Low-Heat Braised Pork Belly with Soy and Star Anise
Tender pork belly slowly braised over low heat in a fragrant soy and star anise broth, creating a rich and silky dish perfect over steamed rice. This chinese-inspired pork ready in about 115 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 420 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 pork belly
- 1/4 cup soy sauce
- 2 tbsp dark soy sauce
- 3 tbsp rice wine
- 2 tbsp brown sugar
- 2 whole star anise
- 1 inch, sliced thin ginger
- 4, smashed garlic cloves
- 2 cups water
- 2, cut into 2-inch pieces scallions
- 1 tbsp vegetable oil
Instructions
- Step 1: Cut 1 lb pork belly into 1-inch cubes. Heat 1 tbsp vegetable oil in a heavy-bottomed pot over medium heat and brown pork belly pieces for 5 minutes until edges are golden.
- Step 2: Add 4 smashed garlic cloves, 1 inch sliced ginger, and 2 whole star anise to the pot. Sauté for 2 minutes until fragrant.
- Step 3: Pour in 1/4 cup soy sauce, 2 tbsp dark soy sauce, 3 tbsp rice wine, and 2 tbsp brown sugar. Stir to coat the pork evenly.
- Step 4: Add 2 cups water and 2 scallions cut into 2-inch pieces. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer gently for 1.5 hours until pork is tender and sauce has thickened.
- Step 5: Remove star anise and scallions before serving. Serve the braised pork belly hot with steamed rice.
Equipment for this recipe
Top-rated tools to make this recipe successfully.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Low-Heat Braised Pork Belly with Soy 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 Low-Heat Braised Pork Belly with Soy 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 pork belly from drying out.
Can I substitute ingredients in Low-Heat Braised Pork Belly with Soy 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 Low-Heat Braised Pork Belly with Soy 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 Low-Heat Braised Pork Belly with Soy 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.
