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Classic Braised Pork Belly with Meigan Cai

Braised Pork Belly with Meigan Cai is a comforting, savory dish where tender pork belly is slowly braised in a flavorful broth with meigan cai, soy sauce, and Shaoxing wine. It's a delicious dish that pairs perfectly with steamed rice.
Course Main Course
Cuisine Chinese
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Soaking Time 16 minutes
Servings 4
Calories 2703kcal

Ingredients

  • 500 g pork belly
  • 200 g meigan cai adjust amount to personal preference
  • 1 stalk green onion about 15g
  • 1 piece ginger about 10g
  • 3-4 dried chili peppers optional; add more if you like it spicy
  • 20 ml Shaoxing wine
  • 1 tbsp light soy sauce
  • 1 tsp dark soy sauce
  • 15-20 g rock sugar adjust sweetness to taste
  • 1/2 tsp salt adjust as needed
  • 1/2 tsp chicken bouillon optional
  • 10 g chopped green onion for garnish

Instructions

Prepare the Ingredients

  • Soak the meigan cai in warm water for 20-30 minutes to rehydrate. After rehydrating, rinse it 2-3 times with clean water to remove any impurities and salt, then squeeze out excess water and set aside.
  • Clean the pork belly thoroughly. Add it to a pot of cold water along with the green onion, ginger slices, and 10ml of Shaoxing wine. Turn the heat to medium and cook for 30 minutes. This step helps remove blood and impurities, reducing the pork's gamey smell. Once done, the pork should be soft enough to easily pierce with chopsticks. Remove it from the pot, drain off the water, and let it cool slightly before slicing it into 0.5 cm thick pieces.

Stir-fry the Pork Belly

  • Heat a pan and add 1 tbsp of cooking oil. Once the oil is hot, add the sliced pork belly. Stir-fry on low heat, making sure to constantly flip the pork slices so they cook evenly. As you fry the pork, it will begin to release fat. This should take about 5-8 minutes until the pork slices are slightly golden and have an appetizing color.
  • Once enough fat is rendered, add the chopped green onion, ginger, and dried chili peppers. Stir-fry to release the fragrance. Then pour in 10ml of Shaoxing wine to remove any gamey smell and add aroma. Follow with 15ml of light soy sauce, 10ml of dark soy sauce, and 15g of rock sugar. Stir well to coat the pork with the sauce and allow it to absorb the color.

Simmer and Infuse Flavors

  • Pour in enough boiling water to cover the pork slices. Make sure the water is boiling, as this helps tenderize the meat. Stir well and bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce to a simmer on low heat. Cover and simmer for 30 minutes, allowing the pork to absorb the flavors of the broth and become tender.
  • After 30 minutes, add the rehydrated meigan cai and stir to distribute evenly. Season with 1/2 tsp salt, and if desired, add 1/2 tsp of chicken bouillon for extra flavor. Stir again and continue to simmer on low heat for another 10 minutes, allowing the meigan cai and pork belly to blend together in flavor.
  • Note: You can taste the dish before adding the seasonings.

Final Steps and Serving

  • After 10 minutes, remove the lid and check the thickness of the broth. If the broth is too watery, turn the heat to high to reduce it slightly, but don't reduce it too much. Leave a bit of sauce for mixing with rice, as it will be delicious.
  • Once the sauce reaches the desired thickness, turn off the heat. Sprinkle with chopped green onion for garnish and transfer the braised pork belly with meigan cai to a serving dish.

Nutrition

Calories: 2703kcal | Carbohydrates: 21g | Protein: 49g | Fat: 265g | Saturated Fat: 97g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 28g | Monounsaturated Fat: 124g | Cholesterol: 360mg | Sodium: 2344mg | Potassium: 1087mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 17g | Vitamin A: 667IU | Vitamin C: 6mg | Calcium: 48mg | Iron: 4mg