Air Fryer Braised Pork Belly
Perfect for Entertaining Guests: Braised Pork Belly Made in an Air Fryer
A visually stunning and incredibly delicious braised pork belly dish, perfect for hosting guests. This recipe uses an air fryer to achieve a wonderfully tender and flavorful result, rivaling traditional braised dishes. Get ready to impress with this ‘crispy outside, juicy inside’ pork belly!
Main Ingredients- 1 pack Pork Belly (skin-on, whole cut)
- 0.5 Tbsp Vinegar
Braising Sauce Ingredients- 4 Tbsp Soy Sauce
- 1/2 cup Water
- 2 Tbsp Oyster Sauce
- 0.5 Tbsp Minced Ginger
- 2 Tbsp Minced Garlic
- 3 Korean Red Chilies (deseeded and finely chopped)
- 3 Bay Leaves
- 1 tsp Coarse Black Peppercorns
- 2 Scallions (cut into large pieces)
- 3 Tbsp Cooking Wine (like Mirin or Cheongju)
- 2 Tbsp Plum Extract (Maesilcheong)
- 3 Tbsp Corn Syrup (or other liquid sweetener)
- 4 Tbsp Soy Sauce
- 1/2 cup Water
- 2 Tbsp Oyster Sauce
- 0.5 Tbsp Minced Ginger
- 2 Tbsp Minced Garlic
- 3 Korean Red Chilies (deseeded and finely chopped)
- 3 Bay Leaves
- 1 tsp Coarse Black Peppercorns
- 2 Scallions (cut into large pieces)
- 3 Tbsp Cooking Wine (like Mirin or Cheongju)
- 2 Tbsp Plum Extract (Maesilcheong)
- 3 Tbsp Corn Syrup (or other liquid sweetener)
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, prepare your pork belly. Using a cut with the skin on, like ‘Ogyeopsal’ (five-layered pork belly) or ‘Samgyeopsal’ (three-layered pork belly), will yield a more satisfying texture after braising.
Step 2
Cut the whole pork belly into 2 or 3 pieces so they fit comfortably in your air fryer basket. If the fat layers are very thick, you can score them lightly with a knife.
Step 3
Place the cut pork belly pieces into the air fryer basket. If your air fryer has a steam function, use it to cook for 30 minutes. (If not, you can steam it by cooking at 150°C / 300°F for about 20 minutes).
Step 4
After 30 minutes, the pork belly should be moist and cooked about 90% through. The exterior might still appear pale.
Step 5
Now, increase the air fryer temperature to 190°C (375°F) and cook for an additional 15 minutes. This step will crisp up the exterior while keeping the inside tender and juicy, achieving that desirable ‘crispy outside, juicy inside’ texture.
Step 6
After 15 minutes, check that the pork belly has a beautiful golden-brown color on the outside and is perfectly cooked through.
Step 7
For the braising sauce, roughly chop the scallions into large pieces and finely chop the deseeded Korean red chilies. Mince the ginger as finely as possible for the best flavor infusion.
Step 8
In a pot, combine the soy sauce, water, oyster sauce, cooking wine, plum extract, corn syrup, minced garlic, minced ginger, coarse peppercorns, bay leaves, chopped scallions, and chilies. Bring this mixture to a boil over medium heat for about 3 minutes to allow the flavors to meld. Once the sauce is simmering, add the air-fried pork belly pieces to the pot and begin braising over medium-low heat.
Step 9
Continue to braise over medium-low heat for about 10-15 minutes, basting the pork belly with the sauce frequently to ensure an even coating and deep flavor penetration. Turn the pieces occasionally so all sides are beautifully glazed.
Step 10
When the sauce has thickened and is almost gone, turn off the heat briefly. Stir in the vinegar and then turn the heat back up to high for about 1 minute. This final quick sear evaporates the strong vinegar aroma while locking in its subtle tang. Your braised pork belly is now complete!
Step 11
While the pork belly is resting, you can prepare some garnishes for presentation. Thinly slice cucumbers using a peeler and fold them in half. Cut carrots into wavy shapes using a decorative knife or a regular knife for a visually appealing touch.
Step 12
Allow the braised pork belly to cool slightly before slicing. This prevents it from falling apart. Slice the pork belly into thick, bite-sized pieces (about 1 cm or 0.4 inches thick). It should look appetizing with its crispy exterior and moist interior.
Step 13
For an even richer and deeper color, you can add a small amount (about 1/2 teaspoon) of ‘Lou Rou Fan’ sauce or dark soy sauce (like dark soy sauce, not regular soy sauce) during the final braising stage. This will give the pork belly a more sophisticated sheen.
Step 14
This impressive pork belly dish is perfect for special occasions like birthdays, housewarmings, or any home party. Enjoy this delightful culinary creation!
