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Chinese Ginger-Soy Braised Pork
Recipes for Chinese red-cooked pork vary by region and often are passed down within generations, so there are as many versions of this dish as there are families. The through-line, though, is succulent pork belly coated in savory spiced caramel. Dark soy sauce develops a crimson tint with long-cooking, lending hong shao rou its characteristic hue. Our Instant Pot iteration omits the condiment, which can be tricky to source, resulting in a dish that’s less red but no less delicious. We braise pork shoulder—a cut more widely available in U.S. markets than belly—with ginger, garlic and warm spices, rounded out by sugar, soy sauce and dry sherry, an easier-to-find alternative to Shaoxing, the rice wine traditionally used in the dish. Whether pressure- or slow-cooked until fork-tender, the meat is reserved and its aromatic braising liquid is reduced into a sticky-sweet sauce. Assertive and robust in flavor, hong shao rou is best served with plain rice and simple steamed or stir-fried vegetables.
4 to 6
Servings
Don't add liquid to the pot other than the ⅓ cup of dry sherry. Allowing the pork to braise in its own juices yields rich, meaty flavor and results in less liquid to reduce to a glaze at the end.
FAST: 1½ hours
Slow: 5½ to 6½ hours
Ingredients
-
¼
cup white sugar
-
3
pounds boneless pork shoulder, cut into 1-inch chunks
Directions
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01On a 6-quart Instant Pot, select Normal Sauté. Add the sugar and 1 tablespoon water, then cook, stirring occasionally, until the sugar has liquified and is golden brown, 6 to 8 minutes. Add the pork and toss to coat. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the pork is no longer pink and has rendered some fat, 7 to 10 minutes. Stir in the scallion whites, ginger, garlic, cinnamon, star anise, sherry and soy sauce. Press Cancel, then distribute the mixture in an even layer.
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