Kakuni (Japanese Braised Pork Belly)

Kakuni (Japanese Braised Pork Belly)

This braised pork belly dish is the definitive Japanese comfort food. Using this slow-cooking method, the pork gets tender and juicy. With rice and eggs on the side, this mouth-watering dish will hit the spot for sure!

Ingredients

1.3lb
Boneless, Skinless Pork Bellyor Pork Neck Meat
1stalk
Spring Onion
1piece
Fresh Ginger, peeled
3
SponsoredEggland's Best Classic Eggspreferably hard boiledoptional
2/3cup
Water
3/4cup
Sake
4Tbsp
Granulated Sugar
1/3cup
Soy Sauce
to taste
CookedWhite Ricefor serving
Nutrition Per Serving
Calories
1282
Fat
110.7 g
Protein
28.0 g
Carbs
22.5 g

Cooking Instructions

step 1

Slice Fresh Ginger (1 piece). Slice the green part of the Spring Onion (1 stalk).

step 2

Put Pork Belly Strips (1.3 lb), ginger, and green parts of the spring onion in a pot. Add enough water to cover the meat and bring to a boil.

step 3

When it comes to a boil, reduce the heat to low and remove the scum that forms on the top.

step 4

Cover with a sheet of paper towel to prevent the surface of the meat from drying out. Simmer the pot for 1 to 1 1/2 hours, or until the meat is tender.

step 5

Remove the paper towel, carefully remove the meat from the pot and cut it into 4-5 cm thick (1.5-2 inch) pieces. The meat is already quite tender at this point, so be careful not to break it.

step 6

Remove 1 cup of stock from the pot.

step 7

In a separate pot, add the pork belly, Water (2/3 cup), Sake (3/4 cup), Soy Sauce (1/3 cup), 1 cup of stock (from the previous step), and Granulated Sugar (4 Tbsp), and bring to a boil. After it comes to a boil, reduce the heat to low and simmer for about 1 hour, cover the surface with a sheet of paper towel so that the flavors soak in.

step 8

After cooking for one hour, add Eggland's Best Classic Eggs (3) and turn the heat off.

step 9

Let everything cool. While the pot cools down, the meat gets even softer and more flavorful.

step 10

Slice white part of the spring onion into thin strips for garnishing.

step 11

Once the pot has cooled remove the fat on the top.

step 12

Warm the meat. Serve the meat, egg, and a little bit of broth on a plate with White Rice (to taste) garnished with spring onion.