Luscious Taiwanese Braised Pork Belly Recipe

Craving a dish that is both incredibly flavourful and melt-in-your-mouth tender? Look no further than this Braised Pork Belly on Rice recipe! Perfect for a comforting weeknight dinner or a weekend treat, this recipe is guaranteed to satisfy.

This recipe creates a decadent braised pork belly dish that is sure to impress. The star of the show is the pork belly, cooked to crispy perfection before being slow-braised in a fragrant symphony of soy sauce, spices, and sugar. The result? Tender, succulent pork belly bathed in a rich, flavourful sauce.

Estimated time

2 hours

Ingredients

(serves 3–4) Ingredients of Taiwanese Braised Pork Belly

800g Pork Belly

1 tbsp Sichuan Peppercorn

3 Star Anise

2 Slices Ginger

30g Garlic

1 Cinnamon Stick

200g Soy Sauce

3 tbsp Sugar

Boiled Eggs (optional, to your preference)

Cooking Steps

Heat pan without oil and pan fry skin side until golden brown

Remove pork belly and cut it into bite sized pieces

1. Start by getting that irresistible pork belly skin! Heat a pan without oil and pan-fry the skin side first until golden brown. Flip and cook on all sides until crispy. Remove the pork belly and cut it into bite-sized pieces.

Keep pork belly oil in pan and use it to fry ginger garlic until fragrant

2. Keep the pork belly oil in the pan, and use it to fry the ginger and garlic until fragrant. Reserve the fried ginger and garlic. In a separate pot, roast the Sichuan peppercorn and star anise until aromatic. Add soy sauce and 1 tablespoon sugar, and then add the reserved fried ginger and garlic back to the pot. Set aside.

Cook over low heat until sugar turns light caramel colour

Toss pork belly in caramel sauce to coat them evenly

3. In a clean pan, add 2 tablespoons of sugar and a little water. Cook over low heat until the sugar turns a light brown caramel colour. Toss the pork belly pieces in the caramel sauce to coat them evenly.

Combine pork belly with spiced soy sauce mixture

4. Combine the coated pork belly with the spiced soy sauce mixture from step 2. Add the cinnamon stick and enough water to cover the pork belly. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for 1–1.5 hours.

5. Overnight Bliss (optional): For an extra layer of flavour, add boiled eggs to the pot after simmering. Once boiling again, turn off the heat and let it sit overnight.
Serve the pork belly over steamed rice with the braised sauce. Enjoy!

FAQ for Luscious Taiwanese Braised Pork Belly

Q1: Can I serve the dish in one day?

A: Absolutely! Simply skip step 5 and enjoy your braised pork belly right away.

Q2: Can I use chicken, beef, and other red meats to replace pork?

A: Definitely! We recommend using chicken wings or braised beef for the pork belly, and you may adjust the cooking time accordingly.

Related article: Traditional Pasta Carbonara Recipe

Q3: I think the pork belly skin is too fatty and unhealthy. Can I cook it without the skin?

A: Absolutely! You can customise this recipe to fit your health preferences. Here are two options for dealing with the pork belly skin:

Skip the skin entirely: This is a great option if you're looking for a leaner dish. However, the meat texture might be slightly less tender, and the overall dish will have less collagen, which contributes to a richer mouthfeel. To prevent the meat from drying out, be mindful of adjusting the cooking heat and time slightly.
Extract collagen from the skin (optional): This method allows you to benefit from some of the collagen in the skin while keeping the dish a bit lighter. Simply pan-fry the pork belly without the skin at the beginning. Then, when you simmer the pork belly in the spiced soy sauce mixture, you can add the skin to the pot. Let it simmer to extract some of the collagen from the skin. Finally, remove and discard the skin before serving.

Q4: Which plates and bowls are best for serving Luscious Taiwanese Braised Pork Belly?

A: We have got a perfect selection to plate up your delicious Taiwanese Braised Pork Belly. Here are a few ideas to match your style:

Spot On Style: The Polka Dot Porcelain Rice Bowl offers a charming and stylish way to serve your braised pork belly. The polka dot design adds a pop of personality to your table setting.
Classic Elegance: For a timeless presentation, consider the Sendan Mino Ware Ceramic Dinner Plate. This plate's smooth surface and neutral tones will beautifully showcase the rich colours and textures of your braised pork belly.
Modern Flair: Add a touch of contemporary style with the Arabesque Ceramic Dinner Plate. The intricate geometric patterns will create a visually striking backdrop for your dish.
Scandinavian Simplicity: Embrace a minimalist aesthetic with the Hemp Leaf Rice Bowl. This eco-friendly bowl features a subtle hemp leaf design, perfectly complementing the clean lines and natural textures associated with Scandinavian style. The bowl's size also offers a functional way to portion your braised pork belly.

Polka Dot Porcelain Rice Bowl - Black (16cm)

Sendan Mino Ware Ceramic Dinner Plate - green

This Braised Pork Belly on Rice is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser. With its melt-in-your-mouth pork and flavourful sauce, it is a recipe you will come back to again and again. So, gather your ingredients, fire up the stove, and get ready to experience comfort food heaven!

Estimated time

Ingredients

Cooking Steps

FAQ for Luscious Taiwanese Braised Pork Belly

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