Soy-Braised Pork Belly with Sweet Mirin Glaze
Tender pork belly slowly braised in a savory soy and mirin sauce until melt-in-your-mouth soft, finished with a sweet and glossy glaze. This japanese-inspired pork ready in about 85 minutes pairs cut into 1-inch cubes pork belly, soy sauce, mirin for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 420 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 lb, cut into 1-inch cubes pork belly
- 1/3 cup soy sauce
- 1/4 cup mirin
- 2 tbsp brown sugar
- 1 inch piece, sliced thin ginger
- 3, smashed garlic cloves
- 1 cup water
- 2, chopped for garnish green onions
- 1 tsp sesame oil
Instructions
- Step 1: Heat a heavy-bottomed pot over medium heat and add 1 lb of pork belly cubes, searing them for 4-5 minutes until they develop a golden crust on all sides.
- Step 2: Add 1/3 cup soy sauce, 1/4 cup mirin, 2 tbsp brown sugar, 1 sliced inch of ginger, and 3 smashed garlic cloves to the pot, stirring gently to combine and dissolve sugar.
- Step 3: Pour in 1 cup water, bring to a simmer, then cover the pot and reduce heat to low, braising the pork belly gently for 1 hour until tender and the sauce thickens slightly.
- Step 4: Remove lid, increase heat to medium-high and cook uncovered for 5-7 minutes until sauce reduces to a glossy glaze that coats the pork belly.
- Step 5: Drizzle 1 tsp sesame oil over the dish, toss gently, then garnish with 2 chopped green onions before serving.
Equipment for this recipe
Top-rated tools to make this recipe successfully.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Soy-Braised Pork Belly with Sweet Mirin Glaze 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 Soy-Braised Pork Belly with Sweet Mirin 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 soy sauce from drying out.
Can I substitute ingredients in Soy-Braised Pork Belly with Sweet Mirin 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 Soy-Braised Pork Belly with Sweet Mirin 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 Soy-Braised Pork Belly with Sweet Mirin Glaze?
Japanese 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.
