Twice Cooked Sticky Pork Belly - Sticky, Sweet & Spicy | Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What does twice-cooked pork belly mean? ›

“Twice-cooked” in the name means that pork belly was literally cooked twice. It was boiled first and then stir-fried. This dish was originated in Sichuan China and it is slighty different from different chefs in Sichuan. Chef's woking skill is also very important to this dish.

Twice-cooked pork is a Sichuan dish of fatty pork leg or belly, skin-on, that gets two very different cooking preparations. The skin is the best part of the dish.

Pork belly needs a combination of slow, gentle heat to tenderise the meat, plus a shorter blast at a higher heat to crisp up the skin. Cook at 180C/160C fan/gas 4 for 2 hrs 15 mins, then turn up the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6 for a further 35 minutes to crisp the crackling.

Twice-cooked pork shares a similar flavour profile as classic Sichuan dishes such as Mapo Tofu and Spicy Vermicelli Stir-fry. The key flavour, fragrant and spicy, comes from two versatile condiments: chilli bean paste and fermented black beans. Vegetables, such as leek, green garlic, fresh chili, etc.

Countries like South Korea and Japan favor these cuts for their traditional cooking methods and are willing to pay a premium for high-quality bellies. Moreover, the popularity and frequent use of bacon in North American recipes have increased demand for premium-quality pork bellies.

Compared with other cuts of pork, pork belly contains more saturated fat. While saturated fat can be part of a healthy diet, a South Korean study on pork belly intake suggests lowering your total calories from saturated fat. That's because it may be linked to numerous health conditions, including heart disease ( 4 ).

Whether you remove the skin or not is a personal choice and there is a ton of debate about when and why to remove the skin. We leave the skin on most of the time, like when we are making bacon, and then remove it after the smoking process is finished. The skin can get very tough when cooking pork belly.

One way to determine your porks' doneness is by the color of the juices that come out of it when you poke a hole in it with a knife or fork. If the juices run clear or are very faintly pink, the pork is done cooking. If they're mostly or entirely pink or red, it's best to continue cooking.

If fresh pork has reached 145°F (62.8 °C) throughout, even though it may still be pink in the center, it should be safe. The pink color can be due to the cooking method or added ingredients.

The skin wasn't dry enough. Make sure to pat the pork completely dry before rubbing in the salt and oil as excess moisture will stop it from crisping up. It's important to score the skin if you want it really crisp. You'll need a sharp knife for this, or ask your butcher to do it for you.

Can you cook pork belly too long? ›

Yes, if you cook a pork roast for too long, it can become tough and dry.

As the name would indicate, twice-cooked pork is a pork dish that undergoes two unique cooking processes: simmering and then stir-frying.

Boar taint is the offensive odor or taste that can be evident during the cooking or eating of pork or pork products derived from non-castrated male pigs once they reach puberty. Boar taint is found in around 20% of entire male finishing pigs.

Twice-cooked pork or double-cooked pork (Chinese: 回鍋肉; pinyin: huíguōròu; lit. 'meat returned to the pan (wok)') is a Chinese dish in Sichuan cuisine.

History of Twice-Cooked Pork

The bold and spicy flavors indicate that it originated in the Sichuan region of China, and one of the most common stories behind the unique method of preparation is related to its role as an offering for the gods or ancestors.