Feature - Easy Crispy Asian Pork Belly

Easy Crispy Asian Pork Belly Recipe

By: Andrea Alden

Need a change of pace? Want a colorful meal that is so jam-packed with flavor, you can't get over it? This recipe for Easy Crispy Asian Pork Belly is just the ticket! Easy to make, beyond gratifying, this Asian inspired BBQed meal will leave you in a satiated stupor of deliciousness. Crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, succulent pork belly is the star of this dish. It has been seasoned to perfection with a simple mixture, then slow roasted to perfection. Sliced and served atop a colorful stirfry of vegetables and udon, this recipe is perfected as you drizzle a sweet and spicy glaze of maple and chilis over top. Serve this hot, garnished with grilled bok choi, toasted sesame seeds, and a ramen-style egg. 

Prep Time
10 min
Cook Time
120 min
Yield
2
Difficulty
Easy

Easy Crispy Asian Pork Belly Recipe

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Ingredients

Method

Photos

Ingredients

1 lb.

pork belly

1 tsp.

baking soda

1 tsp.

salt

1 tbsp.

white vinegar


Rub

2 tsp.

black pepper

3 tbsp.

brown sugar

1 tsp.

garlic powder

3 tsp.

Chinese five spice powder


Glaze/Sauce

2 tsp.

sesame oil

¼ cup

maple syrup

3 tbsp.

sake (Japanese Rice Wine)

pinch 

red pepper flakes


To Serve

2 heads

bok choi, sliced in half

1

red onion, sliced

sweet bell pepper, sliced (any color)

500 g (approx. 3 cups)

thick udon noodles, cooked

egg, soft boiled

Method
  1. Prep your pork belly by taking something sharp, like the needle from the Napoleon Marinade Injector, and stab the skin of the pork belly about one thousand times. Yes, seriously one thousand, or close to it. You don't have to count though, roughly one thousand. Remember to hit the skin and not yourself. The goal is the pierce the skin so that the fat can render through making it crispy.
  2. In a small dish or ramekin, combine the salt and baking soda. Sprinkle the skin and rub it in. This will help tenderize things. Refrigerate the pork belly uncovered for 8 to 24 hours, preferably in a well-vented area in your fridge.
  3. Rinse off the pork belly and pat it dry. Then spoon the vinegar over the skin to neutralize any remaining baking soda. If the vinegar bubbles a lot, re-rinse the pork belly. You want no baking soda left. Pat the pork dry again.
  4. We’re starting low and slow for this recipe, so preheat your grill to around 325°F, preparing for indirect cooking. You can also place it on a rack over a lined cooking tray to catch the lovely rendered fats.
  5. In a saucepan, combine the sesame oil, maple syrup, and sake, remove a few tablespoons to a separate bowl before adding the red pepper flakes. In a separate bowl combine the pepper, brown sugar, garlic, and Chinese Five Spice. Brush all sides of the pork bellies with the maple syrup mixture that you set aside, then rub thoroughly with the brown sugar mixture. Bring the saucepan with the maple syrup, sake and pepper flakes to a simmer until it has thickened.
  6. Grill-roast the pork for about 90 minutes over indirect heat. Then you want to crank things up. Continue cooking for another 15 to 30 minutes, or until the skin of your pork belly has puffed up and is crispy. While this is happening, turn on your side burner and add a little oil to the Stainless Steel Wok. Stir fry the onion and bell peppers. Then add the udon and a splash of the glaze for flavor. Grill the bok choi over direct heat until grill marks form. Everything should be ready about the same time.
  7. When it’s all cooked, remove the pork belly from the grill. Turn it on its side or skin side down and slice it into ¼ - inch thick slices. Serve it on a bed of stirfry with a drizzle of the maple syrup sauce you made. Add the grilled bok choi, half of a ramen egg, and top with some green onion and sesame seeds.

This Easy Crispy Asian Pork Belly is a rich dish; you won’t be making this every night, though you will want to. The cracklings - the skin of the pork belly has been fried, or crisp-i-fied in some manner - is a counter to the delightful tenderness of the pork belly. How do you yeat your pork belly? Tell us with photos and stories on our social feeds using the hashtags #BBQasianStyle and #NapoleonGrills. 

Crispy Asian Pork Belly - Gather your ingredients

Gather your ingredients

Crispy Asian Pork Belly - Season the belly thoroughly

Season the belly thoroughly 

Crispy Asian Pork Belly - Grill using indirect heat for 90 minutes

Grill using indirect heat for 90 minutes

Crispy Asian Pork Belly - Starting to get crispy

Starting to get crispy

Crispy Asian Pork Belly - Make the stirfry before the pork belly is done

Make the stirfry before the pork belly is done

Crispy Asian Pork Belly - While the stirfy is going, cook the bok choi over direct heat

While the stirfy is going, cook the bok choi over direct heat

Crispy Asian Pork Belly - Serve everything together

Serve everything together

Crispy Asian Pork Belly - The luscious pork and crisp skin and vegetables pair perfectly

The luscious pork and crisp skin and vegetables pair perfectly

Crispy Asian Pork Belly - The sweet and slightly spicy sauce brings everything together

The sweet and slightly spicy sauce brings everything together

Crispy Asian Pork Belly - What a delicious meal

What a delicious meal

AndreaAlden
Andrea Alden

I used to be the Sultana of Sizzle, but you can call me Andrea. I have always been passionate about food. Even though I was majoring in Art and Graphic Design, I would frequently be found cooking for my friends and family.

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Crispy Asian Pork Belly - Gather your ingredients

Gather your ingredients

Crispy Asian Pork Belly - Season the belly thoroughly

Season the belly thoroughly 

Crispy Asian Pork Belly - Grill using indirect heat for 90 minutes

Grill using indirect heat for 90 minutes

Crispy Asian Pork Belly - Starting to get crispy

Starting to get crispy

Crispy Asian Pork Belly - Make the stirfry before the pork belly is done

Make the stirfry before the pork belly is done

Crispy Asian Pork Belly - While the stirfy is going, cook the bok choi over direct heat

While the stirfy is going, cook the bok choi over direct heat

Crispy Asian Pork Belly - Serve everything together

Serve everything together

Crispy Asian Pork Belly - The luscious pork and crisp skin and vegetables pair perfectly

The luscious pork and crisp skin and vegetables pair perfectly

Crispy Asian Pork Belly - The sweet and slightly spicy sauce brings everything together

The sweet and slightly spicy sauce brings everything together

Crispy Asian Pork Belly - What a delicious meal

What a delicious meal