Buta Kakuni (Japanese Braised Pork)

User Reviews

4.7

9 reviews
Excellent
  • Prep Time

    10 mins

  • Cook Time

    2 hrs

  • Total Time

    2 hrs 10 mins

  • Servings

    4

  • Calories

    753 kcal

  • Course

    Main Course

  • Cuisine

    Japanese

Buta Kakuni (Japanese Braised Pork)

Melting and tender pieces of pork belly, slowly stewed in a rich, umami sauce. Sticky, sweet and luxuriously tasty, Buta Kakuni is an intense hit of Japanese fragrance and flavour.

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Ingredients

Servings

Pork cooking liquid

  • 18 oz pork belly (500g) (cut into large squares/chunks)
  • 1 tbsp vegetable oil
  • 1 spring onion
  • 5 lices ginger
  • 1 tbsp dashi soup mix
  • cups water

For the simmer sauce

  • ½ cup sake
  • ½ cup water
  • 2 tbsp dark soy sauce
  • 1 tbsp light soy sauce
  • 2 tbsp mirin
  • 2 tbsp sugar
  • 1 lice ginger

Garnish

  • 1 spring onion
  • 1 tsp toasted sesame seeds
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Instructions

  1. Heat the oil in a wok or large pan and fry the pork pieces for 1-2 minutes per side to sear and char slightly. Do this in batches to avoid crowding the pan.
  2. Return all the pork to the pan and pour in all the remaining ingredients for the pork cooking liquid. Bring this to a boil, then reduce the heat to low to gently simmer.At this stage add a sheet of greaseproof paper (cut into a circle) to act as the otoshibuta (drop-lid). I used a pre-cut baking parchment circle which fit perfectly. You could also just put on a tightly fitting lid to the pan.Gently cook the pork for 1½ hours until tender.
  3. Remove the otoshibuta and then fish out the pork. Pour the cooking liquid through a sieve and set aside. Discard the ginger and spring onion.This cooking liquid can be used as a delicious broth to accompany the dish - see notes below.
  4. Return the pork to the pan and then pour in all the simmer sauce ingredients. Bring this to a boil then reduce the heat to medium/low and simmer gently for around 25 minutes until the sauce is thick and sticky. Discard the slice of ginger before serving. That's it!
  5. Serve the Kakuni alongside freshly cooked rice garnished with a little sesame seed and thinly sliced spring onions.

Notes

  • Make a soup with the leftover cooking liquid
  • The cooking broth used in the first stage is way too delicious to discard. It makes for a splendid soup to accompany the kakuni. Simply add some cooked noodles (wheat, soba or udon), a few sliced spring onions and a dash of sesame seeds or togarashi pepper and you have a joyous little soup dish!

Nutrition Information

Show Details
Calories 753kcal (38%) Carbohydrates 13g (4%) Protein 14g (28%) Fat 68g (105%) Saturated Fat 25g (125%) Polyunsaturated Fat 7g Monounsaturated Fat 32g Cholesterol 92mg (31%) Sodium 883mg (37%) Potassium 307mg (9%) Fiber 0.4g (2%) Sugar 8g (16%) Vitamin A 73IU (1%) Vitamin C 2mg (2%) Calcium 27mg (3%) Iron 1mg (6%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 4Serving

Amount Per Serving

Calories 753 kcal

% Daily Value*

Calories 753kcal 38%
Carbohydrates 13g 4%
Protein 14g 28%
Fat 68g 105%
Saturated Fat 25g 125%
Polyunsaturated Fat 7g 41%
Monounsaturated Fat 32g 160%
Cholesterol 92mg 31%
Sodium 883mg 37%
Potassium 307mg 7%
Fiber 0.4g 2%
Sugar 8g 16%
Vitamin A 73IU 1%
Vitamin C 2mg 2%
Calcium 27mg 3%
Iron 1mg 6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

Genuine Reviews

User Reviews

Overall Rating

4.7

9 reviews
Excellent

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