Finished dish photo of Potato Braised Pork Belly - Perfect for Pairing with Rice

Potato Braised Pork Belly - Perfect for Pairing with Rice

Braised pork belly tends to be a bit greasy, so in the past, we often cooked it with ingredients like dried beancurd sticks that absorb oil and broth. Actually, pairing it with potatoes works wonderfully too. The stewed potatoes and pork belly both have a soft and tender texture, enriched with flavorful broth, making it a perfect complement to rice.

Ingredients

Pork bellyAbout 1斤 (500g)
Cooking wine1 tablespoon
Ginger3 slices
Salt1 teaspoon
Potatoes2
Dark soy sauce1 teaspoon
Rock sugar1 handful
Star anise1 piece
Luo Han Guo (monk fruit)1/8 piece
Bay leaves5-10 pieces
Cinnamon stick1 piece
Light soy sauce1 tablespoon
Green garlic2 stalks

Steps

1

Cut the pork belly (with skin) into chunks.

undefined 1
Click to enlarge
2

Put the pork belly into a pot of cold water with ginger slices, cooking wine, and a small amount of salt. Cook until done, then remove. If the chunks feel too large, you can cut them smaller.

undefined 2
Click to enlarge
3

Heat a pan with a little oil, then pan-fry the pork belly chunks until slightly golden on the surface.

undefined 3
Click to enlarge
4

The color looks quite good.

undefined 4
Click to enlarge
5

Peel and cut the potatoes into chunks. Fry some in a pan with a little oil until golden, then set aside.

undefined 5
Click to enlarge
6

This already looks appetizing and makes you want to dig in.

undefined 6
Click to enlarge
7

Heat a pan with oil, and on low heat, caramelize the rock sugar. Add the pan-fried pork belly and stir-fry to coat evenly. Add a small amount of dark soy sauce to enhance the color. (Note: In the photo, the heat wasn’t adjusted properly, causing slight sticking.)

undefined 7
Click to enlarge
8

Add hot water, ginger slices, star anise, Luo Han Guo, bay leaves, light soy sauce, and salt. Bring to a boil on high heat, then simmer on medium heat for half an hour.

undefined 8
Click to enlarge
9

After half an hour, the broth will have reduced and thickened.

undefined 9
Click to enlarge
10

Add the potato chunks and continue to simmer. Here, I used half fried and half unfried potatoes.

undefined 10
Click to enlarge
11

When the broth is nearly dry and the potatoes and pork belly are tender and soft, it’s ready.

undefined 11
Click to enlarge
12

Before serving, add chopped green garlic and stir-fry briefly to enhance flavor and improve the color presentation.

undefined 12
Click to enlarge
13

This is a simple home-style dish. The potatoes, infused with the meat juices, taste even better than the pork, making it perfect for all ages and a great rice pairing.

undefined 13
Click to enlarge

Cooking Tips

1. When caramelizing the sugar, keep the heat low. Once the rock sugar turns light brown, it's ready. Overcooking will make it bitter. If you're unsure, you can skip this step without much impact. Avoid overdoing it to prevent ruining the dish. 2. Usually, potatoes are directly cut and simmered with the pork belly. Since I cut the potatoes into slightly larger chunks, I decided to fry them beforehand for better shape retention and broth absorption. The fried potatoes did have better texture and flavor. If you cut the potatoes into smaller chunks, you can skip the frying step. There is no fixed rule for frying; do as you prefer. 3. The spices and seasonings used in this dish have no strict proportions. A slight variation won't ruin the dish. The key is to adjust them based on your taste preferences.