Description
Sake-Braised Pork Belly Bao Buns are a flavorful delight featuring tender pork belly braised in a savory sauce, served in soft bao buns with fresh toppings.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 pounds pork belly, skin scored
- 1 cup sake
- 1 cup low-sodium soy sauce
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup rice vinegar
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, grated
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 12 bao buns (store-bought or homemade)
- 1/2 cup pickled cucumbers, sliced
- 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
- 1/4 cup green onions, sliced
Instructions
- In a large pot, heat the vegetable oil over medium-high heat. Add the pork belly, skin-side down, and sear until golden brown, about 5-7 minutes. Flip and sear the other side for an additional 5 minutes.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the sake, soy sauce, brown sugar, rice vinegar, garlic, ginger, and sesame oil. Pour the mixture over the seared pork belly.
- Bring the liquid to a boil, then reduce the heat to low. Cover the pot and simmer for 2 to 2.5 hours, or until the pork belly is tender and easily pulls apart with a fork. Occasionally check and stir to ensure it doesn’t stick to the bottom.
- Once cooked, remove the pork belly from the pot and let it rest for 10 minutes. Strain the braising liquid and return it to the pot, simmering until it thickens slightly, about 10 minutes.
- Slice the pork belly into bite-sized pieces. Serve the pork belly in steamed bao buns, topped with pickled cucumbers, cilantro, and green onions. Drizzle with the thickened braising sauce.
Notes
- For a spicier kick, add sliced jalapeños or a drizzle of sriracha to the bao buns.
- You can substitute the pork belly with chicken thighs for a lighter version, adjusting the cooking time to about 1.5 hours.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 2.5 hours
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Braising
- Cuisine: Asian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bao bun with pork belly
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 10g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 30g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 18g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 22g
- Cholesterol: 80mg
Keywords: Sake-Braised Pork Belly Bao Buns, Pork Belly, Bao Buns, Asian Cuisine