Slow-Cooked Perak-Style Pork Belly with Spices
Tender pork belly slowly braised in a fragrant blend of local Perak spices and soy for a rich and aromatic Malaysian-inspired main. This asian-inspired pork ready in about 150 minutes pairs grams pork belly, skin scored, tablespoons dark soy sauce, tablespoons light soy sauce 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
- 800 grams pork belly, skin scored
- 3 tablespoons dark soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons light soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 3 whole star anise
- 1 stick cinnamon stick
- 6 cloves garlic cloves, smashed
- 5 slices ginger slices
- 500 ml water
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
Instructions
- Step 1: Heat 1 tablespoon vegetable oil in a large heavy-bottomed pot over medium-high heat. Add 800 grams of pork belly, skin side down, and sear for 5 minutes until the skin is golden and crisp.
- Step 2: Flip the pork belly and sear all sides for an additional 3 minutes to develop color.
- Step 3: Add 6 smashed garlic cloves, 5 ginger slices, 3 whole star anise, and 1 cinnamon stick to the pot and sauté for 1 minute until fragrant.
- Step 4: Stir in 3 tablespoons dark soy sauce, 2 tablespoons light soy sauce, and 2 tablespoons brown sugar, coating the pork evenly.
- Step 5: Pour in 500 ml water to partially submerge the pork. Bring to a gentle simmer, cover with a lid, reduce heat to low, and cook for 2 hours, turning the pork halfway through.
- Step 6: Remove the lid and increase heat to medium. Cook uncovered for 15 more minutes to thicken the sauce and caramelize the pork.
- Step 7: Slice pork belly and serve drizzled with the rich braising sauce.
Equipment for this recipe
Top-rated tools to make this recipe successfully.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Slow-Cooked Perak-Style Pork Belly with Spices take to make?
Total time is about 150 minutes (15 min prep + 135 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-Cooked Perak-Style Pork Belly with Spices?
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 grams pork belly, skin scored from drying out.
Can I substitute ingredients in Slow-Cooked Perak-Style Pork Belly with Spices?
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-Cooked Perak-Style Pork Belly with Spices 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-Cooked Perak-Style Pork Belly with Spices?
Asian 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.
