braised pork belly

If you like pork meat and love Filipino Adobo, then this recipe is right for you. They look the same but they are actually not. This is more of a Chinese version and this one was adopted from my Braised Beef recipe which you must also try. 
So, what is Braising?  Braising means fry the food lightly and then stew it slowly in a closed container. 
​Easy isn't it? Yes, I sauteed the pork in garlic and onion until meat turns golden then I added the liquid ingredients and seasoning. Simmered until sauce is reduced, add a little bit of cornstarch slurry and that's it! 

Oh and before anything else, please make sure to get a good brand of soy sauce. Based on my experience some soy sauce are way too salty than others. For me, I like using Kikoman brand. The meat absorbs all the flavor in your sauce and you don't want it to be too salty. This meal is great when served with hot steamed rice. So, make the rice while simmering the pork and they will be both ready at the same time. A perfect lunch or dinner for the family. Give this recipe a try and let me know what you think by leaving a comment below. Enjoy.

Braised Pork belly Recipe

Ingredients:

• 2 lbs pork belly, cut into serving size
• 4-5 cloves garlic, chopped
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 4 cups water
• 1/2 cup soy sauce
• 4 tbsp brown sugar
• 3 pieces star anise
• 3 pieces bay leaves
• 1 1/2 tbsp cornstarch dissolved in 1/4 cup water
• salt and pepper to taste
• 1-2 tbsp cooking oil for sauteing
• chopped green onions for garnishing

​video

Procedure:

• In a large pan or wok, heat about  2 tbsp cooking oil. 
• Saute' garlic until fragrant.
• Add onion and cook until onion is translucent.
• Add pork and cook until meat sides turns light brown or golden about 10 minutes.
• Add water, soy sauce, brown sugar, star anise and bay leaves. 
• Cover and cook over low heat for 45 minutes or until the meat is tender and sauce is reduced.
• Stir and add the dissolved cornstarch and cook until the sauce becomes thick.
• Serve over a bowl of hot steamed white rice and garnish with chopped green onions. You can also garnish it with toasted sesame seeds if you like. Enjoy! 

*** Please use a good brand of soy sauce. Some soy sauce are too salty. I  suggest to  use Kikkoman Soy Sauce
***Recipe yields 5-6 servings

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