Hong Shao Rou

Hong Shao Rou

Hong Shao Rou

This is my favorite way to prepare pork belly. Hong Shao Rou is a Shanghai Chinese classic dish. The belly is seared in melted sugar, then braised with light and dark soy sauces, shaoxing cooking wine, and aromatics, resulting in a reddish glossy melt in your mouth porky goodness. Serve the pork belly with steamed rice and a vegetable.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time1 hour 45 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Chinese
Keyword: Chinese, East Asian, main course, Pork
Author: Alex Gorgos

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 lb pork belly 1/2” thick; cut into 2” pieces
  • 2 green onions cut in half
  • 4 slices ginger
  • water

Braising Liquid

  • 2 tbsp vegetable oil
  • 3 tbsp sugar
  • 1/3 cup shaoxing cooking wine
  • 2 cups blanching liquid saved from the pork
  • 3 tbsp light soy sauce
  • 1 1/2 tbsp dark soy sauce
  • 6 slices ginger
  • 3 green onions cut into 2” pieces
  • 2 star anise pods

Instructions

  • Bring a pot of water to boil. Add in the pork belly, green onions, and ginger. Boil for 5 minutes. Skim off any of the scum that floats to the top.
    Chinese, main course, pork
  • Drain the water, reserving 2 cups of the liquid. Rinse the pork belly under cold water. Pat dry with paper towels.
    Chinese, main course, pork
  • Heat up cooking oil and sugar in a large sauté pan over medium heat.
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  • Watch the sugar. It will slowly turn an amber color. This will take about 5 minutes.
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  • Add the pork belly in a single layer to the pan.
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  • Cook the pork belly for 1 minute a side, making sure the sugar doesn’t burn.
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  • Add in the ginger and green onions. Cook for 1 minute.
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  • Pour in the soy sauces and cooking wine. Cook for a minute, scraping up the bits from the bottom of the pan.
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  • Add in the recesrved 2 cups of the blanching liquid. Bring to a boil. Cover. Reduce the heat to low and simmer for 90 minutes.
    Chinese, main course, pork
Chinese, main course, pork
That pork is glistening!
Chinese, main course, pork
Serve with steamed rice and your favorite vegetable.