Braised pork belly, a Chinese delicacy with a long history and unique flavor, is not only a taste bud enjoyment, but also an indispensable part of Chinese food culture. Pork belly, a prized ingredient revered for its unique taste and nutritional value, occupies a pivotal position in Chinese cuisine. Its mellow aroma and ruddy color make it the first choice for many family dinners and banquets.

In China, the history of braised pork belly can be traced back to ancient times, and it is not only a delicacy on the table, but also carries a deep cultural significance. In ancient times, the pig was regarded as a symbol of wealth and good harvest, and the pork belly, as a part of the pig, was naturally endowed with a beautiful meaning by people. On festivals or important occasions, braised pork belly often appears as an auspicious wonton, symbolizing family harmony and a happy life.

In traditional Chinese medicine, pork belly is believed to have the effects of replenishing deficiency, strengthening the spleen, and nourishing the stomach. According to the "Compendium of Materia Medica", pork belly can "nourish the body and invigorate the qi, strengthen the spleen and stomach". Ginger, as an indispensable excipient in braised pork belly, also plays an important role in traditional Chinese medicine, and is believed to be able to sweat and relieve the surface, warm and stop vomiting, and detoxify.

Cooking preparation

Main ingredients: 500 fresh pork belly (about 0 grams)

Excipients: 10 grams of ginger, 0 green onions, 0 cloves of garlic, 0 dried chilies

Seasoning: 5 ml light soy sauce, 0 ml dark soy sauce, 0 grams of caster sugar, 0 ml of cooking wine, 0 star anise, 0 small pieces of cinnamon, 0 bay leaves, 0 grams of salt, appropriate amount of water

The analysis of nutrients showed that pork belly was rich in protein, vitamins and minerals, and had the effect of replenishing deficiency and strengthening the spleen.

Ingredient substitution options:

• If you don't like spicy peppers, you can reduce or eliminate dried chili peppers.
• If you prefer other spices, you can replace star anise, cinnamon, and bay leaves in an appropriate amount according to your personal taste.

Cooking in detail

1. Cleaning the pork belly: Turn the pork belly inside out, scrub it repeatedly with salt and flour to remove mucus and odors, and then rinse it with water.
2. Blanch: Put the cleaned pork belly into the pot, add enough water, add a few slices of ginger and cooking wine, skim off the foam after boiling over high heat, remove after boiling for 5 minutes, and rinse well.
3. Preparation: Slice the ginger, chop the shallot, crush the garlic, and cut the dried chili pepper into small pieces.
4. Stir-fry sugar: Put a small amount of oil in a pan, add caster sugar, and slowly fry over low heat until the sugar dissolves and is reddish-brown.
5. Red Burn: Cut the blanched pork belly into a pot, add ginger slices, shallots, garlic and dried chili peppers, stir-fry evenly, add light soy sauce, dark soy sauce and cooking wine, and continue to stir-fry evenly.
6. Stew: Add enough water, add star anise, cinnamon, bay leaves, bring to a boil over high heat, turn to low heat and simmer for 2-0 hours, until the pork belly is cooked and flavorful.
7. Collect the juice: Finally, turn to high heat to reduce the juice, add an appropriate amount of salt to taste, and wait for the soup to thicken.

Cooking tips

1. When cleaning pork belly, the combination of salt and flour effectively removes mucus and odors.
2. Ginger and cooking wine are added during the blanching process to help further remove the fishy smell.
3. When stir-frying the sugar, you need to stir-fry it slowly over low heat to avoid burning the sugar.
4. During the simmering process, keep the heat low to allow the pork belly to fully absorb the flavor of the seasoning.

Tips for choosing the main ingredients

When buying pork belly, you should choose fresh pork belly with bright color, no peculiar smell, and firm texture.

Analysis of the principles of cooking

The cooking principle of braised pork belly is to make the pork belly fully absorb the flavor of the seasoning by slow cooking, while maintaining its unique taste. The addition of sugar color not only adds color to the dish, but also adds a unique sweetness to the braised pork belly.

Cooking quiz

1. Question: What should I do if the pork belly is not cleaned? Answer: Rub again with salt and flour until cleaned.
2. Question: What should I do if the sugar is burnt? Answer: If the sugar is charred, you can discard it and re-fry it.
3. Question: What should I do if the pork belly is not stewed? Answer: The simmering time can be extended to ensure that the pork belly fully absorbs the seasoning.
4. Question: What should I do if the soup is too dry? Answer: If the soup is too dry, add an appropriate amount of hot water to adjust to the ideal consistency.

Related dishes to share

1. Cleanse the belly of the pig

Introduction: Light and nourishing, suitable for diners who like the original taste.

Ingredients: pork belly, ginger, cooking wine, salt.

Flavor characteristics: The soup is clear in color, delicious in taste, and has the effect of nourishing the stomach.

Cooking Steps:

1. Wash the belly and blanch.
2. Put the pork belly, ginger slices, and cooking wine into a pot and add water to simmer.
3. Bring to a boil over high heat, then turn to low heat and simmer for 1 hours.
4. Add salt to taste.
5. Sprinkle with chopped green onion before cooking.
1. Spicy pork belly

Introduction: Spicy and fragrant, suitable for diners who like spicy taste.

Ingredients: pork belly, dried chili, Sichuan pepper, ginger, garlic, bean paste.

Flavor characteristics: spicy and attractive, rich in taste.

Cooking Steps:

1. Wash the belly and blanch.
2. Sauté peppercorns and dried chilies.
3. Add ginger, garlic and bean paste and stir-fry in red oil.
4. Add the pork belly pieces and stir-fry evenly.
5. Add an appropriate amount of water, simmer until the pork belly is cooked through, and remove the juice from the pot.

1. Pork belly claypot rice

Introduction: Fragrant and delicious, suitable for family dinners.

Ingredients: pork belly, rice, shiitake mushrooms, caramel, light soy sauce, dark soy sauce.

Flavor characteristics: The rice absorbs the essence of pork belly and has a rich flavor.

Cooking Steps:

1. Wash the rice and soak for 30 minutes.
2. Dice the pork belly, shiitake mushrooms and carrots.
3. Put the rice and diced pork belly in a pot and cook with water until the rice is cooked through.
4. Add light soy sauce and dark soy sauce to adjust the flavor and stir-fry evenly.
5. Sprinkle with chopped green onions, cover the pot and simmer for 2 minutes.
1. Pork belly soup

Introduction: Rich in nutrients, suitable for warming up in winter.

Ingredients: pork belly, white radish, wolfberry, salt.

Flavor characteristics: The soup is milky white, delicious in taste, and has nourishing effects.

Cooking Steps:

1. Wash the belly and blanch.
2. Put the pork belly, white radish cubes, and wolfberries into a pot, add water and simmer.
3. Bring to a boil over high heat, then turn to low heat and simmer for 2 hours.
4. Add salt to taste.
5. Sprinkle with chopped green onion before cooking.

Although braised pork belly is delicious, it is also necessary to pay attention to eating it in moderation to avoid affecting health due to high fat and sodium content. It is recommended to reduce the use of oil and salt when cooking to maintain a balanced nutrition.

The flavor of braised pork belly is characterized by its flavor and color, and you are welcome to share your cooking experience or cooking suggestions for this recipe, so let's explore more delicious possibilities together.