Chinese Red-braised Pork Belly (Hong Shao Rou)
For a truly delicious red-braised pork belly, don't take short cuts. Parboil the meat and brown in hot oil before braising, and caramelize the sugar to make a good base for the sauce.So, this isn't one of those dishes where you can throw all the ingredients into the pot and leave them to cook? Well, yes, but that's just the last part. Cooking this delicious dish begins by boiling the pork then rinsing it to remove scum. The pork is then lightly browned in a wok or frying pan before the braising begins.The red sauce is prepared separately by melting sugar then mixing it with dark and light soy sauces. The red sauce is poured over the pork and the braising commences. Over low heat, the pork is cooked in the sauce until the meat is tender, and the fat and skin are gelatinous.
Ingredients
- ½ kilogram pork belly, cut into two-inch cubes
- peanut oil
- 3 tablespoons sliced scallions
- 1 two-inch knob ginger, peeled and sliced
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons dark soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons dark soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon rice wine
- ¼ teaspoon five-spice powder
- 1 cup bone broth
- ½ teaspoon toasted sesame seeds
Instructions
- Place the pork in a pot. Cover with water. Boil for five minutes. Drain. Rinse the pork to remove all traces of scum. Drain well.
- Lightly coat the bottom of a heated frying pan with peanut oil. Spread the boiled pork and cook over high heat, turning at intervals, until lightly browned on all sides. Transfer to a clay pot or any thick-bottomed pan.
- Spread the sugar in the frying pan. Melt over medium heat. Pour in the soy sauces and rice wine carefully (the mixture will sizzle initially) and swirl. Add the five-spice powder. Pour in the broth and bring to a gentle boil.
- Pour the sauce into the pot with the pork. Add two tablespoons of scallions and the ginger. Cover the pot tightly and braise over very low heat for an hour or longer until the pork is tender and the sauce is sticky and reduced to a couple of tablespoonfuls.
- Transfer the red-braised pork belly into a serving plate or bowl. Drizzle in whatever sauce is left in the pot. Sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds and the remaining scallions.
Notes
Updated from a recipe originally published in June 8, 2016
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