Sticky Honey Garlic Pork Belly That Melts in Your Mouth
Sticky Honey Garlic Pork Belly That Melts in Your Mouth
Ingredients
For the Pork Belly
- 1 1/2 pounds pork belly, sliced into 1-inch thick pieces
- 2 tablespoons neutral oil
For the Honey Garlic Sauce
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic, (about 3 cloves)
- 1 teaspoon ginger paste
- 1/2 cup soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon dark soy sauce
- 1/4 cup rice vinegar
- 1/4 cup honey
- 1 cup water
For the Cornstarch Slurry
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 2 tablespoons water
For Garnish
- as needed sesame seeds
- as needed green onions, chopped
Instructions
- 1
Slice the pork belly into 1-inch thick pieces. This ensures even cooking and a good surface area for searing.
⏱️ 5 min
- 2
Heat the neutral oil in a large pan or Dutch oven over medium-high heat until shimmering.
⏱️ 2 min
- 3
Add the sliced pork belly to the hot pan and sear until all sides are golden brown and crispy. This step is crucial for rendering out some fat and building flavor. You may need to do this in batches to avoid overcrowding the pan.
⏱️ 10 min
- 4
Remove the seared pork belly from the pan and set it aside on a plate. Carefully pour out any excess rendered fat, leaving about 1 tablespoon in the pan.
⏱️ 3 min
- 5
In the same pan, add the minced garlic and ginger paste. Sauté for 1 minute until fragrant, being careful not to burn the garlic.
⏱️ 1 min
- 6
Pour in the soy sauce, dark soy sauce, rice vinegar, honey, and 1 cup of water. Stir well to combine all the ingredients.
⏱️ 2 min
- 7
Bring the sauce to a gentle simmer, stirring occasionally.
⏱️ 3 min
- 8
Return the seared pork belly pieces to the simmering sauce, ensuring they are mostly submerged.
⏱️ 1 min
- 9
Cover the pan with a lid and reduce the heat to low. Let the pork belly simmer for 1 hour. This braising process will make the pork belly incredibly tender and melt-in-your-mouth.
⏱️ 60 min
- 10
After 1 hour, remove the lid. The sauce should have reduced significantly and thickened slightly.
⏱️ 1 min
- 11
In a small bowl, whisk together the cornstarch and 2 tablespoons of water to create a smooth cornstarch slurry.
⏱️ 1 min
- 12
Pour the cornstarch slurry into the simmering sauce while stirring continuously. Continue to stir until the sauce thickens to a glossy, sticky consistency. This should take about 2-3 minutes.
⏱️ 3 min
- 13
Transfer the sticky honey garlic pork belly and sauce to a serving plate or bowl.
⏱️ 1 min
- 14
Garnish generously with a sprinkle of sesame seeds and chopped green onions.
⏱️ 1 min
- 15
Serve hot and enjoy this rich, tender, and flavorful dish!
Kitchen Tools
Sticky Honey Garlic Pork Belly That Melts in Your Mouth
For the Pork Belly
- 1 1/2 pounds pork belly, sliced into 1-inch thick pieces
- 2 tablespoons neutral oil
For the Honey Garlic Sauce
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic, (about 3 cloves)
- 1 teaspoon ginger paste
- 1/2 cup soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon dark soy sauce
- 1/4 cup rice vinegar
- 1/4 cup honey
- 1 cup water
For the Cornstarch Slurry
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 2 tablespoons water
For Garnish
- as needed sesame seeds
- as needed green onions, chopped
Instructions
- 1
Slice the pork belly into 1-inch thick pieces. This ensures even cooking and a good surface area for searing.
⏱️ 5 min - 2
Heat the neutral oil in a large pan or Dutch oven over medium-high heat until shimmering.
⏱️ 2 min - 3
Add the sliced pork belly to the hot pan and sear until all sides are golden brown and crispy. This step is crucial for rendering out some fat and building flavor. You may need to do this in batches to avoid overcrowding the pan.
⏱️ 10 min - 4
Remove the seared pork belly from the pan and set it aside on a plate. Carefully pour out any excess rendered fat, leaving about 1 tablespoon in the pan.
⏱️ 3 min - 5
In the same pan, add the minced garlic and ginger paste. Sauté for 1 minute until fragrant, being careful not to burn the garlic.
⏱️ 1 min - 6
Pour in the soy sauce, dark soy sauce, rice vinegar, honey, and 1 cup of water. Stir well to combine all the ingredients.
⏱️ 2 min - 7
Bring the sauce to a gentle simmer, stirring occasionally.
⏱️ 3 min - 8
Return the seared pork belly pieces to the simmering sauce, ensuring they are mostly submerged.
⏱️ 1 min - 9
Cover the pan with a lid and reduce the heat to low. Let the pork belly simmer for 1 hour. This braising process will make the pork belly incredibly tender and melt-in-your-mouth.
⏱️ 60 min - 10
After 1 hour, remove the lid. The sauce should have reduced significantly and thickened slightly.
⏱️ 1 min - 11
In a small bowl, whisk together the cornstarch and 2 tablespoons of water to create a smooth cornstarch slurry.
⏱️ 1 min - 12
Pour the cornstarch slurry into the simmering sauce while stirring continuously. Continue to stir until the sauce thickens to a glossy, sticky consistency. This should take about 2-3 minutes.
⏱️ 3 min - 13
Transfer the sticky honey garlic pork belly and sauce to a serving plate or bowl.
⏱️ 1 min - 14
Garnish generously with a sprinkle of sesame seeds and chopped green onions.
⏱️ 1 min - 15
Serve hot and enjoy this rich, tender, and flavorful dish!