RP
RecipePoolDiscover your next favorite recipe
  • Recipes
  • Collections
  • Roundups
  • Meal Plans
  • Guides
  • About
Search
Browse
IngredientsCuisineDietMethodOccasion

Main Navigation

  • Recipes
  • Collections
  • Roundups
  • Meal Plans
  • Guides
  • About

Browse Faster

IngredientsCuisineDietMethodOccasion
Follow RecipePool on Pinterest
RecipePool

1,784+ tested recipes

Thoughtfully tested recipes, seasonal inspiration, and cooking guides to help you make something delicious every day.

Get weekly recipe inspiration

Explore

  • Recipes
  • Collections
  • Roundups
  • Seasonal
  • Products
  • Meal Plans
  • Guides
  • Ingredients

Browse By

  • Cuisine
  • Diet
  • Method
  • Occasion

Company

  • About
  • Contact
  • Editorial Policy
  • Recipe Testing
  • Privacy
  • Terms

© 2026 RecipePool. All rights reserved.

HomeSearchCollectionsSaved
  1. Home
  2. Recipes
  3. Red Braised Pork Belly
Glossy red braised pork belly cubes in a dark caramel sauce

Caramelized pork belly in soy-sugar glaze

Red Braised Pork Belly

Red Braised Pork Belly

1h 40mMedium

Prep Time

10 min

Cook Time

1 hr 30 min

Total Time

1 hr 40 min

Servings

6

6 servings

Difficulty

Medium

Cost

Moderate

$$

Be the first to rate this recipe
Share

Red Braised Pork Belly

Caramelized pork belly in soy-sugar glaze

Melt-in-your-mouth pork belly pieces lacquered in a glossy mahogany sauce of soy, rock sugar, and warm spices. Hong shao rou is the ultimate Chinese comfort dish that epitomizes the red-braising technique.

10m

Prep Time

90m

Cook Time

100m

Total Time

6

Servings

Medium

Difficulty

Moderate $$

Cost

Chinese CuisineMain CourseDairy-Free
Sarah Chen
Sarah Chen

September 8, 2024(Updated April 13, 2026)

Hong shao rou was reportedly Chairman Mao favorite dish, and one taste explains why. The pork belly becomes impossibly tender while the sauce reduces to a rich, sticky glaze.

Why This Recipe Works

Starting with a caramel base from rock sugar gives the sauce its signature amber color and complex sweetness. Long, slow braising renders the fat until it practically dissolves on the tongue.

Ingredients

  • 2 lbs pork belly, cut into 1.5-inch cubes
  • 3 tbsp rock sugar (or brown sugar)
  • 3 tbsp soy sauce
  • 1 tbsp dark soy sauce
  • 2 star anise pods
  • 1 cinnamon stick

Instructions

  1. 1

    Blanch pork belly cubes in boiling water for 3 minutes. Drain and rinse off impurities.

  2. 2

    Melt rock sugar in a dry wok over medium heat until it forms a golden caramel.

  3. 3

    Add pork belly pieces and toss to coat in the caramel. Stir-fry until browned on all sides.

  4. 4

    Add soy sauces, star anise, cinnamon, ginger slices, and enough hot water to just cover the pork. Bring to a boil.

  5. 5

    Reduce heat to low, cover, and braise for 75 minutes. Uncover and reduce sauce until glossy and thick. Serve over rice.

Serving Suggestions

Ways to Serve This Dish

  • Serve over steamed jasmine or sticky rice

  • Pair with a side of pickled vegetables or kimchi

  • Add a drizzle of sesame oil and toasted sesame seeds for extra flavor

Substitutions

Pork bellyBoneless short ribs

Beefier flavor with similar melt-in-your-mouth fat marbling

Rock sugarBrown sugar

Dissolves faster; use slightly less as it is sweeter

DepthPantry

Test Kitchen Pick

Soy Sauce

Helpful Pantry Staple

Why the soy sauce matters

This is doing more than adding salt. The right soy sauce gives the recipe a rounder, more savory base than a thin generic bottle.

This pantry choice affects depth more than most seasonings here.

  • Builds savory backbone quickly
  • Useful across stir-fries, marinades, and dipping sauces

A better soy sauce is one of the easiest pantry upgrades for Asian cooking.

Shop soy sauce for this recipe

Tips & Storage

Pro Tips

  • Use rock sugar for the most authentic flavor; it creates a cleaner, less cloying sweetness than white sugar.

  • Do not rush the braising; low and slow is essential for melt-in-your-mouth texture.

Storage

Refrigerate for up to 5 days. The flavors deepen beautifully overnight.

Reheating

Warm gently in a covered pan over low heat, adding a splash of water if the sauce has thickened.

Nutrition Facts

Per serving (80mg) · 6 servings

Calories480
LowModerateHigh

A moderate-calorie serving · based on a 2,000 cal daily diet

Protein22g
Carbohydrates38g
Fat10g
Fiber760mg
Sugar0g
Sodium8g

Nutritional values are approximate and may vary based on specific ingredients and preparation methods.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is dark soy sauce?
A thicker, less salty soy sauce used primarily for color. Regular soy sauce can substitute in smaller quantity.
Can I add hard-boiled eggs?
Absolutely; add peeled eggs in the last 30 minutes for braised tea-egg flavor.

Explore More

More Chinese RecipesMore Main CourseDairy-Free RecipesStovetop RecipesOne Pot Recipes
Sarah Chen

About Sarah Chen

Sarah Chen is a professional recipe developer and food editor with over a decade of experience in test kitchens and food media. She trained at the Culinary Institute of America before spending six years developing and testing recipes for national food publications, where she honed her ability to translate restaurant techniques into approachable home cooking. At RecipePool, Sarah leads recipe development, ensuring every dish is tested at least three times for clarity, accuracy, and genuine deliciousness. When she is not in the kitchen, she is browsing farmers markets and collecting vintage cookbooks.

View all recipes →

Some product links on this page may be affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate RecipePool earns from qualifying purchases.

Related Recipes

Cracked egg boiling in tea-infused water

Chinese Tea Eggs

280 min

Warm rice porridge congee with scallions in a ceramic bowl

Century Egg Congee

70 min

Close-up of steamed dim sum dumplings in a traditional bamboo basket, perfect for Asian cuisine themes.

Dim Sum Har Gow

48 min

Twice cooked pork belly slices stir-fried with leeks and peppers

Twice Cooked Pork

40 min

Mu shu pork with thin pancakes and hoisin sauce

Mu Shu Pork

30 min

Large braised pork meatballs with napa cabbage in a clay pot

Lion's Head Meatballs

80 min

You Might Also Like

Cracked egg boiling in tea-infused water
Gluten-FreeDairy-Free
Easy

Chinese

Chinese Tea Eggs

4h 40m8 servings
View Recipe

Chinese Tea Eggs

4h 40m•Easy
Warm rice porridge congee with scallions in a ceramic bowl
Gluten-FreeDairy-Free
Easy

Chinese

Century Egg Congee

1h 10m4 servings
View Recipe

Century Egg Congee

1h 10m•Easy
Close-up of steamed dim sum dumplings in a traditional bamboo basket, perfect for Asian cuisine themes.
Dairy-Free
Hard

Chinese

Dim Sum Har Gow

48 min4 servings
View Recipe

Dim Sum Har Gow

48 min•Hard
Twice cooked pork belly slices stir-fried with leeks and peppers
Dairy-Free
Medium

Chinese

Twice Cooked Pork

40 min4 servings
View Recipe

Twice Cooked Pork

40 min•Medium
Mu shu pork with thin pancakes and hoisin sauce
Dairy-Free
Medium

Chinese

Mu Shu Pork

30 min4 servings
View Recipe

Mu Shu Pork

30 min•Medium
Large braised pork meatballs with napa cabbage in a clay pot
Dairy-Free
Medium

Chinese

Lion's Head Meatballs

1h 20m4 servings
View Recipe

Lion's Head Meatballs

1h 20m•Medium
See more Chinese recipes →