Braised Pork Belly Bao

  0.0 – 0 reviews  • Chinese Recipes
Level: Intermediate
Total: 2 hr 45 min
Prep: 20 min
Inactive: 15 min
Cook: 2 hr 10 min
Yield: 4 to 6 servings
Level: Intermediate
Total: 2 hr 45 min
Prep: 20 min
Inactive: 15 min
Cook: 2 hr 10 min
Yield: 4 to 6 servings

Ingredients

  1. 1 1/2 pounds fresh pork belly, with skin
  2. 1 tablespoon peanut oil
  3. 1 tablespoon dark soy sauce
  4. 1/2 cup vegetable stock
  5. 4 tablespoons light soy sauce
  6. 1 heaping tablespoon brown sugar
  7. 1 tablespoon Shaohsing rice wine
  8. 1 tablespoon peanut oil
  9. 1-inch fresh ginger, peeled and grated
  10. 1 tablespoon Sichuan peppercorns
  11. 2 star anise
  12. 1 tablespoon cornstarch blended with 2 tablespoons water (cornstarch slurry)
  13. 1 cup salted peanuts, ground or chopped
  14. 2 heaping tablespoons brown sugar
  15. 10 to12 Chinese bao buns or small plain burger buns
  16. Quick Cucumber and Shallot Pickle, recipe follows
  17. 2 scallions, cut into 2-inch pieces, then julienned
  18. 4 sprigs fresh cilantro, chopped
  19. 1 hothouse or English cucumber, thinly sliced
  20. 1 large shallot, peeled and thinly sliced
  21. 1/4 cup mirin
  22. 1/4 cup rice vinegar
  23. 1 tablespoon sugar

Instructions

  1. For the pork belly: Bring a Dutch oven or heavy-bottomed pot of water to a boil. Add the pork belly and simmer for 30 minutes. Remove from the pot, rinse under cold water and then dry with some paper towels. Slice the pork into 3 even pieces and set aside.
  2. Heat a wok over high heat and add the peanut oil. When the oil begins to smoke, add the pork pieces and stir-fry for about 1 minute per side to brown. When the pork is browned, add the dark soy and stir-fry for another 2 minutes. Transfer the pork to a plate that will fit inside a large bamboo steamer with at least a 1-inch margin between the plate and the steamer.
  3. For the sauce: In a small bowl or measuring cup, stir to combine the vegetable stock, light soy sauce, brown sugar and rice wine; set aside. Reheat the wok and add the peanut oil. When the oil is hot, add the ginger, Sichuan peppercorns and star anise and then stir-fry for a few seconds. Add in the sauce and bring to a boil. Remove from the heat and pour the sauce over the pork.
  4. Place the plate of pork into a steamer over a wok or pot filled halfway with water and bring to a boil. Steam the pork over medium heat until the pork is tender, 1 hour to 1 1/2 hours. Check the pot occasionally to be sure that the water hasn’t completely evaporated.
  5. Remove the pork from the steamer and transfer all of the juices from the pork into a small wok or pan. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat and stir in the cornstarch slurry. Cook for 1 to 2 minutes to thicken the sauce.
  6. In a mortar and pestle, crush the peanuts, or finely chop them with your knife. Combine the peanuts and brown sugar; set aside until ready to serve.
  7. Slice the pork belly. Fill each bao bun with a slice of pork and a few tablespoons of the thickened pork sauce, garnish with the sweetened peanut crumble, Quick Cucumber and Shallot Pickle, scallions and fresh cilantro.
  8. Put the cucumbers and shallots in a medium bowl.
  9. In a small saucepan, add the mirin, rice vinegar and sugar. Bring to a simmer over medium heat and stir until the sugar dissolves. Remove from the heat and let cool. Pour the vinegar mixture over the vegetables and let marinate for 15 minutes or longer before serving.

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size 1 of 6 servings
Calories 1046
Total Fat 80 g
Saturated Fat 25 g
Carbohydrates 55 g
Dietary Fiber 5 g
Sugar 14 g
Protein 26 g
Cholesterol 82 mg
Sodium 983 mg
Serving Size 1 of 6 servings
Calories 1046
Total Fat 80 g
Saturated Fat 25 g
Carbohydrates 55 g
Dietary Fiber 5 g
Sugar 14 g
Protein 26 g
Cholesterol 82 mg
Sodium 983 mg

 

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