Savory Chinese Red Cooked Pork Belly Bao Recipe for Cozy Cravings

Enjoy a flavorful journey with this Chinese Red Cooked Pork Belly Bao recipe, perfect for cozy cravings and customizable to suit every taste.

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Prep Time 30

Cook Time 2

Chilling Time 1

Total Time 3 30

Servings: 4 bao

Course: Lunch

Cuisine: Chinese

Calories: 400

Ingredients Equipment Method Nutrition Notes

Ingredients

For the Pork Filling

2 pounds Pork Belly Substitutable with duck or chicken thighs
1/4 cup Light Soy Sauce Use tamari for a gluten-free option
1/4 cup Shaoxing Wine Dry sherry or mirin can be substitutes
3 tablespoons Brown Sugar Coconut sugar can be a substitute
2 tablespoons Dark Soy Sauce Regular soy sauce can be used
5 slices Ginger Fresh ginger is preferred
2 pieces Star Anise Replace with five-spice powder if unavailable
2 sticks Cinnamon Substitute with ground cinnamon if necessary
1 teaspoon Fennel Seeds Optional, can be omitted if disliked

For Assembling the Bao

8 pieces Bao Buns Can be homemade or store-bought
2 cups Shredded Green Cabbage Shredded lettuce can be used for a lighter option
4 pieces Sliced Spring Onions Omit if unavailable
1/2 cup Crushed Roasted Peanuts Substitute with sesame seeds for a different texture

For the Spicy Mayo

3 tablespoons Coconut Sriracha Any preferred hot sauce can be used
1/2 cup Kewpie Mayonnaise Regular mayonnaise is an acceptable alternative

Equipment

casserole dish
Grill or skillet
mixing bowl

Method

Cooking Instructions

Preheat your oven to 160°C (320°F).
In your casserole dish, combine the light soy sauce, Shaoxing wine, brown sugar, dark soy sauce, ginger slices, halved spring onions, and enough water to fully submerge the pork belly. Mix well.
Place the pork belly skin-side up into the braising liquid, ensuring it is fully submerged. Cover and braise for 2 hours.
In a mixing bowl, combine coconut sriracha and Kewpie mayonnaise until smooth.
Remove the pork and skim off excess fat. Reserve 1 cup of this liquid and simmer the rest for 10-12 minutes to thicken.
Slice the pork belly and grill for 2-3 minutes on each side, brushing with the reserved braising liquid.
Spread spicy mayo inside each bao bun, fill with grilled pork belly, top with shredded cabbage and peanuts, and drizzle with extra spicy mayo.

Nutrition

Serving: 1baoCalories: 400kcalCarbohydrates: 30gProtein: 25gFat: 20gSaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 70mgSodium: 800mgPotassium: 300mgFiber: 2gSugar: 10gVitamin A: 200IUVitamin C: 10mgCalcium: 50mgIron: 2mg

Notes

Improve flavor by chilling the pork overnight. Store leftovers separately for freshness.

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