Slow-Simmered Pork Belly in Spicy Hunan Chili Sauce
Rich pork belly slowly braised in a bold and spicy Hunan-style chili sauce, yielding tender meat with a fiery kick. This chinese-inspired chinese ready in about 85 minutes pairs cut into 1-inch cubes pork belly, vegetable oil, minced garlic 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.
Ingredients
- 1 lb, cut into 1-inch cubes pork belly
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil
- 2 tbsp fermented chili bean paste (doubanjiang)
- 4 cloves, minced garlic
- 1 tbsp, minced ginger
- 3 tbsp soy sauce
- 2 tbsp Shaoxing wine
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1 tbsp brown sugar
- 3 stalks, chopped scallions
- 5, whole red dried chilies
- 1 tsp (optional, for thickening) cornstarch
- 1 tbsp (for slurry) water
Instructions
- Step 1: Heat 2 tbsp vegetable oil in a heavy-bottomed pot over medium heat until shimmering; add 1 lb 1-inch cubed pork belly and brown on all sides for about 5-7 minutes.
- Step 2: Stir in 2 tbsp fermented chili bean paste, 4 cloves minced garlic, 1 tbsp minced ginger, and 5 whole dried red chilies; cook for 2 minutes until fragrant.
- Step 3: Add 3 tbsp soy sauce, 2 tbsp Shaoxing wine, 1 cup chicken broth, and 1 tbsp brown sugar; bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low and cover, simmering gently for 1 hour until pork is tender.
- Step 4: Optional: Mix 1 tsp cornstarch with 1 tbsp water to create a slurry; stir into the pot and cook uncovered for 5 more minutes to thicken the sauce.
- Step 5: Garnish with 3 chopped scallion stalks before serving with steamed rice.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Slow-Simmered Pork Belly in Spicy Hunan Chili Sauce take to make?
Total time is about 85 minutes (15 min prep + 70 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-Simmered Pork Belly in Spicy Hunan Chili Sauce?
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 vegetable oil from drying out.
Can I substitute ingredients in Slow-Simmered Pork Belly in Spicy Hunan Chili Sauce?
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-Simmered Pork Belly in Spicy Hunan Chili Sauce 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-Simmered Pork Belly in Spicy Hunan Chili Sauce?
Chinese chinese 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.
