Tender Boiled Pork Belly (Suyuk)
Easy Homemade Boiled Pork Belly Recipe, Loved by Kids
The leafy greens from our garden are exceptionally tender and delicious these days, so I decided to make some boiled pork belly (Suyuk). It’s incredibly tasty when you wrap a slice of this tender Suyuk in a fresh lettuce leaf with a simple dipping sauce. Even picky eaters, my kids, are curious and trying it out because it’s from the lettuce they grew themselves! This recipe will help you enjoy restaurant-quality Suyuk right in your own home.
Main Ingredients- Pork shoulder or belly, 5 ‘geun’ (approx. 3kg)
- Green onions, 2 stalks
- Onions, 2
- Ginger, 3 cloves
- Garlic cloves, 20
- Bay leaves, 5
- Doenjang (soybean paste), 1.5 heaping tablespoons
- Mirin or soju, 1/2 cup (100ml)
- Water, 3 liters
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, prepare all the ingredients needed for boiling the pork. Using about 1.5 heaping tablespoons of Doenjang will help eliminate any porky smell and enhance the savory flavor.
Step 2
In a large pot, add 3 liters of clean water. Add the green onions whole, the onions washed thoroughly (skin on is fine), garlic cloves whole or roughly chopped, and sliced ginger. Stir in the Doenjang, bay leaves, and half a cup of mirin or soju. If you have whole peppercorns, add them for extra aroma, but it’s okay if you don’t.
Step 3
Once the water in the pot starts to boil, add the pork shoulder or belly. If the pieces are too large, they will take longer to cook, so it’s best to cut them into manageable sizes that fit your pot. Once the pork is in, bring the water back to a rolling boil over high heat.
Step 4
Initially, let it boil uncovered. Once it’s at a rolling boil, continue cooking for about 5 minutes. Then, cover the pot with a lid, reduce the heat to medium-low, and let it simmer for about 1 hour until tender. Boiling it covered over low heat ensures the pork becomes tender and juicy. It’s important to gradually reduce the heat from high to medium-low.
Step 5
After about an hour of simmering, the pork should be cooked through and very tender. Remove the pork from the pot, let it cool slightly, and then slice it into your desired serving size. Your delicious boiled pork belly (Suyuk) is now ready to be enjoyed with fresh greens!
