delicious braised pork recipes

How to Make Delicious Braised Pork Belly: A Complete Guide

Braised pork belly, a beloved Chinese dish, is prized for its tender meat, glossy sauce, and perfect balance of sweet and savory flavors. Here’s a step-by-step guide to mastering this classic recipe.

Ingredients: 500g pork belly (cut into 2cm cubes), 3 tablespoons soy sauce, 2 tablespoons dark soy sauce, 1 tablespoon sugar, 1 tablespoon Shaoxing wine, 1 sliced ginger, 2 cloves minced garlic, 1 star anise, 500ml water, and scallions for garnish.

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 wok, stir-fry ginger, garlic, and star anise until fragrant.

3. Brown the pork: Add pork, cooking until lightly browned. Pour in Shaoxing wine and stir to remove any raw smell.

4. Simmer: Mix in soy sauces, sugar, and water. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer for 1.5 hours, or until pork is fork-tender.

5. Reduce sauce: Uncover, increase heat slightly, and cook for 5–10 minutes until the sauce thickens into a glossy glaze.

6. Serve: Garnish with scallions and enjoy with steamed rice.

Tips: For extra flavor, add a piece of rock sugar during simmering. Adjust sugar or soy sauce to suit your taste. This dish tastes even better reheated the next day!