I think the Okinawans got the slow food concept right. Okinawa shoyu pork was one of my favorite recipes growing up. Shoyu pork is eaten over rice or on top of soba noodles. The soy sauce-marinated, slow-cooked pork has just the right amount of sweet taste (imagine Okinawan brown sugar). It is pretty close to perfect.
Preparation Details
Prep Time: 10 mins
Cook Time: 1 hr 30 mins
Total Time: 1 hr 40 mins
Servings: 6
Ingredients
- 1 ½ pounds whole pork belly
- ½ cup soy sauce
- ½ cup packed brown sugar
- ½ cup water
- ½ cup mirin (Japanese sweet wine)
- 2 teaspoons ground ginger
- 1 clove garlic, or to taste, minced
Steps
- Place pork belly into a large pot; cover with water by about 1-inch. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat; simmer for 2 minutes. Discard water; fill pot with fresh water to cover pork by about 1-inch. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce heat to a simmer. Cook until pork begins to soften, about 1 hour.
- Transfer pork to a cutting board and cool for 3 to 5 minutes; slice off and discard thick skin. Cut remaining pork meat into 1-inch wide slices. Set aside.
- Combine soy sauce, brown sugar, 1/2 cup water, mirin, ginger, and garlic in a large saucepan; bring to a boil over high heat. Add sliced pork belly; bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low. Place a sheet of aluminum foil directly over meat and sauce; simmer uncovered until pork is tender, 30 to 45 minutes, turning the pork several times to cook evenly.
