Pork Belly in Black Vinegar | Guest Recipes | Nigella's Recipes (2024)

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Introduction

This recipe is based on a very traditional pork trotter, ginger and vinegar dish, which was made for confinement mothers because it was believed to provide nourishment and replenish energy. However, it required a lot of ingredients. So, I decided to showcase this pork belly and black vinegar recipe in a nod to the confinement dish. The pork belly is boiled first, then plunged into cold water and cooked again. This gives the pork a wonderful texture, reminiscent of the pork trotter dish. The flavours of the sweet and sour are there, but an extra layer of flavour is added by the garlic.

This recipe is based on a very traditional pork trotter, ginger and vinegar dish, which was made for confinement mothers because it was believed to provide nourishment and replenish energy. However, it required a lot of ingredients. So, I decided to showcase this pork belly and black vinegar recipe in a nod to the confinement dish. The pork belly is boiled first, then plunged into cold water and cooked again. This gives the pork a wonderful texture, reminiscent of the pork trotter dish. The flavours of the sweet and sour are there, but an extra layer of flavour is added by the garlic.

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  • Pork Belly in Black Vinegar | Guest Recipes | Nigella's Recipes (1)
    Simply Chinese Feasts
Pork Belly in Black Vinegar | Guest Recipes | Nigella's Recipes (2)

Ingredients

Serves: 4

MetricCups

PORK BELLY

  • 500 grams pork belly (chopped into large, bite-size chunks)
  • vegetable oil (for frying)

SAUCE

  • 30 grams fresh ginger root (peeled and sliced into rounds)
  • 1 large clove of garlic (finely sliced)
  • 4 tablespoons brown sugar
  • 1½ tablespoons shaoxing wine
  • 4 tablespoons chinese black vinegar
  • 3 tablespoons dark soy sauce
  • salt and white pepper

PORK BELLY

  • 1 pound 2 ounces pork belly (chopped into large, bite-size chunks)
  • vegetable oil (for frying)

SAUCE

  • 1 ounce fresh ginger root (peeled and sliced into rounds)
  • 1 large clove of garlic (finely sliced)
  • 4 tablespoons brown sugar
  • 1½ tablespoons shaoxing wine
  • 4 tablespoons chinese black vinegar
  • 3 tablespoons dark soy sauce
  • salt and white pepper

Method

Pork Belly in Black Vinegar is a guest recipe by Suzie Lee so we are not able to answer questions regarding this recipe

  1. Bring about 1 litre (34 fl oz/4¼ cups) of water to the boil in a cooking pot, then add the pork belly pieces and bring up to the boil again for 10 minutes. This removes any gamey taste and renders some of the pork fat. Remove the pork with a slotted spoon and set aside.
  2. Heat 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil in a wok or large frying pan over a high heat, then add the pork belly pieces and sear for about 5–8 minutes to give them some colour.
  3. Push the pork belly pieces to one side of the wok/pan. Some fat should have been released from the pork (if not, add another tablespoon of oil).
  4. To make the sauce, fry off the ginger and garlic in the wok/pan for about 1 minute.
  5. Add the sugar, Shaoxing wine, black vinegar and soy sauce and approximately 250 ml (8 fl oz/1 cup) of water (it should just cover all the pieces of meat).
  6. Pop the lid on the wok/pan and simmer for 30 minutes, then reduce the heat to low and leave the lid slightly ajar. Allow to cook for a further 15 minutes.
  7. Taste one of the pork belly pieces at the 45-minute mark. If it is still chewy, cook for a further 10–15 minutes with the lid fully on. You want the pork to melt in your mouth and burst with flavour.
  8. Adjust the seasoning to taste by adding more vinegar or sugar, or balance with some salt and pepper — trust your tastebuds!
  1. Bring about 1 litre (34 fl oz/4¼ cups) of water to the boil in a cooking pot, then add the pork belly pieces and bring up to the boil again for 10 minutes. This removes any gamey taste and renders some of the pork fat. Remove the pork with a slotted spoon and set aside.
  2. Heat 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil in a wok or large frying pan over a high heat, then add the pork belly pieces and sear for about 5–8 minutes to give them some colour.
  3. Push the pork belly pieces to one side of the wok/pan. Some fat should have been released from the pork (if not, add another tablespoon of oil).
  4. To make the sauce, fry off the ginger and garlic in the wok/pan for about 1 minute.
  5. Add the sugar, Shaoxing wine, black vinegar and soy sauce and approximately 250 ml (8 fl oz/1 cup) of water (it should just cover all the pieces of meat).
  6. Pop the lid on the wok/pan and simmer for 30 minutes, then reduce the heat to low and leave the lid slightly ajar. Allow to cook for a further 15 minutes.
  7. Taste one of the pork belly pieces at the 45-minute mark. If it is still chewy, cook for a further 10–15 minutes with the lid fully on. You want the pork to melt in your mouth and burst with flavour.
  8. Adjust the seasoning to taste by adding more vinegar or sugar, or balance with some salt and pepper — trust your tastebuds!

Additional Information

Top Tips:
This dish freezes well and can be kept in the freezer for a month.
If you do not have time, but love the taste of this dish, instead of boiling and browning the pork belly, finely slice some pork loin, fillet or shoulder and flash-fry for a couple of minutes. Then follow the next few steps without adding the pork, cooking the sauce for only 15 minutes and using just 125 ml (4 fl oz/½ cup) of water. Then toss in the flash-fried pork pieces and allow to reduce for another couple of minutes, so the sticky sauce coats the pieces of pork.

Top Tips:
This dish freezes well and can be kept in the freezer for a month.
If you do not have time, but love the taste of this dish, instead of boiling and browning the pork belly, finely slice some pork loin, fillet or shoulder and flash-fry for a couple of minutes. Then follow the next few steps without adding the pork, cooking the sauce for only 15 minutes and using just 125 ml (4 fl oz/½ cup) of water. Then toss in the flash-fried pork pieces and allow to reduce for another couple of minutes, so the sticky sauce coats the pieces of pork.

Try This Tip

A Short Guide To Roast Pork

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Pork Belly in Black Vinegar | Guest Recipes | Nigella's Recipes (3)

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Pork Belly in Black Vinegar | Guest Recipes | Nigella's Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What does vinegar do to pork belly? ›

White Vinegar helps dry out the skin – but it has a secondary purpose of removing the odour! If you are prepared, place the Pork in the Fridge UNCOVERED overnight – the skin will dry out. When you pre-heat your oven, remove the pork from the fridge and let it return to room temperature.

How to use black vinegar in cooking? ›

Seasoning and dipping: Use black vinegar to add tanginess and depth of flavor to dishes like dumplings, noodles or cold appetizers. Stir-frying: Add black vinegar toward the end of stir-frying to preserve its flavor. Soups and braises: Use black vinegar in soups or braised dishes to add a tangy note.

How do you cook pork belly so it's not tough? ›

Preheat oven to 450°F. Roast pork belly for 30 minutes on the middle rack in a heavy, oven-safe pan or skillet, skin side up / fat side up. Reduce heat to 275°F and roast for an hour or more, until tender but not mushy. (Larger pieces of pork belly will take longer.

Why put baking soda on pork belly? ›

It is a fact of life that dry skin crisps better than moist skin. Scotese's trick to crispy pork belly is to rub equal parts baking soda and salt into the skin—the combo of baking soda and salt will draw out moisture and set you up for success.

What does soaking pork in vinegar do? ›

Acidic ingredients like vinegar, lemon juice, yogurt and wine weaken collagen and protein in meat. Once the proteins are broken by acid, one loose protein can bond with another and trap liquid in the meat, making it juicy and tender. Yay!

Which vinegar is best for pork? ›

I let mine soak overnight but the longer, the better. I used balsamic vinegar but any other vinegar works: apple cider, white wine, rice, etc you decide. In a small bowl combine vinegar, olive oil and sage leaves. Place pork into a resealable plastic bag and pour marinade on top.

Why do you pour boiling water on pork belly? ›

boiling water trick

This helps to prep the skin to crackle as its now "pre-cooked" so to speak. Make sure to pat dry with paper towel to further dry afterwards.

Why won t my pork belly get crispy? ›

There are several reasons why you might not be getting perfectly crisp crackling. Not enough salt - use the full amount specified in the recipe to cover the pork belly rind when dry brining as this is what causes the crackling to puff up and become crispy when the salt reacts with the fat.

Why do people put vinegar on pork? ›

Tenderizing: The acidic nature of vinegar can help break down the collagen in meat, making it more tender. This is particularly useful for tougher cuts of meat.

How do Chinese make pork so tender? ›

How do you tenderise pork for stir fry? Velveting is a Chinese technique that helps keep meat tender during stir frying. Adding cornstarch and bicarb to your meat during the marinating process helps to coat your meat, giving it a velvety feel that makes the meat feel extra soft.

Is cornstarch or baking soda better for velveting? ›

While there are several ways to velvet, a pound of meat needs about two teaspoons of cornstarch and two teaspoons of oil, says Leung. You may also include two to three tablespoons of water. For beef, add a 1/4-teaspoon of baking soda for tenderizing. Additional seasonings are optional and vary from recipe to recipe.

What effect does vinegar have on pork? ›

Furthermore, fermented vinegar could enhance the sensory evaluation of barbecued pork sausages(tenderness, flavor, juiciness and overall acceptability).

Why is apple cider vinegar good on pork? ›

Apple Cider Vinegar – Adds a beautiful and tasty touch of acidity to the glaze that brightens up the apple glazed pork chops. Apple Cider – Gives the pork an intense layer of sweet apple flavor combined with the apple cider vinegar.

Why do you put vinegar in pulled pork? ›

This thin, vinegar-based finishing sauce, which differs from a BBQ sauce, is the secret ingredient to kick up my smoked pulled pork. After you've pulled your pork butt, drizzle over the meat and combine. The vinegar adds contrast to the smoky flavor and cuts through the fat in the meat.

How do you keep pork belly crispy? ›

It requires putting a thick layer of salt on the skin of your pork belly, making sure every inch of that pristine skin is covered in salt, then roasting it whole. Roasting this salt-covered belly in the oven will then draw out more moisture from the skin and form a hardened salt crust, which is then removed.

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