30-Min Teriyaki Pork Belly Recipe
Teriyaki Pork Belly is a juicy and flavorful dish where pork belly is simmered in a sweet and savory teriyaki sauce and finished with a glossy glaze.
Ingredients
For the pork belly
- 2 pounds pork belly
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
For the sauce
- 3 tablespoons mirin, or rice wine with a pinch of sugar
- 3 tablespoons sake, or rice wine
- 4 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon dark soy sauce, optional
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 1 cup water
Instructions
- To prepare the garlic, finely mince the garlic cloves and set aside.
- To prepare the pork belly, use a fork to pierce the pork belly pieces all over to help them cook faster and absorb flavor.
- To make the sauce, in a bowl, combine the mirin, sake, soy sauce, dark soy sauce, sugar, and water, then whisk until the sugar dissolves.
- To sear the pork belly, in a pan over high heat, add the pork belly pieces and cook until golden on both sides, about 2 minutes per side. Add the minced garlic and stir-fry for about 10 seconds until fragrant.
- To simmer the pork belly, pour the sauce into the pan, reduce the heat to medium, cover, and cook for about 15 minutes, flipping the pork once halfway through.
- To finish the dish, uncover the pan and increase the heat to high. Reduce the sauce for about 5 minutes, spooning the sauce over the pork until it thickens into a glossy glaze. Slice into bite-sized pieces and serve with rice or noodles.
Video
Notes
Pierce the pork belly: Using a fork to pierce the pork belly helps the sauce penetrate the meat more easily and allows the flavors to absorb during cooking.
Sear the pork well: Browning the pork belly develops deeper flavor and begins rendering the fat. If you prefer a lighter dish, you can carefully remove and discard some of the rendered pork fat before adding the sauce.
Stir-fry the garlic briefly: Garlic cooks quickly, so stir-fry it for only about 10 seconds. This releases its aroma without letting it burn, which could make the sauce bitter.
Dark soy sauce for color: Dark soy sauce is not typically used in traditional teriyaki sauce, but adding a small amount helps give the pork belly a deeper color and a more vibrant glaze.
Simmer gently while covered: Covering the pan during the simmering stage helps the pork cook evenly and become tender while absorbing the teriyaki sauce.
Reduce the sauce to finish: Cooking the sauce uncovered at the end concentrates the flavor and creates the glossy glaze that coats the pork belly.
Protein swap: This same cooking method works well with boneless chicken thighs or chicken breast if you prefer a lighter alternative to pork belly.