Japanese Chinese Fusion Sticky Braised Pork Belly - by Stacey

Pork belly is a great and cheap cut of meat that is perfect for slow cooking because of the fat content. 

This is an awesome party food as it can be cooked in advanced and just heated up. 

I've sort of adjusted this recipe from eating it in Japan and the many many delicious Chinese versions I've tried on the net. 

So I'm calling it Japanese Chinese fusion Sticky Braised Pork Belly

Ingredients; 

Stock;

1 kilo pork belly cut into cubes

1 tbls oil

2 tbls brown sugar

2 ~ 3 cups of water 

1/2 cup soy sauce

2 tbls sake or Asian cooking wine

1 pkt dried dashi or (1 pkt dried bonito flakes) - both now sold in the supermarket or Asian markets

1 tsp minced garlic 

2 tsp minced ginger 

1/2 tsp white pepper

1/2 tsp clove powder

Dried Bonito Flakes

Dried Dashi Powder Japanese Stock powder

Braising Sauce;

1 cup above stock 

2 tbls soy sauce

2 tbls mirin 

2 tbls brown sugar

1 tsp chinese 5 spice

Method;

1. Brown the meat in a little oil - then add the sugar and caramelise lightly.

2. Add the garlic and ginger and toss through for a few seconds you don't want it to burn or colour just cook off the rawness.

3. Add the water, soy, sake, dashi stock powder, pepper and clove powder - bring to the boil then turn down really low and add a piece of baking paper cut into a circle (as shown) this is called a cartouche and what it does is control the escape of moisture its actually a French technique perfect for slow cooking. You can also weigh this down with a plate and you will put the lid on as well. 

Bring to the boil with the stock

Baking paper cartouche to hold in moisture

4. Cook at a light simmer for an hour and half or until the meat is really tender and would melt in your mouth. Let the meat cool and discard all but 1 cup of stock - you could use this left over stock for other things like soup bases or casserole etc. 

5. Add all ingredients to a pan and simmer for 20 minutes until the sauce is reduced and the meat is darker. 

I served with steamed greens with some of the braised pork sauce and sweet potato mash 

Give it a go even if some of the ingredients are unfamiliar to you its quite easy just to throw this all together and its just delicious melt in your mouth sticky yumminess!