Garlic and Vinegar Braised Pork Belly with Bay Leaves

By AislePrompt Editorial · ·

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 drafted and published.

Tender pork belly slowly braised in a tangy garlic and vinegar sauce infused with bay leaves and black peppercorns, perfect with steamed rice. This Filipino-inspired pork recipe, ready in about 85 minutes, pairs pork belly, cut into 1-inch cubes, white vinegar, water for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 450 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: 70 min Serves 4 Filipino cuisine 450 cal/serving
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Ingredients

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Instructions

  1. Step 1: Heat 2 tablespoons vegetable oil in a large heavy-bottom pot over medium heat. Add 2 pounds cubed pork belly and brown evenly on all sides for about 8 minutes.
  2. Step 2: Add 8 crushed garlic cloves to the pot and sauté for 1 minute until aromatic but not burned.
  3. Step 3: Pour in 1/2 cup white vinegar (do not stir), 1 cup water, and 1/3 cup soy sauce. Add 1 teaspoon whole black peppercorns, 3 bay leaves, and 1 tablespoon brown sugar.
  4. Step 4: Bring to a boil uncovered, then reduce heat to low and simmer, covered, for 1 hour or until the pork is tender.
  5. Step 5: Remove the lid and increase heat to medium-high. Cook uncovered for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce thickens and coats the pork.
  6. Step 6: Season with salt to taste. Serve hot with steamed jasmine rice or garlic fried rice.

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