Description
A flavorful Korean pork belly recipe featuring a sweet soy glaze that balances rich, crispy pork with a perfect blend of umami, sweetness, and subtle heat. This dish is marinated, pan-seared to golden perfection, and garnished with toasted sesame seeds and fresh green onions, making it an irresistible meal for flavor lovers.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Pork Belly and Marinade
- 1.5 lbs pork belly, skinless and thick-cut
- 1/3 cup low sodium soy sauce
- 2 tbsp brown sugar or honey
- 1 tbsp rice vinegar
- 1 tbsp sesame oil
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp fresh ginger, grated
- 1 tsp gochujang or red pepper flakes (optional)
For Garnish
- 1 tbsp toasted sesame seeds
- 2 stalks green onions, sliced
Instructions
- Prepare the marinade: In a large bowl, combine the soy sauce, brown sugar (or honey), minced garlic, grated ginger, sesame oil, and rice vinegar. Mix well to create a balanced glaze with umami, sweetness, acidity, and nutty notes.
- Marinate the pork: Place the pork belly slices into the marinade and coat evenly. Cover and let it marinate for about 1 hour to absorb the rich flavors.
- Heat the pan: Preheat a skillet or grill pan over medium heat to ensure even searing of the pork belly slices.
- Sear the pork belly: Add the marinated pork belly slices to the hot pan and cook for 4-5 minutes on each side until the pork is crispy and golden brown, rendering the fat beautifully.
- Glaze the pork: During the last few minutes of cooking, brush the remaining marinade glaze over the pork belly slices to build a sticky, flavorful coating.
- Finish and garnish: Remove the pork belly from the heat. Sprinkle toasted sesame seeds and sliced green onions over the top to add a delightful crunch and fresh aroma.
- Serve: Serve the Korean pork belly hot, either over rice, wrapped in lettuce, or alongside noodles for a satisfying meal experience.
Notes
- For extra heat, include the optional gochujang or red pepper flakes in the marinade.
- Skinless pork belly is preferred for tenderness and texture.
- Adjust sweetness by using brown sugar or honey as preferred.
- Leftover glaze should be cooked if used as a sauce to ensure food safety.
- Serve immediately for best texture; pork belly tends to lose crispiness when reheated.
- Prep Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: Korean
Keywords: Korean pork belly, sweet soy glaze, marinated pork, crispy pork belly, Korean BBQ, Asian cuisine, gogi gui
