Old-Fashioned Braised Pork Belly

Old-Fashioned Braised Pork Belly 【Ingredients】 ・Pork belly, appropriate amount ・Garlic, appropriate amount ・Shallots, appropriate amount ・Ginger slices, appropriate amount ・Soy sauce, appropriate amount ・Rice wine, appropriate amount ・Rock sugar, appropriate amount ・Star anise, appropriate amount ・Water, appropriate amount 【Instructions】 1️⃣ Prepare the Pork Belly Cut the pork belly into bite-sized pieces, blanch them in a pot to remove blood and impurities, then rinse and clean. This step helps to make the braising liquid cleaner and prevents any unwanted flavors in the finished dish. 2️⃣ Sear the Pork Add a little oil to a pot, add the pork belly, and slowly stir-fry over low heat to render out the fat. Once the surface is lightly golden and fragrant, add garlic, ginger slices, and shallots, and stir-fry until aromatic. 3️⃣ Add rock sugar and slowly caramelize over low heat until it melts, coating the meat evenly with the sugar color. Don't use high heat; burnt sugar can become bitter. Patience will result in a more beautiful color. 4️⃣ Add Braising Liquid and Simmer Add soy sauce, rice wine, star anise, and water. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low and simmer slowly. 5️⃣ Reduce the Sauce and Finish Simmer until the pork belly can be easily pierced with chopsticks. Reduce the sauce slightly to your desired consistency. 【Tips】 ✔️ Searing the pork belly first makes it less greasy. Rendering out the excess fat adds aroma and makes it smoother to eat. ✔️ Don't rush the braising process; boiling over high heat then simmering on low is key. Slow simmering tenderizes the meat and allows the flavors to meld. ✔️ The flavors will meld better after the braising liquid cools. If you have time, reheating it the next day will usually result in a richer aroma.