Korean Honey-Sauced Pork Belly
Korean Honey-Sauced Pork Belly
Ingredients
For the Pork Belly
- 1 1/2 pounds pork belly, skin on or off, cut into 1/2-inch thick slices or 1-inch cubes
For the Honey Gochujang Sauce
- 1/4 cup soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 tablespoon gochujang, (Korean chili paste, adjust to taste)
- 1 tablespoon mirin, (sweet rice wine)
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- 4 garlic, cloves, minced
- 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, grated
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar, packed (optional, for extra sweetness)
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, freshly ground
For Cooking and Garnish
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil, or other neutral oil
- 1 teaspoon toasted sesame seeds, for garnish
- 2 tablespoons green onions, sliced, for garnish
Instructions
- 1
Pat the pork belly slices or cubes dry with paper towels. This helps achieve a crispier texture when cooked.
⏱️ 2 min
- 2
In a medium bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, honey, gochujang, mirin, sesame oil, minced garlic, grated fresh ginger, brown sugar (if using), and black pepper to create the honey gochujang sauce.
⏱️ 3 min
- 3
Place the pork belly in a bowl or a resealable bag. Pour about half of the prepared sauce over the pork, ensuring each piece is well coated. Reserve the remaining half of the sauce for later. Marinate for at least 15 minutes at room temperature, or up to 2 hours in the refrigerator for deeper flavor.
⏱️ 15 min
- 4
Heat 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Once hot, add the marinated pork belly in a single layer, working in batches if necessary to avoid overcrowding the pan. Cook for 8-10 minutes, flipping occasionally, until the pork is golden brown and crispy on all sides.
⏱️ 10 min
- 5
Once the pork belly is crispy, carefully drain off any excess rendered fat from the skillet. This step is crucial for a less greasy dish and better sauce adherence.
⏱️ 1 min
- 6
Pour the reserved half of the honey gochujang sauce over the cooked pork belly in the skillet. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer, stirring constantly, for 3-5 minutes, or until the sauce thickens and beautifully coats the pork belly pieces.
⏱️ 5 min
- 7
Transfer the Korean honey-sauced pork belly to a serving platter. Garnish generously with toasted sesame seeds and sliced green onions. Serve immediately.
⏱️ 2 min
Kitchen Tools
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
Korean Honey-Sauced Pork Belly
Ingredients
For the Pork Belly
- 1 1/2 pounds pork belly, skin on or off, cut into 1/2-inch thick slices or 1-inch cubes
For the Honey Gochujang Sauce
- 1/4 cup soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 tablespoon gochujang, (Korean chili paste, adjust to taste)
- 1 tablespoon mirin, (sweet rice wine)
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- 4 garlic, cloves, minced
- 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, grated
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar, packed (optional, for extra sweetness)
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, freshly ground
For Cooking and Garnish
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil, or other neutral oil
- 1 teaspoon toasted sesame seeds, for garnish
- 2 tablespoons green onions, sliced, for garnish
Instructions
- 1
Pat the pork belly slices or cubes dry with paper towels. This helps achieve a crispier texture when cooked.
⏱️ 2 min - 2
In a medium bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, honey, gochujang, mirin, sesame oil, minced garlic, grated fresh ginger, brown sugar (if using), and black pepper to create the honey gochujang sauce.
⏱️ 3 min - 3
Place the pork belly in a bowl or a resealable bag. Pour about half of the prepared sauce over the pork, ensuring each piece is well coated. Reserve the remaining half of the sauce for later. Marinate for at least 15 minutes at room temperature, or up to 2 hours in the refrigerator for deeper flavor.
⏱️ 15 min - 4
Heat 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Once hot, add the marinated pork belly in a single layer, working in batches if necessary to avoid overcrowding the pan. Cook for 8-10 minutes, flipping occasionally, until the pork is golden brown and crispy on all sides.
⏱️ 10 min - 5
Once the pork belly is crispy, carefully drain off any excess rendered fat from the skillet. This step is crucial for a less greasy dish and better sauce adherence.
⏱️ 1 min - 6
Pour the reserved half of the honey gochujang sauce over the cooked pork belly in the skillet. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer, stirring constantly, for 3-5 minutes, or until the sauce thickens and beautifully coats the pork belly pieces.
⏱️ 5 min - 7
Transfer the Korean honey-sauced pork belly to a serving platter. Garnish generously with toasted sesame seeds and sliced green onions. Serve immediately.
⏱️ 2 min