Five-Spice Braised Pork Belly with Honey and Star Anise

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-06-17 · Updated 2026-06-17

How this recipe was made — this recipe was drafted by AislePrompt's AI-assisted pipeline from technique templates and USDA-sourced nutrition data, and published by AislePrompt Editorial — see how AislePrompt recipes are developed and reviewed.

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 recipe, ready in about 115 minutes, pairs vegetable oil, 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.

Prep: 15 min Cook: 100 min Serves 4 Chinese cuisine 550 cal/serving

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Ingredients

2 lbs pork belly, skin scored and cut into 2-inch pieces
2 tbsp vegetable oil
2-inch piece ginger, sliced
4 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

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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.