Slow-Braised Cantonese Pork Belly with Five-Spice

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

Tender pork belly slowly braised in a fragrant five-spice infused soy sauce, capturing the authentic flavors of traditional Cantonese street food. This chinese-inspired pork ready in about 135 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 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: 120 min Serves 4 Chinese cuisine 450 cal/serving
Plan a meal with the AI → Shop this recipe on Instacart → Shop equipment ↓

Ingredients

Instructions

  1. Step 1: Cut 2 lbs pork belly into 2-inch cubes and pat dry. Heat a heavy-bottomed pot over medium-high heat and sear pork belly cubes until browned on all sides, about 5 minutes.
  2. Step 2: Add 1/3 cup soy sauce, 2 tbsp dark soy sauce, 1/4 cup Shaoxing wine, and 2 tbsp brown sugar to the pot with the pork. Stir to coat and caramelize the sugar for 2 minutes until fragrant and syrupy.
  3. Step 3: Stir in 1 tbsp five-spice powder, 1-inch sliced ginger, 4 smashed garlic cloves, 2 whole star anise, and 2 cups water. Bring to a simmer, then reduce heat to low and add 2 scallions cut into 2-inch pieces.
  4. Step 4: Cover and braise gently for 2 hours, stirring occasionally, until pork is tender and sauce is thickened enough to coat the back of a spoon. Remove scallions before serving.

Equipment for this recipe

Top-rated tools to make this recipe successfully.

More Knives & cutting boards → Shop all kitchen tools →

Frequently asked questions

How long does Slow-Braised Cantonese Pork Belly with Five-Spice take to make?

Total time is about 135 minutes (15 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 Slow-Braised Cantonese Pork Belly with Five-Spice?

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 Slow-Braised Cantonese Pork Belly with Five-Spice?

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 Slow-Braised Cantonese Pork Belly with Five-Spice 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 Slow-Braised Cantonese Pork Belly with Five-Spice?

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.

Related recipes