Five-Spice Braised Pork Belly with Honey and Star Anise
Tender pork belly slow-braised in a fragrant mixture of Chinese five-spice, star anise, honey, and soy sauce for a rich, glossy finish. This chinese-inspired pork ready in about 115 minutes pairs vegetable oil, inch piece ginger, sliced, garlic cloves, smashed for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 550 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
- 2 lbs pork belly, skin scored and cut into 2-inch pieces
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil
- 2-inch piece ginger, sliced
- 4 cloves garlic cloves, smashed
- 3 whole star anise pods
- 1 1/2 tsp Chinese five-spice powder
- 1/3 cup soy sauce
- 2 tbsp dark soy sauce
- 3 tbsp honey
- 1/4 cup Shaoxing wine or dry sherry
- 2 cups water
- 2 stalks green onions, chopped for garnish
Instructions
- Step 1: Heat 2 tbsp vegetable oil in a large heavy-bottomed pot over medium-high heat. Add 2 lbs pork belly pieces with scored skin and brown on all sides for 5-7 minutes until golden and crispy. Remove pork and set aside.
- Step 2: Add 2-inch sliced ginger, 4 smashed garlic cloves, and 3 whole star anise pods to the pot and sauté for 1 minute until aromatic.
- Step 3: Return pork belly to the pot. Sprinkle 1 1/2 tsp Chinese five-spice powder evenly over the meat. Pour in 1/3 cup soy sauce, 2 tbsp dark soy sauce, 3 tbsp honey, 1/4 cup Shaoxing wine, and 2 cups water. Stir gently to combine.
- Step 4: Bring to a simmer, cover with a lid slightly ajar, reduce heat to low, and braise for 1 hour 30 minutes until pork is fork-tender and sauce has thickened and coats the pork.
- Step 5: Transfer pork to a serving dish and spoon the glossy sauce over the top. Garnish with 2 chopped green onions before serving.
Equipment for this recipe
Top-rated tools to make this recipe successfully.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Five-Spice Braised Pork Belly with Honey and Star Anise take to make?
Total time is about 115 minutes (15 min prep + 100 min cook). Most home cooks find this fits comfortably into a weeknight; double the batch on Sunday for two dinners.
How do I store leftover Five-Spice Braised Pork Belly with Honey and Star Anise?
Cool to room temperature within 2 hours, then store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat covered in a 350°F oven for 10-12 minutes, or microwave at 70% power in 60-second bursts to keep vegetable oil from drying out.
Can I substitute ingredients in Five-Spice Braised Pork Belly with Honey and Star Anise?
Yes — most ingredients in this recipe have flexible swaps. For oil, use any neutral high-smoke-point oil (avocado, grapeseed, refined coconut). For aromatics, dried herbs at ⅓ the volume of fresh work in a pinch. The full ingredient list is shoppable on Instacart so you can see substitutes in real time.
How do I scale Five-Spice Braised Pork Belly with Honey and Star Anise for a different number of people?
The recipe is written for 4 servings. Multiply each ingredient by (your serving target / 4). Cook time stays roughly the same up to 2x; for 3-4x batches, switch from a skillet to a sheet pan or stockpot so the food isn't crowded — overcrowding steams instead of browns.
What goes well with Five-Spice Braised Pork Belly with Honey and Star Anise?
Chinese pork like this pair well with a simple grain (rice, couscous, or crusty bread), a quick salad with acid (lemon vinaigrette, pickled onions), and a pan sauce or yogurt-based dip. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" to get specific side suggestions.
