Slow-Braised Pork Belly with Soy and Ginger

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-04-28 · Updated 2026-04-28

Tender pork belly slow-braised in a fragrant broth of soy sauce, ginger, and garlic until melt-in-your-mouth soft. This Japanese recipe, ready in about 165 minutes, pairs pork belly, soy sauce, mirin for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 480 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

• 1.5 lbs, cut into 2-inch chunks pork belly
• 1/2 cup soy sauce
• 1/4 cup mirin
• 1/4 cup sake
• 1 cup water
• 2-inch piece, sliced thin fresh ginger
• 4, smashed garlic cloves
• 2 tbsp brown sugar
• 2, cut into 2-inch pieces scallions
• 1 tbsp vegetable oil

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Instructions

1. Step 1: Heat 1 tbsp vegetable oil in a large heavy-bottomed pot over medium-high heat and brown 1.5 lbs pork belly chunks on all sides, about 5 minutes.
2. Step 2: Add 1/2 cup soy sauce, 1/4 cup mirin, 1/4 cup sake, 1 cup water, 2-inch sliced fresh ginger, 4 smashed garlic cloves, 2 tbsp brown sugar, and 2 scallions cut into 2-inch pieces to the pot.
3. Step 3: Bring to a simmer, then reduce heat to low, cover, and braise gently for 2 to 2.5 hours until the pork belly is tender and the sauce has thickened slightly.
4. Step 4: Remove pork from the pot, strain sauce if desired, and serve the pork belly pieces drizzled with the braising liquid alongside steamed rice or vegetables.