Top 21 Pork Belly Recipes - Chef's Pencil (2024)

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Top 21 Pork Belly Recipes - Chef's Pencil (1)

Pork belly, that underrated cut of meat, defies expectations by delivering some of the most delicious and memorable meals. From Asian-inspired creations with sweet and savory twists to timeless European classics, there are so many outstanding choices. Here we have a selection of must-try recipes that show just how versatile pork belly can be.

1. Honey Glazed Fried Pork Belly with Carrots

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Glazing is a culinary technique that adds a glossy, flavorful coating to cooked meat, typically during the final stages of cooking. Our Honey Glazed version is a simple yet remarkable recipe that combines sweet, salty, and savory flavors for a delicious dining experience.

Perfect for a special dinner or a comforting weekday meal, this dish will become a favorite in your culinary repertoire.

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2. Roast Pork Belly with Apple Sauce

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This classic Sunday roast features a beautifully seasoned, soft and juicy pork belly with crispy skin accompanied by a velvety apple sauce. The twist is in the homemade sauce, which strikes the ideal balance – not too sweet, not too citrusy, but incredibly aromatic and with hints of vanilla.

While the recipe was designed with Kurobuta pork in mind, which has a slight added richness, you can be sure that any type of pork belly will create an equally delectable dish.

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3. Swedish Pan-fried Pork Belly with Onion Sauce/ Fläsk med löksås

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Embrace this cozy, heartwarming, traditional Swedish recipe that’s great for the cold seasons. The pork is crisped up in butter, becoming almost as crunchy as bacon, and it is served with steamy potatoes and an amazing creamy onion sauce.

A generous spoonful of lingonberry jam makes it even more authentic.

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4. Pork Belly With Baked Radish, Carrot Puree and Caramelized Apples

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“A bit of effort and a dash of patience makes flavors truly shine.” And that’s certainly true in this case. There are several components to work on in this recipe, but each one serves a purpose and contributes to making this a culinary delight.

While the roast is undeniably the star, it comes to life when paired with the creamy carrot purée, the earthy radishes, the zesty apple cider, and the crispy onion sheets. They bring depth and texture to the dish, making it a well-rounded and satisfying meal.

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5. Braised Pork Belly with Chilies

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For those who enjoy a bit of a kick (but not too much), we’ve got an awesome recipe. After searing the meat, it is lovingly braised in a mildly spicy yet extremely flavorful sauce, resulting in a succulent, rich, melt-in-your-mouth bite of pork. Presented alongside fragrant steamed jasmine rice, this dish offers an enjoyable balance of heat and flavor that’s sure to please your palate.

6. Swedish Pork Pancake/ Fläskpankaka

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What do you get when you combine pancakes and fried pork? That’s right, another Scandinavian classic, a Fläskpankaka. This oven baked pancake has a crispy exterior that gives way to tender, flavorful pork, delivering a gratifying and comforting morsel.

Spread some lingonberry jam or sugar on top and the kids will absolutely love it.

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7. Masas de Cerdo Frita (Cuban Fried Pork Chunks)

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Cuban cuisine is full of delicious pork recipes, but no other as popular as this one. Juicy fried pork chunks are covered with mojo, a mix of onions, garlic, and sour oranges that provide a taste of true Cuban aromas. It is fresh, zesty, and just so tasty. Plated with sautéed onions and moros y Cristianos (black beans and rice), it is true, customary Caribbean style.

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8. Pork Adobo

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Creating this beloved Filipino dish is a breeze, and you don’t need to be a professional chef to do it. Our pork adobo recipe delivers the genuine flavors of the Philippines straight to your kitchen. Plus, most of the cooking is handled by the spices (and your oven), making it very, very easy. The hardest part? The anticipation while it broils to perfection.

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9. Pomana Porcului: Romanian Pork Stew

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Christmas is a special time of year, cherished by many for its festive spirit and heartwarming traditions. It’s also a culinary celebration, where families come together to prepare and share time-honored dishes that have been passed down through generations.

Among these, pomana porcului, or pig’s alms, holds a special place as a traditional Romanian feast, symbolizing abundance, unity, and the joy of sharing good food with loved ones.

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10. Pork Belly Burnt Ends

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Some say burnt ends are the best way to enjoy pork. Why? Because fat = flavor.

For this recipe, you only need a sweet rub – something with brown sugar, smoked paprika, and chili powder – combined with Jack Daniels BBQ Sauce for a tangy-smoky-spicy aroma. Small tip: baste with a light coating of sauce before smoking, otherwise the meat might char.

11. Homemade Pancetta (Italian Pork Belly)

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Homemade authentic pancetta can be a delightful culinary project. You’ll need a bit of patience because the process of curing, seasoning, and drying the pork belly takes a while, but it’s definitely worth it. Plus, you’ll be learning a method that can be applied to other cuts as well.

Whether you’re enriching pasta or soups, or savoring it as an appetizer, homemade pancetta brings the heart and soul of Italian cuisine to your table.

12. Smoked Pork Belly

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Who doesn’t love barbecues? Smoked pork belly isn’t just a delicious recipe, it’s also a wonderful reason to host a gathering and an opportunity to bond with friends and family. Fresh air, a cold drink, tasty meat on the grill…sounds like a great afternoon.

13. Instant Pot Braised Pork Belly

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When you don’t have hours to invest in slow-cooking, the Instant Pot becomes your trusty assistant, shouldering all the hard work so you can relish a quick and appetizing meal.

Even more, this recipe is Asian inspired, using ingredients such as sake, tamari, and ginger.

14. Bulgogi Pork Belly Bao

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Sometimes, you try a new dish and it captivates so much, you are left craving more, determined to master it yourself. This is exactly how this recipe came to be.

Try these fluffy dough balls filled with the most tantalizing marinated pork and find out for yourself. A little warning, though: they’re thoroughly addictive.

15. BÁNH XÈO (Savory Vietnamese Crepes)

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These Vietnamese savory crepes have got it all: they’re crispy, tender, and burst with flavors. Turmeric in the batter gives a distinct yellow tone and earthy flavor, and the coconut milk provides a lovely creamy consistency. The filling includes shrimp, mung beans, and beansprouts along with the savory pork belly, all staples in Asian cuisine.

Pair them with the iconic nước mắm dipping sauce, and bánh xèo will become a delectable slice of Vietnamese culture right on your plate.

16. THỊT KHO (Vietnamese Braised Pork and Eggs)

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Speaking of Vietnamese classics, here’s another fantastic recipe that embraces the country’s rich culinary heritage. So good is it, it is served for weeknight meals and at special celebrations such as weddings and birthdays.

Thịt kho brings together succulent braised pork, soft eggs, and a unique caramelized sauce, created from a blend of fish sauce and aromatic spices.

17. Glazed Teriyaki Pork Belly Recipe with Jasmine Rice

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While this well-known Chinese dish is often a favorite takeout option, making it right at home is surprisingly easy. Once you’ve rendered the fat, cook for a few more minutes to get the pieces crispy, then pour over the sweet and spicy glaze. Plate over steamed jasmine rice, and you’re done!

Enjoy some Chinese food without leaving your home.

18. Pork Belly Ramen

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This popular Japanese dish takes on a wonderful twist when homemade. While making your own ramen noodles is an option, the real magic lies in the crispy oven-baked pork belly. Add a delicate, fragrant broth with hints of ginger, soy sauce, and sesame oil, and you’ve got an amazing fusion of flavors.

19. Vietnamese Pork Belly Simply Braised and Caramelised

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This recipe proves that authentic Vietnamese cuisine can be both easy to prepare and incredibly tasty. Just brown the pork in a wok and then toss in the rest of the ingredients. While some of the ingredients can be left out or replaced with alternatives, the fish sauce and MSG are a must for they the umami profile.

20. Pasta Carbonara

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For Chef Ele Troise, who runs the best Italian restaurant in the Melbourne area, this is a signature dish.

The choice of fettuccine pasta ensures maximum infusion of flavors, as the wide noodles have more surface to embrace the creamy sauce made of fresh eggs, genuine parmesan, and salty pancetta (i.e. Italian pork belly).

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21. Spaghetti Amatriciana

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Amatriciana pasta, made in the traditional fashion, is a true Italian classic that pays homage to the flavors of Rome. This iconic Italian pasta recipe uses spaghetti, a vibrant tomato sauce, pecorino cheese, pancetta (i.e. Italian pork belly) or the savory touch of guanciale, cured pork cheek.

It originated in the small town of Amatrice and continues to charm pasta lovers worldwide.

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When pork belly takes the lead in your recipe, disappointment simply isn’t on the menu. Try any or all of these dishes and you will be convinced.

Top 21 Pork Belly Recipes - Chef's Pencil (23)

Chef's Pencil Staff

Our editorial team is responsible for the research, creation, and publishing of in-house studies, original reports and articles on food trends, industry news and guides.

Top 21 Pork Belly Recipes - Chef's Pencil (2024)

FAQs

What is the best tool for crispy pork belly? ›

The Avanti Pork Belly Skin Crisping Tool and Tenderiser is the perfect tool for making pork crackling.

Should you score pork belly before cooking? ›

Skinless Pork Belly vs. Skin On Pork Belly

The only difference is that you'll need to score the skin with the skin-on variety before roasting to get that perfectly golden brown and crisp crackling (crispy pork skin) and allow the seasonings to permeate the fat and meat.

How to get crispy pork belly on smoker? ›

Preheat the smoker to 250F for indirect cooking. Add the pork belly skin side up to the smoker and let cook for 3 hours. Once the meat is 175F internal and the skin is a light red color, brush some white vinegar over the top. Heat up your oven to 400F and place the pork belly on a baking sheet with a wire rack.

How to smoke pork belly at 225? ›

Place directly onto the grill plate of preheated 225°F. smoker, fat side up. Smoke for 4 hours, spritzing every hour with apple juice. When properly cooked, the internal temperature of the pork should be 160°F.

Why won t my pork belly get crispy? ›

There are several reasons why you might not be getting perfectly crisp crackling. Not enough salt - use the full amount specified in the recipe to cover the pork belly rind when dry brining as this is what causes the crackling to puff up and become crispy when the salt reacts with the fat.

How do restaurants prepare pork belly? ›

We remove the hairs, clean it, boil it until just cooked, and marinate it. Then we dry the belly as much as possible. The drying means crispier skin. We also cut grooves and make holes in the skin, allowing the seasonings and oil to permeate better.

Why do you pour boiling water on pork belly? ›

boiling water trick

This helps to prep the skin to crackle as its now "pre-cooked" so to speak. Make sure to pat dry with paper towel to further dry afterwards.

Is it better to cook pork belly fast or slow? ›

Pork belly needs a combination of slow, gentle heat to tenderise the meat, plus a shorter blast at a higher heat to crisp up the skin. Cook at 180C/160C fan/gas 4 for 2 hrs 15 mins, then turn up the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6 for a further 35 minutes to crisp the crackling.

Why is pork belly so expensive? ›

It goes back to the elementary lessons of supply and demand. According to market analysis, pork bellies' supply is tight. The latest Cold Storage report by the USDA shows stocks of frozen bellies at a record low. Basically, the bacon stash is depleted, and it is time to restock the freezers.

Why is my smoked pork belly tough? ›

Can you overcook pork belly burnt ends? Absolutely — smoking for too long dries out the pork belly cubes, leaving them tough and rubbery.

Is pork belly healthy? ›

In addition to vitamins, pork belly also provides essential minerals such as iron, zinc, phosphorus, and selenium. Iron is crucial for the production of red blood cells and oxygen transportation, while zinc contributes to a robust immune system and wound healing.

Should you wrap pork belly when smoking? ›

You have to wait until the internal temperature of the meat hits 165 °F (74 °C). This should take around 6 hours. Spritz with apple juice about every hour or so—it helps! Once the pork belly reaches 165 °F (74 °C), remove it from the smoker and wrap it heavily in aluminum foil.

How to tell if pork belly is done? ›

One way to determine your porks' doneness is by the color of the juices that come out of it when you poke a hole in it with a knife or fork. If the juices run clear or are very faintly pink, the pork is done cooking. If they're mostly or entirely pink or red, it's best to continue cooking.

Do you smoke pork belly fat side up or down? ›

Place pork belly on the smoker rack, fat side up. Smoked for approximately 3-4 hours or until it reaches an internal temperature of 165* degrees F. Increase smoker temperature to 400-450 degrees F and place a piece of heavy duty foil underneath the pork belly (folding the edges up so it acts like a little boat or pan).

What is the best way to get pork crackling on pork belly? ›

Hot oven 30 minutes to develop crackling – Crank oven to 240°C/465°F and put pork back in for 30 minutes, observing and rotating as needed to encourage even cooking, until the skin is golden, puffy and super-crispy; Rest 10 minutes – Rest the pork belly for 10 minutes before slicing.

What do you use to poke holes in pork belly? ›

Preparing pork belly

Start the day before you want to serve your pork. If you have a Chinese hole puncher or pork skin pricker, you can use that to puncture holes all over the pork skin. Alternatively, you could use toothpicks to poke as many holes as possible into the skin of the pork belly.

How do you keep pork belly crispy? ›

Crispen Skin

Increase oven temperature to 425°F, and add a little liquid to the drip pan on the bottom rack so any dripping fat does not smoke up the house. Poke a bunch more holes in the skin. It will be easier when hot. Return pork belly to oven and cook approximately 1 hour, but keep a very close eye.

What is crispy pork floss? ›

Description. Following our traditional secret recipe, the pork floss is exquisitely roasted till golden brown and crispy. Its slight sweetness and fluffy texture have made it a mouthwatering snack, popular among all generations. New Peng Hiang's Crispy Pork Floss is so good that you can eat it on its own.

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