Aromatic Pork Belly Hot Pot   lindah


1.5kg/3lb 5oz belly pork, with rind still on
570ml/1 pint pork or chicken stock (if available, otherwise water)
12 spring onions
100ml/3½fl oz light soy sauce
75ml/2½fl oz Chinese rice wine
25ml/1fl oz rice wine vinegar
2 tbsp demerera (or light brown) sugar
3 star anise
10cm/4in piece of fresh ginger root, peeled and sliced in rounds
a good pinch of dried chilli flakes


1. Cut the pork belly in large rectangular chunks (2.5x5cm/1x2in),
put in a large pan, pour over enough boiling water just to cover,
then bring back to the boil. Simmer gently for about 5 minutes,
skimming off the scum that rises to the surface, then drain through a
colander.

2. Rinse out the pan if necessary, return the pork to it and pour
over enough boiling hot stock (if available) or water to cover it
again.

3. Cut 5 of the spring onions in half and add to the pan with the soy
sauce, rice wine, vinegar, sugar, star anise, ginger and chilli
flakes. Cover tightly and simmer very slowly for about 2 hours,
turning the meat occasionally, until the pork is very tender, soft
and succulent.

4. Remove the pork with a slotted spoon and set aside. Strain the
cooking liquid, ideally through muslin or a fine chinois, into a
clean pan. Skim off as much fat as you can (but dont worry about
leaving a little), then boil the stock hard to reduce and concentrate
the flavours. It should be lightly syrupy and intensely aromatic, but
don't over reduce as the soy sauce may make it very salty.

5. Thinly slice the remaining spring onions on the diagonal. Return
the pork to the sauce and heat through.

6. Serve over plain noodles in a warmed soup bowl, with plenty of the
sauce ladled over, and the sliced spring onions scattered over the
meat.