Sticky Sesame Pork Belly Recipe - Tasting With Tina (2024)

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Sticky sesame pork belly is a delicious treat for the whole family! With everything done in under an hour, this dish is perfect for a weeknight or a hit for serving a crowd.

I always order pork belly at restaurants, but I had never tried making at home. Now that I have, I'm hooked, and you should be too!

I buy my pork belly at Costco - they always have it in stock and they have great prices on it.

How to Make Sticky Sesame Pork Belly

Pork belly may seem intimidating to cook, but I promise it's easier than you think. You'll start by cutting your pork belly in 1 inch pieces.

Then, you'll boil in chicken stock with ginger, garlic, salt and pepper for 30 minutes, or until the pork belly is cooked.

Boiling the pork belly helps render the fat and will allow you to more easily crisp the pork belly once you cook it with the glaze.

After the pork belly is boiled, you'll let it cool, and then add to a nonstick skillet. You shouldn't need any oil for this step, as the fat from the pork belly will start to render.

Cook the pork belly for about 10 minutes, or until it's golden brown.

Once it starts to crisp, add in the glaze and cook over low heat. The glaze will adhere to the pork belly and help it crisp up for the last few minutes of cooking.

This sesame pork belly is best topped with sesame seeds and scallions.

FAQ

Here are some frequently asked questions and answers about pork belly:

What's the difference between pork belly and bacon?

Pork belly is uncured bacon. It is not processed, so it offers more freedom for flavoring and has a better fat to meat ratio than bacon does.

Where can you buy pork belly?

Many grocery stores carry pork belly. It's always a good idea to call the meat department of your local grocery store and see if they have it in stock or can order some for you.

What goes well with pork belly?

You can eat pork belly with anything! A few ideas include serving it over rice, in tacos, or in a salad.

Sticky Sesame Pork Belly Recipe - Tasting With Tina (1)

What to serve with this dish

Sticky sesame pork belly has so many incredible possibilities! Here are a few of my favorite ways to serve:

  1. Serve pork belly over a big bed of warm, short grain white rice
  2. Put in tacos and top with microgreens
  3. Tossed in a big leafy salad with a sesame oil based dressing
  4. Add to chili oil noodles

A final option - just serve on a plate as an appetizer. No matter how you serve, this dish is so delicious!

Sticky Sesame Pork Belly Recipe - Tasting With Tina (2)

Kitchen supplies for this recipe

Here are some kitchen staples I recommend for cooking this recipe:

Nonstick Skillet - A good non-stick skillet is a must for this recipe. Although you can crisp the pork belly in a regular pan, I recommend a non-stick skillet to significantly reduce your clean up time! Check out this one on a Amazon.

Sesame Seeds - Sesame seeds are the perfect topping to this dish. If you can't find them at your local grocery store, check out these that you can buy on Amazon!

Sesame Oil - If you can't find sesame seeds at your local Asian grocery store, you can grab it on Amazon. It gives this dish it's delicious sesame flavor! I've used this brand before and it's great!

Sticky Sesame Pork Belly Recipe - Tasting With Tina (3)

More Easy Recipes

Looking for more easy dinner recipes? Check out these for weeknight dinner inspiration!

Salmon and Crispy Rice with Cilantro Lime Salsa - I love this recipe. It's easy, flavorful, and perfect for a fresh and healthy meal on a weeknight!

Lemon Ricotta Pasta - This super simple pasta recipe is a great flavor base for grilled shrimp, chicken, or vegetables. It's a great easy dinner any night of the week!

Pan Seared Salmon with Chimichurri Sauce - This easy salmon recipe is a weeknight winner! Ready in 15 minutes, your family will love this restaurant quality dish.

Sticky Sesame Pork Belly Recipe - Tasting With Tina (4)

Sticky Sesame Pork Belly Ingredients:

  • Pork Ingredients
    • 2 lb pork belly, sliced in 1in pieces
    • 4 cups chicken broth/stock
    • 2 in piece ginger, diced
    • 3 cloves garlic, minced
    • salt and pepper, to taste
  • Glaze Ingredients
    • 2 tbsp brown sugar
    • 2 tbsp soy sauce
    • 2 tbsp sesame oil
    • 2 cloves garlic
    • sesame seeds and scallions, for topping

Directions:

  1. Add pork belly, stock, ginger, garlic, salt, and pepper to a pot over medium heat and bring to a boil. Once boiling, bring heat low and simmer for 30 minutes, or until pork is cooked through.
  2. Remove cooked pork belly from pot and cool on a plate.
  3. Stir brown sugar, soy sauce, sesame oil, and garlic together and set aside.
  4. Heat a non-stick skillet over medium heat. Add cooked pork belly and cook for 10 minutes, or until the pork belly starts to turn golden brown.
  5. Add glaze over pork belly and stir well. Cook for 5 minutes on low, then top with sesame seeds and scallions.

Sticky Sesame Pork Belly Recipe - Tasting With Tina (5)

Sticky Sesame Pork Belly

5 from 2 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Cook Time 45 minutes mins

Total Time 45 minutes mins

Cuisine Asian

Servings 10 servings

Calories 550.51 kcal

Ingredients

  • 2 lb pork belly sliced in 1in pieces
  • 4 cups chicken broth/stock
  • 2 in piece ginger diced
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 2 tbsp brown sugar
  • 2 tbsp soy sauce
  • 2 tbsp sesame oil
  • 2 cloves garlic
  • sesame seeds and scallions for topping

Instructions

  • Add pork belly, stock, ginger, garlic, salt, and pepper to a pot over medium heat and bring to a boil. Once boiling, bring heat low and simmer for 30 minutes, or until pork is cooked through.

  • Remove cooked pork belly from pot and cool on a plate.

  • Stir brown sugar, soy sauce, sesame oil, and garlic together and set aside.

  • Heat a non-stick skillet over medium heat. Add cooked pork belly and cook for 10 minutes, or until the pork belly starts to turn golden brown.

  • Add glaze over pork belly and stir well. Cook for 5 minutes on low, then top with sesame seeds and scallions.

Sticky Sesame Pork Belly Recipe - Tasting With Tina (2024)

FAQs

How do you cook pork belly so it's not tough? ›

Preheat oven to 450°F. Roast pork belly for 30 minutes on the middle rack in a heavy, oven-safe pan or skillet, skin side up / fat side up. Reduce heat to 275°F and roast for an hour or more, until tender but not mushy. (Larger pieces of pork belly will take longer.

How do I stop my pork belly from being chewy? ›

To make pork belly tender and not chewy, it's important to cook it low and slow to break down the tough connective tissues and render the fat.

Why is pork belly not tender? ›

This is a tough muscle, so it needs a longer cooking time at low heat to breakdown the tough tissue." So, to serve up good roast pork, budget for at least 3-4 hours in the kitchen.

How long does pork belly last in fridge? ›

Uncooked pork belly should be wrapped as tightly as possible in freezer bags or wraps, or store in an air-tight container towards the bottom of the fridge. Store at 5°c or below in the fridge (check your fridge is cold enough by using a fridge thermometer) for up to 2 days and 4-6 months in the freezer at -18°C.

How to make pork extremely tender? ›

How to Make Tender Pork Chops
  1. Opt for Thick-Cut Bone-In Pork Chops. Thin-cut pork chops won't sear properly in the time it takes to cook them through. ...
  2. Skip the Brine, but Season Liberally. ...
  3. Let the Pork Chops Rest. ...
  4. Sear Pork Chops Over Medium-High Heat. ...
  5. Baste the Pork Chops. ...
  6. Let the Pork Chops Rest, Again. ...
  7. Serve.
Feb 14, 2018

Should you cook pork belly on high heat first or last? ›

Typically, recipes call for around 2 hrs at 180C/160C fan/gas 4, then a further 30 mins or so at 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Some recipes suggest cooking at a higher temperature first, while others recommend doing so at the end as we have here; either way will produce good results.

Why does pork belly taste weird? ›

Boar taint is the offensive odor or taste that can be evident during the cooking or eating of pork or pork products derived from non-castrated male pigs once they reach puberty.

Why put baking soda on pork belly? ›

It is a fact of life that dry skin crisps better than moist skin. Scotese's trick to crispy pork belly is to rub equal parts baking soda and salt into the skin—the combo of baking soda and salt will draw out moisture and set you up for success.

How long does it take for pork belly to be tender? ›

Roast in a slow oven for 2 1/2 hours at 140°C/285°F so the flesh becomes tender; Level the pork so the skin is level (ie. as horizontal as possible) by propping up the belly with balls of foil beneath. This makes the crackling cook evenly = perfect crackling.

What are 3 ways that pork belly can be cooked? ›

For pork aficionados, pork belly is IT. Here's a look at three easy ways to cook it: stovetop, grilling and oven roasted. It's a triple threat on the delicious front.

How do you know when pork belly is done? ›

One way to determine your porks' doneness is by the color of the juices that come out of it when you poke a hole in it with a knife or fork. If the juices run clear or are very faintly pink, the pork is done cooking. If they're mostly or entirely pink or red, it's best to continue cooking.

Can I eat cooked pork after 7 days? ›

USDA recommends using cooked pork within three to four days, kept refrigerated (40 °F or less). Refrigeration slows but does not stop bacterial growth. USDA recommends using cooked leftovers within three to four days.

Can I eat pork 7 days after sell by date? ›

Sell by – This creates an easy date for the retailer to know when the product has to be removed from their shelf and disposed of instead of being sold. In general, consumers have one to three days to use that meat product if it is fresh before there would be concern from a safety standpoint.

Is pork belly good for you? ›

Yes, pork belly can be part of a healthy diet when consumed in moderation and balanced with other nutritious foods. Is pork belly high in cholesterol? Pork belly does contain cholesterol, but dietary cholesterol has less impact on blood cholesterol levels than previously believed. However, moderation is still key.

Does pork belly get softer the longer you cook it? ›

Slow roast 1 1/2 hours – Roast the pork in a 140°C/285°F oven (120°C fan) for a total of 2 1/2 hours. Keeping the temperature this low allows the meat to become tender, for the fat to render (melt) so we get the “confit” cooking effect, and also to dry out the pork skin yet keep it supple.

Why do you pour boiling water on pork belly? ›

boiling water trick

This helps to prep the skin to crackle as its now "pre-cooked" so to speak. Make sure to pat dry with paper towel to further dry afterwards.

How do you keep pork moist and tender? ›

Brining pork chops is one of the best ways way to guarantee a juicy cooked pork chop. Even a quick 30-minute brine (or up to four hours) makes a big difference. It's not strictly necessary — you can still use this method to make great pork chops even without brining — but if you have some extra time, I recommend it.

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