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Okinawa Soy Sauce Pork

Okinawa Soy Sauce Pork is a delightful dish featuring tender pork belly simmered in a rich and sweet soy sauce mixture, perfect for weeknight dinners or gatherings.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour 45 minutes
Total Time 2 hours
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: Japanese
Calories: 450
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Main Ingredients
  • 1.5 pounds whole pork belly
  • 0.5 cup soy sauce
  • 0.5 cup packed brown sugar
  • 0.5 cup water
  • 0.5 cup mirin (Japanese sweet wine)
  • 2 teaspoons ground ginger
  • 1 clove garlic, or to taste

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Place pork belly into a large pot; cover with water by about 1-inch. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat; simmer for 2 minutes.
  2. Discard water; fill pot with fresh water to cover pork by about 1-inch. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce heat to a simmer. Cook until pork begins to soften, about 1 hour.
  3. Transfer pork to a cutting board and cool for 3 to 5 minutes; slice off and discard thick skin. Cut remaining pork meat into 1-inch wide slices. Set aside.
Cooking
  1. Combine soy sauce, brown sugar, 1/2 cup water, mirin, ginger, and garlic in a large saucepan; bring to a boil over high heat.
  2. Add sliced pork belly; bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low. Place a sheet of aluminum foil directly over meat and sauce; simmer uncovered until pork is tender, 30 to 45 minutes, turning the pork several times to cook evenly.

Notes

Serve Okinawa Soy Sauce Pork with steamed rice, spooning some of the sauce over the top. Blanched vegetables like bok choy or green beans can balance the richness of the pork. Garnish with sliced green onions for added flavor. For more flavor, marinate the pork belly in the soy sauce mixture for a few hours or overnight before cooking. If you want a thicker sauce, let it simmer uncovered for a few more minutes at the end.