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

Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

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

Is pork belly as unhealthy as bacon? ›

Is pork belly healthier than bacon? Bacon contains smoke flavor, preservatives (like nitrates), and added ingredients that may not be considered part of a healthy diet. If you're trying to eat more naturally, pork belly may make a better choice.

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.

Why is my braised pork belly tough? ›

If your pork belly is tough after braising, it meant that either the pork belly needs to be braised longer or it was cooked at too high heat. Try to braise the pork belly at a medium simmer. Also, you can try braising the pork belly in beer. It'll tenderize the pork belly and also get rid of porky flavor.

How long can you leave pork belly in the 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.

Is pork belly healthy or unhealthy? ›

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.

Is pork belly bad for liver? ›

Summary: Strong epidemiological links exist between pork consumption and liver disease. If these links reflect cause and effect, one culprit might be N-nitroso compounds, which are found abundantly in processed pork products cooked at high temperatures.

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

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. If done correctly, a piece of roast pork should be so tender you can pierce its flesh with a fork.

How long should you braise a pork belly? ›

Return the pork to the casserole and bring to a boil. Cover and braise in the oven for 2 hours, until the meat is nearly tender. Uncover and braise for 1 hour longer, until the meat is very tender.

Does pork get more tender the longer you simmer it? ›

What happens during slow-cooking, with juice or sauce, is that the collagen that's in the meat's muscular tissues is gradually transformed into some kind of gelatin and thus allows the piece to be more tender, the more it simmers. With pork, we would also find the pork roast, especially the pork shoulder roast.

Should pork belly be at room temperature before cooking? ›

Remember to remove your flat pork belly joint out of the packaging, pat dry and bring to room temperature. Pre heat your oven to 200°C temperature fan assisted or 215°C without a fan.

What is pork belly called at the grocery store? ›

Bacon is a cut from the belly of the pig along the ventral line. However, butchers may also make bacon from cuts of pork other than pork belly—for instance, back bacon is from the loin, jowl bacon is from the cheeks, cottage bacon is from pork shoulder, and slab bacon typically comes from side cuts.

Is pork belly junk food? ›

While pork belly is indeed rich in fat, not all fats are created equal. It contains monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats, which are considered heart-healthy fats. These fats can help lower bad cholesterol levels and reduce the risk of heart disease.

Is pork better for you than bacon? ›

Pork is typically lowest in calories and saturated fat when compared with other red meats — as long as it isn't processed into bacon or cured ham.

Is pork belly processed meat? ›

Although bacon may hail from the pork belly, the two are very different. Pork belly is not processed. Most people like to cook it slowly to melt down the fat content and create a richly flavored, tender protein.

Is pork belly good for a carnivore diet? ›

On a carnivore diet, it's best practice to choose the fattiest cuts, and they don't get fattier than pork belly. Similar to bacon, pork belly comes from the hog's underside. You can serve this boneless cut fresh, unlike bacon which is cured or smoked and therefore contains nitrites.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Ouida Strosin DO

Last Updated:

Views: 5656

Rating: 4.6 / 5 (56 voted)

Reviews: 95% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Ouida Strosin DO

Birthday: 1995-04-27

Address: Suite 927 930 Kilback Radial, Candidaville, TN 87795

Phone: +8561498978366

Job: Legacy Manufacturing Specialist

Hobby: Singing, Mountain biking, Water sports, Water sports, Taxidermy, Polo, Pet

Introduction: My name is Ouida Strosin DO, I am a precious, combative, spotless, modern, spotless, beautiful, precious person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.