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Chinese Red Cooked Pork Belly Bao Recipe

Melt-in-Your-Mouth Chinese Red Cooked Pork Belly Bao Recipe

This Chinese Red Cooked Pork Belly Bao recipe combines savory sweetness with tender comfort, perfect for gatherings and customizable for any preference.
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Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 2 hours
Chilling Time 8 hours
Total Time 10 hours 30 minutes
Servings: 4 bao
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: Chinese
Calories: 300
Ingredients Equipment Method Nutrition Notes

Ingredients
  

For the Pork
  • 1 kg Pork Belly Can substitute with duck or chicken thighs.
  • 50 g Ginger Fresh slices.
  • 2 pieces Star Anise Or use five-spice powder.
  • 2 sticks Cinnamon Sticks Or ground cinnamon.
  • 1 teaspoon Fennel Seeds Omit for simpler taste.
  • 100 ml Light Soy Sauce Opt for tamari for gluten-free.
  • 50 ml Dark Soy Sauce Use regular soy sauce for milder flavor.
  • 100 ml Shaoxing Wine Substitute with dry sherry or mirin.
  • 50 g Brown Sugar Coconut sugar can be used.
  • 300 ml Water Essential for braising liquid.
For the Bao
  • 4 pieces Bao Buns Homemade or store-bought.
  • 100 g Shredded Green Cabbage Can substitute with shredded lettuce.
  • 2 pieces Sliced Spring Onions Optional.
  • 50 g Crushed Roasted Peanuts Sesame seeds as a nut-free alternative.
For the Spicy Mayo
  • 50 g Coconut Sriracha Or favorite hot sauce.
  • 100 g Japanese Kewpie Mayonnaise Regular mayonnaise will work.

Equipment

  • Oven
  • casserole dish
  • Grill Pan
  • Saucepan
  • Small bowl

Method
 

Step-by-Step Instructions
  1. Preheat your oven to 160°C (320°F).
  2. Prepare the braising liquid with light soy sauce, Shaoxing wine, brown sugar, dark soy sauce, and water, adding ginger and spring onions.
  3. Braise the pork belly in the liquid for 2 hours, keeping the skin side up.
  4. Make the spicy mayo by mixing coconut sriracha and Kewpie mayonnaise.
  5. Remove pork from the oven, skim fat, and reserve 1 cup of liquid; simmer the rest until thick.
  6. Grill sliced pork belly for 2-3 minutes per side, brushing with reduced liquid.
  7. Assemble bao by spreading spicy mayo in buns, adding grilled pork, cabbage, and peanuts.

Nutrition

Serving: 1baoCalories: 300kcalCarbohydrates: 35gProtein: 15gFat: 12gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 80mgSodium: 850mgPotassium: 400mgFiber: 2gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 200IUVitamin C: 15mgCalcium: 40mgIron: 2mg

Notes

Consider chilling the pork overnight for enhanced flavor. Check for tenderness after braising and adjust cooking time as needed. You can freeze both the pork and bao buns for later use.

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