Serious Braised Pork Belly with Black Garlic

By , Test Kitchen Director · Reviewed by AislePrompt Editorial · ·

A rich, slow-cooked dish that embodies depth and complexity, perfect for a meaningful meal. This korean-inspired asian ready in about 150 minutes pairs pork belly, black garlic, soy sauce for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 650 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.

★ 4.3 (13 ratings) Prep: 30 min Cook: 120 min Serves 4 Korean cuisine 650 cal/serving
Build a week of meals around this recipe → Shop this recipe on Instacart → Shop equipment ↓

Ingredients

Equipment for this recipe

Top-rated tools to make this recipe successfully.

More Cookware & pots → Shop all kitchen tools →

Instructions

  1. Step 1: Heat 2 tbsp vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add 1 tbsp grated ginger and sauté for 30 seconds until fragrant. Add 1.5 lbs pork belly, skin-side down, and sear for 5 minutes until golden. Flip and cook for another 3 minutes.
  2. Step 2: Add 4 cloves black garlic, 2 star anise, 3 tbsp soy sauce, 1 tbsp rice wine vinegar, and 1 tbsp brown sugar. Stir to coat the pork, then deglaze with 1/4 cup water. Cover and simmer for 1.5 hours until tender.
  3. Step 3: Transfer pork to a plate, cover with foil, and let rest. Skim fat from the braising liquid, then reduce the sauce over medium heat for 10 minutes until thickened and glossy. Serve pork with sauce spooned over.

Frequently asked questions

How long does Serious Braised Pork Belly with Black Garlic take to make?

Total time is about 150 minutes (30 min prep + 120 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 Serious Braised Pork Belly with Black Garlic?

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 Serious Braised Pork Belly with Black Garlic?

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 Serious Braised Pork Belly with Black Garlic 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 Serious Braised Pork Belly with Black Garlic?

Korean asian 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.

What others are saying

Related recipes