Eleven-Spice Braised Pork Belly with Star Anise

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-05-02 · Updated 2026-05-02

Tender pork belly slowly braised with an aromatic eleven-spice blend, enhanced by star anise for a fragrant depth. This Chinese-inspired New Year's recipe, ready in about 135 minutes, pairs pork belly, soy sauce, dark soy sauce for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 480 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Ingredients

• 1 lb (450g) pork belly
• 3 tbsp soy sauce
• 1 tbsp dark soy sauce
• 2 tbsp Shaoxing wine
• 1 tbsp brown sugar
• 2 cups water
• 2 whole star anise
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 1 tsp Sichuan peppercorns
• 3 whole cloves
• 1 tsp fennel seeds
• 1 inch piece, thinly sliced ginger
• 4, smashed garlic cloves
• 2, chopped green onions

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Instructions

1. Step 1: Cut 1 lb pork belly into 2-inch cubes and blanch in boiling water for 5 minutes to remove impurities, then drain and set aside.
2. Step 2: In a heavy pot, combine 3 tbsp soy sauce, 1 tbsp dark soy sauce, 2 tbsp Shaoxing wine, 1 tbsp brown sugar, 2 cups water, 2 whole star anise, 1 cinnamon stick, 1 tsp Sichuan peppercorns, 3 cloves, 1 tsp fennel seeds, 1 inch thinly sliced ginger, and 4 smashed garlic cloves. Bring to a simmer over medium heat.
3. Step 3: Add the pork belly cubes to the pot and cover with a lid, then reduce heat to low and braise gently for 1.5 to 2 hours, stirring occasionally until the pork is tender and the sauce has thickened and coats the meat.
4. Step 4: Garnish with 2 chopped green onions before serving over steamed rice or noodles.