30-Min Honey Garlic Pork Belly Recipe
Honey Garlic Pork Belly is a quick, flavorful dish where pork belly is seared, braised, and reduced into a sweet and savory sticky glaze.
Ingredients
- 2 pounds pork belly
- 6 cloves garlic, minced
- 4 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1½ tablespoons dark soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
- 3 tablespoons honey
- 1 cup water
Instructions
- To prepare the garlic, smash the garlic cloves with the side of a knife, then finely mince.
- To prepare the pork belly, use a fork to lightly pierce the surface of the pork.
- To make the sauce, in a bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, dark soy sauce, rice vinegar, honey, and water.
- To sear the pork belly, in a pan over high heat, add the pork belly and cook for about 2 minutes per side, until lightly golden and the fat begins to render. Pour off excess rendered fat if needed, then add the garlic and stir briefly until fragrant.
- To braise the pork belly, pour the sauce into the pan, reduce to medium heat, cover, and simmer for about 15 minutes, flipping the pork halfway through.
- To reduce the sauce, uncover the pan and increase the heat to high. Simmer for about 5 minutes, spooning the sauce over the pork until it thickens into a sticky glaze.
- To serve, serve hot with steamed rice and vegetables.
Video
Notes
• Pierce the pork belly: Lightly piercing the surface helps the pork absorb flavor more quickly during braising.
• Use a dry pan: Pork belly releases its own fat as it cooks, so there’s no need to add oil when searing.
• Render and remove excess fat: As the pork sears, it will release oil. Pour off some of the excess to keep the dish lighter while maintaining flavor.
• Add garlic after searing: Garlic cooks quickly, so adding it after the pork has browned prevents it from burning.
• Flip during simmering: Turning the pork halfway through helps it cook evenly and absorb the sauce on all sides.
• Reduce to a glaze: Let the sauce simmer uncovered until it thickens and coats the pork, but avoid over-reducing, which can make it too salty.
• Balance the richness: Serve with steamed rice and a simple vegetable like broccoli or bok choy to balance the dish.
• Protein swap: This method also works well with chicken thighs or pork shoulder, though cooking time may need to be adjusted.