Okinawa Shoyu Pork Belly

Rich and full of flavor, pork belly is slowly simmered in a sweet and savory mixture of soy sauce and brown sugar. Serve it over a bowl of steamy rice for a meal worth waiting for.

• Preparation Time: 15 mins
• Cooking Time: 3 hr
• Total Time: 3 hr 15 mins
• Calories: 467 Calories

Ingredients

• ½ cup water
• water to cover
• salt and ground black pepper to taste
• 1 large clove garlic, minced
• 1 small clove garlic, minced
• ¾ cup reduced-sodium soy sauce
• 3 tablespoons finely chopped fresh ginger
• 2 pounds pork belly
• ¾ cup tightly packed brown sugar
• ¾ cup oyster sauce
• ¾ cup mirin (Japanese sweet wine)

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Place pork belly in a large pot and pour in enough water to cover pork by 1 inch; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium and simmer for 2 hours. Discard water and fill pot with fresh water 1-inch above the pork. Bring water to a boil, reduce heat to medium, and simmer until pork begins to soften, about 1 hour.

Step 2

Remove pork from the water and place on a work surface. Allow pork to cool for a few minutes.

Step 3

Slice the thick skin off the pork and discard. Cut the pork meat into 1-inch-wide slices.

Step 4

Combine soy sauce, brown sugar, oyster sauce, mirin, 1/2 cup water, ginger, and 1 large and 1 small clove garlic in a large saucepan; bring to a boil. Add the pork and bring to a boil; reduce heat to low and place a sheet of aluminum foil directly over pork and sauce. Simmer mixture, turning pork frequently, until evenly cooked, 30 to 45 minutes.