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By Chris Joe
5 from 9 votes
Sep 30, 2021, Updated Nov 20, 2023
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Red Braised Pork (Hong Shao Rou) is a beautifully simple dish that requires only a handful of ingredients but packed with flavor! The pork is super tender, as it’s braised in a sauce mixture that transforms into a beautiful red glaze. I always spoon some of the extra sauce over my rice when I eat this dish – trust me, you won’t be disappointed with this Red Braised Pork (Hong Shao Rou)!
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Ingredient Tips for Red Braised Pork (Hong Shao Rou)
- NEUTRAL OIL – My favorite neutral oil is avocado oil, but you can also use canola or vegetable oil! I don’t use olive oil when cooking Chinese food for two reasons: 1. It has a low burning point and 2. I find that the flavor profile does not usually go with the dish.
- ROCK SUGAR – If you’re not familiar with rock sugar, they’re produced in lumps and chunks of varying sizes and is usually pale gold in color. It’s sweet, although not as sweet as granulated sugar, and is used in Chinese dishes to add a lovely shine (such as this one!) I purchase mine from 99 Ranch (it comes in a bag of small chunks) and once opened, I keep it in an airtight container (just like regular sugar). If you don’t have rock sugar on hand or cannot find it, you can sub with regular white granulated sugar.
- SHAOXING WINE – If you cannot or do not want to use wine, you can sub with sherry, mirin, or chicken stock!
- LIGHT vs. DARK SOY SAUCE – Yes, they’re different! Dark soy sauce is thicker, darker, and sweeter (as well as has a higher sodium content) than regular soy sauce. If you don’t have dark soy sauce on hand, you can sub with oyster sauce.
Recipe Tips for Red Braised Pork (Hong Shao Rou)
IF THE SAUCE ISN’T REDUCING..
- If you find that the Red Braised Pork (Hong Shao Rou) sauce isn’t reducing to a thick glaze, I would recommend youuncoverand let it simmer. It may take a little bit longer to reduce due to higher water content in your specific piece of pork belly.
SIMMER ON LOW
- You want to avoid burning the Red Braised Pork (Hong Shao Rou) sauce, since it contains sugar. Make sure you are simmering on low and stir occasionally to ensure it’s not burning!
Love pork? Try my Sweet and Sour Pork recipe!
If you tried this Red Braised Pork (Hong Shao Rou) or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the comments below!
5 from 9 votes
Red Braised Pork
By: Chris Joe
Servings: 2
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Ingredients
- 1.5 lbs pork belly, cut into 2" cubes
- 2 tbsp neutral oil, I used avocado oil
- 2 bay leaves
- 4 star anise
- 2 inch ginger, sliced
- 40g rock sugar, 2-3" piece; sub 2 tbsp granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup shaoxing wine
- 3 tbsp light soy sauce
- 1.5 tbsp dark soy sauce
- 2.5 cups water
US Customary – Metric
Instructions
Slice pork belly into 2" pieces and place in a pot of cold water. Bring to just before a boil to remove any impurities from the pork. Drain and remove any excess moisture from the pork with a paper towel.
In a wok or heavy bottom pan (dutch oven works great), heat 2 tbsp neutral oil over medium high heat. Add pork and cook for 2-3 minutes until the pork has a golden brown color.
Add sliced ginger, bay leaves, star anise and rock sugar to the pork and cook for 1 minute to let the spices infuse.
To your pork and spices, add 2.5 cups of water along with Shaoxing wine, light soy sauce, and dark soy sauce. Stir to combine and bring to a low boil and cover over low heat.
Stirring occasionally to ensure sauce does not burn, simmer for 1 hour or until sauce has become thick and caramel-like and pork is tender.
Serve immediately over hot rice and spoon over extra sauce.
Notes
IF THE SAUCE ISN’T REDUCING..
If you find that the sauce isn’t reducing to a thick glaze, I would recommend you uncover and let it simmer. It may take a little bit longer to reduce due to higher water content in your specific piece of pork belly.
SIMMER ON LOW
You want to avoid burning the sauce, since it contains sugar. Make sure you are simmering on low and stir occasionally to ensure it’s not burning!
Nutrition
Calories: 1831kcalCarbohydrates: 5gProtein: 35gFat: 181gSaturated Fat: 66gPolyunsaturated Fat: 19gMonounsaturated Fat: 84gCholesterol: 245mgSodium: 1634mgPotassium: 753mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 46IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 48mgIron: 3mg
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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6 Comments
I’ve not had good luck with pork belly, but tried again and WOW! Incredible flavor! My whole family loved it and has requested it again multiple times.Reply
This is so decadent but delicious. We ate it with rice and kimchi.Reply
I’ve been using this as my go to recipe since I discovered it about a year ago, comes out so good everytime!Reply
Made this with my aunt, and although it took longer than he said (Braising just takes a while often), it was all worth it as it was one of the best dishes I have made (my aunt is also just a very good cook). Soo delicious – we used all the actual ingredients in the recipe but I’m sure if you don’t have all of them, missing out on one or two works just as wellReply
Beautiful yet simplistic, we make this at least once a month! The recipe is always a hitReply
I love this recipe. I haven’t had this in years and when I saw your video I had to make it. It is as good as I remember only think I did differently was add chilies. I will definitely be making this again.Reply
