Taste the heartwarming goodness of Chinese comfort food with this simple dish of pork belly slices and whole-cooked eggs braised in flavoured soya sauce. This deliciously tender pork is best enjoyed spooned over steamed rice, drizzled over with its sauce, or with piping hot porridge, and as meat stuffing for plain buns.
I have to admit that I am truly and utterly addicted to gravy-rich foods. This probably started from the time I was a wee toddler. I was raised on Chinese and Peranakan meal staples like babi pongteh, chicken curry, and braised pork belly in soy sauce.
That’s just naming a few true-blue Chinese classics, the tip of the iceberg. Not to be missed is this tenderlicious braised pork belly and eggs in soya sauce.
There’s no doubt you’ll find many recipes on braised pork belly anywhere you look. It’s probably one of the most popular and treasured Chinese dishes we’ve inherited.
It remains a humble dish prepared with heartfelt love in many a Chinese kitchen, and uses incredibly simple ingredients.
Braised Pork Belly and Eggs in Soya Sauce
Save For Later Click the button to save for later!Why pork belly is our favourite meat for braising
Pork belly is tenderlicious when braised!
Trust me when I say tenderlicious, I mean literally come-apart tender! This is only possible with pork belly or very tender cuts of pork marbled with generous streaks of fat.
The gentle braising process also tenderises the pork skin, turning it translucent, gelatinous, and deliciously jelly-like.
Pork belly release flavourful oils!
We love pork belly because it releases flavourful oils, also known as lard. This braised pork belly takes on a smoky, earthy flavour in the sauce as lard fuses with spices and soy sauces. It’s simply umami heaven!
The sauce is reduced to a glaze-like consistency. This is when the savoury, sweet, and salty notes are most bold. Incredibly flavourful, it is a delicious coating over meat, and whatever you spoon it over.
Can I make a confession though? I kind of make a little pool of that sauce in my Chinese dinner spoon, drown the pork chunks in it, and lap it up like soup. Do you do the same?
I’d like to think that there’s absolutely nothing wrong with just taking it all in – to really appreciate this heartwarming dish is to savour it in its entirety!
And I figured if I should feel inclined to eat more responsibly and get all health conscious, I find that it’s easy to pick away at the fatty layers, and dive into the leaner parts of the pork.
Common ingredients used for cooking Chinese braised pork belly
In it’s most basic version, braised pork belly can easily be prepared with a very short list of ingredients:
- garlic
- ginger
- light soy sauce
- dark soy sauce
The versions we’ve now come to enjoy have built upon this, infusing the flavour of the dish with local condiments and spices including:
- cinnamon
- star anise
- cardamon
- five spice powder
- soy bean pastes
- tamarind juices
- sesame oil
- black vinegar
- Chinese wine
Braised pork belly dishes are so popular as hearty, one-dish meals when stewed together with eggs, Chinese mushrooms, chestnuts, yams, and potatoes. Really, it’s such a versatile dish for using up your pantry ingredients!
Are you beginning to get a sense of just how extremely delicious Chinese braised pork belly is? I sure hope so! Hope you’ll have a go at it!
Enjoy and happy cooking!
Here are more delicious ideas to inspire your next meal:
- Devil Curry – A Taste of Eurasian Delights
- Braised Pork in Fermented Soy Bean Paste (Babi Pongteh)
- Assam Pork Curry
- Claypot Chicken Rice – Ultimate One-Pot Meal for Lazy Days
- Three Cup Chicken – Tasty Treasure of Taiwan
Tried this recipe? I’d love to see! Remember to share your pics on Instagram and tag @foodelicacy or #foodelicacy.
SAVE THIS RECIPE!
Braised Pork Belly & Eggs in Soya Sauce
Ingredients
- 600 g pork belly
- 2 whole pods of garlic cloves
- 2 tbsp light soya sauce
- 2 tbsp thick dark soya sauce
- 1 ½ tbsp sugar
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 star anise
- 1 cinnamon bark
- ¼ tsp five-spice powder
- 2 ½ cups water or more as needed
- 6 hard-boiled eggs shelled
Instructions
- Slice pork belly into 2 x 5 cm (3/4 x 2-inch) pieces. Rinse garlic cloves, with peels left on, and crush lightly.
- Heat up a heavy-bottomed pot or pan (do not add oil) over medium heat until hot. Put in the pork slices and stir-fry for a few minutes. When the fat oozes out, grease the pot or pan with it by stirring the pork slices around the base. Add garlic cloves and toss for a few minutes or until fragrant.
- Reduce heat slightly, stir in the light soya sauce, thick dark soya sauce, sugar, salt, star anise and cinnamon bark. Stir-fry quickly to mix well until pork slices are evenly coated all over.
- Add in the five-spice powder and water. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat until braising sauce is gently simmering. Cover the pot or pan with a lid, and let simmer for 30 minutes.
- Add the eggs and continue to simmer for another 10 – 15 minutes, or until meat is tender (add a little hot water if braising sauce has reduced too quickly). Allow braising sauce to reduce to a glaze-like consistency, thick enough to coat the back of a spoon. As the braising sauce reduces, the flavours will intensify, so do a taste test. Add more sugar or salt, depending on whether you like the sauce more sweet or more salty. Best served hot with sauce, spooned over cooked rice, noodles or alongside porridge.
Notes
- This dish can be prepared with chicken. Frying the pork (or chicken) in a greaseless pot or pan reduces water content and accentuates the aroma of the dish.
