Slow cooking is a traditional method of preparing meat that has been used for centuries in Japanese cuisine. It involves cooking the meat at a low temperature for a long period of time, resulting in tender, flavorful dishes. One popular dish that utilizes this technique is Japanese slow cooked pork belly, also known as "buta no kakuni" in Japanese. This dish is typically served with a variety of vegetables and a savory sauce, making it a hearty and satisfying meal. In this article, we will explore the process of making this delicious pork belly dish and the different vegetables that can be used to create a well-balanced and nutritious meal.
Main Ingredients: Pork Belly, Chicken Stock, Oil, Salt
Pork belly is a popular dish in Japanese cuisine, and for good reason. The tender, fatty cut of meat is perfect for slow cooking, resulting in a melt-in-your-mouth texture that is hard to resist. Here are 20 delicious recipes for slow cooked pork belly that will have you craving more.
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Slow Cooked Pork in Tonkatsu Sauce (Japanese Barbecue...
Main Ingredients: Pork, Ketchup, Soy Sauce, Rice Wine, Worcestershire
This recipe takes a classic Japanese barbecue sauce, tonkatsu, and combines it with slow cooked pork belly for a flavorful and tender dish. The sauce is made with soy sauce, ketchup, and other seasonings, and is perfect for dipping the pork in after it has been cooked to perfection.
Chashu is a popular topping for ramen, and it is made by slow cooking pork belly in a flavorful marinade. The result is a tender and flavorful pork that is perfect for topping your favorite ramen bowl. This recipe is easy to make and will take your homemade ramen to the next level.
Kakuni is a traditional Japanese dish that involves slow cooking pork belly in a flavorful broth. The broth is made with soy sauce, sake, and other seasonings, and the pork is cooked until it is fall-apart tender. This dish is often served as a side dish or as a topping for rice bowls.
This recipe takes a more traditional approach to braised pork belly, using a combination of soy sauce, sake, and mirin to create a rich and flavorful broth. The pork is cooked until it is tender and then the broth is reduced to create a delicious glaze. Serve with rice and your favorite vegetables for a complete meal.
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Japanese Braised Pork Belly (Buta no Kakuni)
Main Ingredients: Canola Oil, Pork Belly, Leeks, Fresh Ginger, Dashi
Buta no kakuni is a popular dish in Japan, and for good reason. The pork is slow cooked in a flavorful broth until it is fall-apart tender, and then the broth is reduced to create a delicious glaze. Serve this dish with rice and your favorite vegetables for a hearty and satisfying meal.
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Kakuni (Japanese Simmered Pork Belly)
Main Ingredients: Pork Belly, Shallot, Ginger, Sake, Water, Soy Sauce
This recipe for kakuni is a bit different from others on this list, as it uses a combination of both simmering and slow cooking to create a tender and flavorful dish. The pork is cooked in a broth made with soy sauce, sake, and other seasonings, and then it is slow cooked to perfection. The result is a melt-in-your-mouth pork that is perfect for serving over rice or noodles.
This recipe for kakuni is a bit different from others on this list, as it uses a combination of both simmering and slow cooking to create a tender and flavorful dish. The pork is cooked in a broth made with soy sauce, sake, and other seasonings, and then it is slow cooked to perfection. The result is a melt-in-your-mouth pork that is perfect for serving over rice or noodles.
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Instant Pot Chashu for Ramen (Japanese Braised Pork...
Main Ingredients: Pork Belly, Green Onions, Fresh Ginger, Sake, Japanese
If you are looking for a quick and easy way to make chashu for your ramen, this recipe is for you. Using an Instant Pot, you can have tender and flavorful pork belly in a fraction of the time it would take to slow cook it. The result is just as delicious and perfect for topping your favorite bowl of ramen.
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Instant Pot Japanese Braised Pork Belly (Kakuni)
Main Ingredients: Pork Belly, Green Onions, Fresh Ginger, Onion
Similar to the previous recipe, this one also uses an Instant Pot to create a delicious and tender kakuni. The pork is cooked in a flavorful broth until it is fall-apart tender, and then the broth is reduced to create a thick and tasty glaze. Serve with rice and your favorite vegetables for a complete meal.
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Smokey Japanese Chashu (Smoked Pork Belly) On A...
Main Ingredients: Pork Belly, Soy Sauce, Sake, Mirin, Sugar, Scallions
This unique recipe adds a smoky twist to traditional chashu by smoking the pork belly before slow cooking it. The result is a tender and flavorful pork that is perfect for topping your favorite ramen bowl or serving as a main dish. Serve with rice and vegetables for a complete meal.
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Japanese Char Siew
Main Ingredients: Pork Belly, Soy Sauce, Sake, Mirin, Brown Sugar, Spring
Char siew is a popular Chinese dish, but this recipe gives it a Japanese twist by incorporating sake and mirin into the marinade for the pork. The pork is then slow cooked to perfection and basted with the marinade, resulting in a tender and flavorful dish that is perfect for serving with rice and vegetables.
This recipe for spicy miso ramen is not only delicious, but it also features tender and flavorful chashu as a topping. The pork is slow cooked in a flavorful broth and then sliced thinly to be added to the ramen. The result is a spicy and satisfying bowl of ramen that is perfect for a cold day.
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Slow-cooker Pork Belly Ramen
Main Ingredients: Chicken Stock, Tamari, Sake, Mirin, Sugar, White Miso
This recipe for pork belly ramen is perfect for those busy days when you don't have time to stand over the stove. The pork is slow cooked in a flavorful broth until it is tender and then added to a delicious ramen bowl. This recipe is easy to make and perfect for a quick and satisfying meal.
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Japanese Pork Gyoza
Main Ingredients: Cabbage, Egg, Soy Sauce, Green Onions, Pork, Wonton
Gyoza are a popular Japanese dumpling, and this recipe incorporates slow cooked pork belly as the filling. The pork is cooked until it is fall-apart tender and then mixed with other seasonings to create a delicious and flavorful filling. Serve with your favorite dipping sauce for a tasty appetizer or side dish.
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Pork Wonton Soup Meets Japanese Braised Pork Belly and...
Main Ingredients: Ground Pork, Green Onion, Soy Sauce, Sesame Oil
This unique recipe combines two popular dishes, wonton soup and braised pork belly, to create a flavorful and satisfying soup. The pork is slow cooked in a broth made with soy sauce, sake, and other seasonings, and then added to a tasty wonton soup. Serve as a main dish or as a starter for a complete meal.
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Japanese Butadon Pork Bowls
Main Ingredients: Pork Belly, Small Onion, Broth, Water, Tamari, Mirin
This recipe takes inspiration from a popular Japanese fast food dish, butadon, and gives it a homemade and healthier twist. The pork is slow cooked in a flavorful broth and then served over rice with a delicious sauce. Top with your favorite vegetables for a complete and tasty meal.
This recipe for okonomiyaki, a popular Japanese cabbage pancake, adds slow cooked pork belly as a delicious and flavorful topping. The pork is cooked until it is tender and then added to the pancake along with other tasty ingredients. Serve with your favorite toppings for a delicious and unique meal.
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Japanese Rice Alcohol.
Main Ingredients: Pork Belly, Green Onion, Garlic, Mirin, Sake, Tamari
Sake is a traditional Japanese rice alcohol that is often used in cooking, and it adds a unique flavor to dishes like braised pork belly. This recipe combines the two, resulting in a delicious and tender pork dish that is perfect for serving with rice and vegetables.
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20 Hour Slow Cooked Pork Belly
Main Ingredients: Pork Belly, Sugar, Black Vinegar, Soy Sauce, Five Spice
If you have the time and patience, this recipe for slow cooked pork belly is worth the effort. The pork is cooked for 20 hours in a flavorful broth, resulting in a melt-in-your-mouth texture that is hard to resist. Serve with rice and vegetables for a hearty and satisfying meal.
The Perfect Cut of Pork Belly
When it comes to making Japanese slow cooked pork belly, choosing the right cut of meat is crucial. Pork belly is a fatty cut of meat that comes from the underside of the pig, and it is often used in Asian cuisines. The best cuts for this dish are the ones that have an equal ratio of fat to meat, as this will result in a tender and flavorful dish. This featured ingredient is readily available at most Asian markets and can also be found in some Western supermarkets.
Vegetables for a Nutritious Meal
While the star of this dish is the succulent pork belly, the vegetables play an important supporting role. The most commonly used vegetables in Japanese slow cooked pork belly are daikon (Japanese radish), carrots, konnyaku (a type of yam), and shiitake mushrooms. The daikon and carrots add a subtle sweetness to the dish, while the konnyaku provides a unique texture. Shiitake mushrooms, on the other hand, add a rich umami flavor to the dish. However, feel free to experiment with other vegetables such as lotus root, bamboo shoots, and burdock root to create your own version of this dish.
A Savory Sauce to Tie It All Together
To complete the dish, a savory sauce is poured over the pork belly and vegetables. This sauce is usually made with soy sauce, sake, mirin (a type of sweet rice wine), and sugar. The combination of these ingredients creates a delicious and complex flavor that pairs well with the fatty pork belly. Some recipes also include ginger and garlic in the sauce for an added kick of flavor.
Now that you have a better understanding of the main ingredients used in Japanese slow cooked pork belly, it's time to try out this delicious dish for yourself. With its rich flavors and tender texture, it's no wonder why this dish has stood the test of time in Japanese cuisine. So gather your ingredients, fire up your slow cooker, and get ready to impress your family and friends with this mouth-watering dish.