Slow-Cooked Pork Belly with Five-Spice and Dark Soy Glaze

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

Tender pork belly slowly braised in a rich five-spice and dark soy sauce mixture, resulting in melt-in-your-mouth meat with a deeply savory glaze. This chinese-inspired pork ready in about 135 minutes pairs grams pork belly, skin scored, dark soy sauce, 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.

Prep: 15 min Cook: 120 min Serves 4 Chinese cuisine 480 cal/serving
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Ingredients

Instructions

  1. Step 1: Heat 1 tablespoon vegetable oil in a heavy-bottomed pot over medium heat, then add 600 grams of pork belly with skin scored and sear on all sides for 5-6 minutes until golden brown.
  2. Step 2: Add 4 smashed garlic cloves and 5 slices of ginger to the pot, stirring for 1-2 minutes until fragrant.
  3. Step 3: Stir in 3 tablespoons dark soy sauce, 2 tablespoons light soy sauce, 1 teaspoon Chinese five-spice powder, and 2 tablespoons brown sugar, coating the pork belly evenly.
  4. Step 4: Pour in 1 cup water to partially cover the pork, bring to a gentle simmer, then cover and reduce heat to low.
  5. Step 5: Cook the pork belly gently for 2 hours, turning once halfway, until the meat is tender and the sauce thickens into a glossy glaze.
  6. Step 6: Remove from heat and sprinkle 2 tablespoons sliced spring onions over the pork before serving.

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Frequently asked questions

How long does Slow-Cooked Pork Belly with Five-Spice and Dark Soy Glaze 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-Cooked Pork Belly with Five-Spice and Dark Soy Glaze?

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 Pork Belly with Five-Spice and Dark Soy Glaze?

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 Pork Belly with Five-Spice and Dark Soy Glaze 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 Pork Belly with Five-Spice and Dark Soy Glaze?

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.

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