Slow-Cooked Pork Belly with Bitter Melon and Sweet Potato

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-04-17 · Updated 2026-04-17

A deeply savory, health-focused stew that melds tender pork belly with the earthy notes of bitter melon and sweet potatoes, embodying Okinawa's kusuimun philosophy of balanced nourishment. This Asian-inspired one-pot recipe, ready in about 110 minutes, pairs pork belly, bitter melon, sweet potato 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.

Ingredients

• 1.5 lbs pork belly
• 2 bitter melon
• 2 medium sweet potato
• 3 tbsp soy sauce
• 2 tbsp mirin
• 1 tbsp sugar
• 1-inch piece ginger
• 3 cloves garlic
• 2 cups water
• 1 tbsp vegetable oil

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Instructions

1. Step 1: Heat 1 tbsp vegetable oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add 1-inch peeled and minced ginger and 3 minced garlic cloves, and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
2. Step 2: Add 1.5 lbs trimmed and cubed pork belly, and cook, stirring occasionally, until browned on all sides (about 5 minutes).
3. Step 3: Stir in 3 tbsp soy sauce, 2 tbsp mirin, and 1 tbsp sugar, and cook for 2 minutes to caramelize the sugars.
4. Step 4: Add 2 bitter melons (halved lengthwise, seeded, and sliced into 1/4-inch thick half-moons) and 2 cups water, then stir in 2 medium peeled and cubed sweet potatoes.
5. Step 5: Bring to a simmer, reduce heat to low, cover, and cook for 1 hour 30 minutes, or until pork is fork-tender and vegetables are soft.