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Braised Instant Pot Pork Belly Recipe

Braised Instant Pot Pork Belly Recipe

My cozy, glossy, melt-in-your-mouth pork belly cooked fast in the Instant Pot but tasting like it simmered all day.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Servings: 6 People
Course: Dinner, Maindish
Cuisine: Asian, Chinese-inspired
Calories: 500
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 2.5 | lbs | Pork belly | Skin-on cut into 1.5–2 inch pieces
  • 5 | slices | Ginger |
  • 6 –8 | cloves | Garlic | Smashed
  • 2 | whole | Scallions | Cut into 3-inch pieces
  • 3 | whole | Star anise |
  • 1 | small | Cinnamon stick | Optional
  • 2 –3 | whole | Red chilies | Optional
  • 1/2 | cup | Light soy sauce |
  • 1/4 | cup | Dark soy sauce |
  • 1/2 | cup | Shaoxing wine |
  • 4 | tbsp | Brown sugar or rock sugar |
  • 1 | cup | Water |

Equipment

  • 1 Instant Pot (6-quart) For pressure cooking
  • 1 Medium pot For blanching pork
  • 1 Cutting board For prepping aromatics
  • 1 Sharp chef’s knife For slicing pork belly
  • 1 Spoon or spatula For stirring sauce and pork
  • 1 Ladle Optional for skimming

Method
 

Step 1:
  1. Place pork belly pieces in a pot of cold water, bring to a boil, and blanch for 3–5 minutes. Drain and rinse under cold water.
Step 2:
  1. Turn Instant Pot to sauté mode. Add a little oil and brown sugar. Melt until golden and caramelized.
Step 3:
  1. Add pork belly and toss to coat in the caramel until glossy.
Step 4:
  1. Add ginger, garlic, scallions, star anise, and cinnamon stick. Stir for 1 minute until fragrant.
Step 5:
  1. Pour in light soy sauce, dark soy sauce, Shaoxing wine, and water. Stir and scrape the bottom of pot to prevent sticking.
Step 6:
  1. Close lid and pressure cook on high for 20 minutes. Let it naturally release.
Step 7:
  1. Open lid, turn sauté mode back on, and reduce sauce for 5–7 minutes until thick and glossy.
Step 8:
  1. Serve warm over rice with plenty of sauce.

Notes

You can reuse the leftover braising liquid. Just freeze it and refresh it next time with a splash of soy sauce and Shaoxing wine.