Uncover and increase heat slightly. Cook for 5–10 minutes until the sauce thickens into a glossy glaze.

Serve hot with steamed rice. The cola’s caramelization balances the soy sauce’s saltiness, making the pork melt-in-your-mouth delicious. A crowd-pleaser that’s easy to master!