Secret Recipe Braised Pork Belly — Meltingly Tender and Irresistible
Ingredients
- 500 Pork belly
- 30 Rock sugar
- 20 Shaoxing wine
- 2 Dark soy sauce
- 5 Light soy sauce
- 15 Ginger
- 5 Scallion (white part)
- 2 Star anise
- 4 Bay leaves
- 2 Cinnamon stick
- 5 Cooking oil
- to taste Salt
Instructions
- Wash and prepare all the ingredients.
- Clean the pork belly. Place it skin-side down directly on a dry, unheated pan to singe off any remaining bristles. Toast the skin until it blisters.
- Cut the singed pork in half and place it in a pot. Cover with cold water, add 2 slices of ginger and 10 g Shaoxing wine. Bring to a boil, skim off the scum, and continue boiling for 2 minutes. Remove the pork, rinse clean with warm water, and cut into 3 cm cubes. Slice the ginger, cut the scallion into segments, and wipe the whole spices clean.
- Heat a wok over medium-low heat, add the cooking oil and rock sugar. Melt the sugar over low heat — keep it low! — until it turns a deep amber-red and small bubbles appear, then quickly add the pork. (Caution: caramel changes fast; do not overcook or it will turn bitter.)
- With the pork in the wok over medium-low heat, toss quickly to coat in the caramel. Add the Shaoxing wine and stir for 30 seconds. Add the whole spices (star anise, cinnamon, bay leaves) and scallion-ginger, stir 30 seconds. Add dark and light soy sauces, stir 30 seconds. Pour in enough boiling water to just cover the meat. Bring to a boil over medium heat, then cover, reduce to low, and braise for 30 minutes (cast-iron pot) or 50 minutes (regular pot). Open and stir every 10 minutes to prevent sticking.
- When the liquid has reduced to about one-third, switch to medium heat to reduce the sauce. The rock sugar will make it increasingly glossy and thick — stir constantly to avoid burning. While reducing, fish out the whole spices and ginger slices.
- When the sauce has reduced to a rich glaze, taste and add a pinch of salt to your liking. Stir well, turn off the heat, cover, and let it rest for 5 minutes.
- Uncover, garnish with toasted sesame seeds and sliced scallion greens if desired, and serve.
- A show-stopping dish this gorgeous deserves a special occasion — treat yourself and your loved ones!
