Finished dish photo of Braised Pork Belly with Bamboo Shoots

Braised Pork Belly with Bamboo Shoots

No need to caramelize sugar. Simple and delicious.

Ingredients

Pork Belly500g
Soy Sauce for BraisingTo taste
Rock Sugar20g
Ginger2 slices
Garlic2 cloves
Scallion1 stalk
Star Anise2 pieces
Cinnamon Stick1 piece
Dried Bamboo ShootsTo taste
Cooking Wine1 tablespoon
Bay Leaves2 leaves

Steps

1

Wash and cut the pork belly into chunks, blanch with scallion, ginger, and cooking wine.

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2

After blanching, rinse the pork belly in hot water and drain. Prepare the spices and soak the dried bamboo shoots in advance.

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3

Pan-fry the pork belly on low heat patiently until both sides are golden brown. If it feels too greasy, you can remove some of the rendered fat. Then add the spices and stir-fry until fragrant.

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4

Add hot water to cover the pork belly, then add soy sauce for braising (or a mix of light and dark soy sauce for coloring) and a little salt. Simmer for 30 minutes.

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5

Add the soaked bamboo shoots and simmer for over 20 minutes. Taste and adjust the seasoning with additional light soy sauce and salt if necessary.

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6

Once the bamboo shoots are tender and the flavor is to your liking, turn up the heat to reduce the sauce. Keep an eye on it to avoid burning, which can result in bitterness.

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7

Done! Serve and enjoy. The pork and bamboo shoots should be tender, with a rich aroma and an enticing color.

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Cooking Tips

Pan-frying the pork belly keeps it from being greasy. Use hot water when braising pork belly. Adding a bit of dried chili and red Sichuan pepper enhances the aroma but can be omitted if preferred. You can substitute dried bamboo shoots with tied knots of tofu skin.