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–+ servings
Three bao buns filled with savory pork belly, cucumber slices, and cilantro, plated on a white dish. Accompanied by bowls of sliced carrots and cucumbers, with additional garnish on the side.

Savory and Sweet Pork Belly Buns Recipe

An asian woman smiling in front of a potted plant.Hannah Lee
Savory and sweet pork belly buns that melt in your mouth, a perfect reward after a long week.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 2 hours
Total Time 2 hours 20 minutes
Meal Type Dinner, Snacks
Cuisine Asian
Servings 4
Calories 982 kcal
Difficulty Intermediate
Ingredient Cost $17
Shopping Cost$38

Equipment

  • Oven
  • Baking dish
  • Knife
  • Cutting board
  • Steamer

Ingredients
 
 

  • 1 lb pork belly
  • 2 tablespoons soy sauce
  • 2 tablespoons hoisin sauce
  • 1 tablespoon honey
  • 1 teaspoon five-spice powder
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon ginger powder
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • 8 buns bao, store-bought or homemade
  • Fresh cilantro chopped
  • cucumber Sliced
  • carrots Pickled
  • daikon Pickled

Instructions
 

  • Preheat the oven to 300°F (150°C).
  • In a small bowl, mix soy sauce, hoisin sauce, honey, five-spice powder, garlic powder, ginger powder, and black pepper.
    2 tablespoons soy sauce, 2 tablespoons hoisin sauce, 1 tablespoon honey, 1 teaspoon five-spice powder, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon ginger powder, 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • Rub the mixture all over the pork belly.
    1 lb pork belly
  • Place the pork belly in a baking dish and cover with foil.
  • Roast in the preheated oven for 2 hours until tender.
  • Remove from the oven and let it rest for 10 minutes before slicing.
  • Steam the bao buns according to the package instructions.
    8 buns
  • Fill each bun with a slice of pork belly, cilantro, cucumber, and pickled carrots and daikon.
    Fresh cilantro, cucumber, carrots, daikon
  • Serve immediately.

Notes

Adjust the pickled vegetables to your preference.
For a vegetarian option, use marinated tofu instead of pork belly.

Nutrition

Calories: 982kcalCarbohydrates: 75gProtein: 23gFat: 65gSaturated Fat: 22gPolyunsaturated Fat: 7gMonounsaturated Fat: 28gCholesterol: 82mgSodium: 1264mgPotassium: 275mgFiber: 3gSugar: 15gVitamin A: 17IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 32mgIron: 23mg
Keyword Asian Cuisine, Comfort Food, Pork Belly Buns, Savory, Sweet

Ingredient Costs: Cost of Recipe by Ingredient Measurements

Shopping Costs: Cost of Recipe with Brand New Ingredient Purchases

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