Red-Braised Pork (Hong Shao Rou)

A classic Chinese dish of tender pork belly slowly braised in a rich sauce flavored with ginger, star anise, and Shaoxing wine until meltingly tender. This aromatic dish is characterized by its deep red-brown color and complex savory-sweet flavors.

4 servings
2 hr 15 min

Ingredients

  • lb pork belly
  • 2 tbsp cooking oil
  • 4 slices ginger
  • 1 whole spring onion
  • 2 tbsp Shaoxing wine
  • 2 cups chicken stock
  • 1 whole star anise
  • 1 piece cassia bark
  • 1 dash dark soy sauce
  • 2 tbsp sugar
  • 1 to taste salt
  • 2 lengths spring onion greens
  • garnish

Cooking Instructions

  1. 1.

    Cut the pork into 3/4-1 in (2-3cm) chunks.

    5 min

  2. 2.

    Pour the oil into a seasoned wok over a high flame, followed by the ginger and spring onion and stir-fry until you can smell their aromas. Add the pork and stir-fry for a couple of minutes more. Splash in the Shaoxing wine. Add the stock, spices, soy sauce, sugar and 1 tsp salt. Mix well, then transfer to a clay pot or a saucepan with a lid.

    10 min

  3. 3.

    Bring to a boil, then cover and simmer over a very low flame for at least 1 1/2 hours, preferably two or three. Keep an eye on the pot to make sure it does not boil dry; add a little more stock or hot water if necessary. Adjust the seasoning and add the spring onion greens just before serving.

    120 min

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