Pan-Seared Shanghai-Style Pork Belly with Sweet Soy Glaze
Tender pork belly slices pan-seared to crisp perfection, glazed with a rich, sweet soy sauce inspired by Shanghainese flavors. This chinese-inspired pork ready in about 30 minutes pairs light soy sauce, dark soy sauce, Shaoxing wine 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 (450g), sliced into 1/4-inch thick pieces pork belly
- 3 tbsp light soy sauce
- 1 tbsp dark soy sauce
- 2 tbsp Shaoxing wine
- 1 tbsp brown sugar
- 1 tbsp, finely minced ginger
- 3 cloves, minced garlic
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil
- 2 stalks, chopped for garnish scallions
Instructions
- Step 1: Heat 2 tbsp vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium heat until shimmering. Add 1 lb sliced pork belly and pan-sear for 5-7 minutes per side until the edges are golden brown and the fat is rendered.
- Step 2: Remove excess oil, leaving about 1 tbsp in the pan. Add 1 tbsp finely minced ginger and 3 minced garlic cloves, sauté over medium heat for 1 minute until fragrant.
- Step 3: Stir in 3 tbsp light soy sauce, 1 tbsp dark soy sauce, 2 tbsp Shaoxing wine, and 1 tbsp brown sugar. Cook for 3-4 minutes, stirring gently until the sauce thickens and coats the pork belly slices.
- Step 4: Transfer to a serving dish and sprinkle 2 chopped scallion stalks on top for freshness and color.
Equipment for this recipe
Top-rated tools to make this recipe successfully.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Pan-Seared Shanghai-Style Pork Belly with Sweet Soy Glaze take to make?
Total time is about 30 minutes (10 min prep + 20 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 Pan-Seared Shanghai-Style Pork Belly with Sweet Soy Glaze?
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 light soy sauce from drying out.
Can I substitute ingredients in Pan-Seared Shanghai-Style Pork Belly with Sweet Soy Glaze?
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 Pan-Seared Shanghai-Style Pork Belly with Sweet Soy Glaze 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 Pan-Seared Shanghai-Style Pork Belly with Sweet Soy Glaze?
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.
