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5.0 from 6 votes

Buta no Kakuni

Buta no Kakuni (豚の角煮) is a Japanese dish made with pork belly simmered in soy sauce and dashi until it's melt-in-your-mouth tender.

Prep Time
5 mins
Cook Time
2 hrs 5 mins
Total Time
2 hrs 15 mins
Servings: 3 serving
Course: Main Course , Soup
Cuisine: Japanese

Ingredients

  • 600 grams skinless pork belly
  • 45 grams fresh ginger (~1 ½-inch length sliced into coins)
  • 12 grams garlic (~2 large cloves)
  • 6 grams niboshi (~20 dried baby sardines)
  • ⅓ cup sake
  • 1 ½ cups water
  • 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
  • 1 tablespoon soy sauce
  • 1 teaspoon salt

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Cut the pork into 2 ½" squares.
  2. Put the pork belly, fat side down, in a small heavy bottomed pot (such as a dutch oven) that's just large enough to hold the pork in a single layer. Put the pot over medium high heat and let the pork fry undisturbed until it's golden brown on the fat side.
  3. Flip each piece over and brown the other side, then transfer to a plate.
  4. Add the ginger, garlic, and niboshi and and fry until browned and fragrant.
  5. Add the sake and boil until you no longer smell alcohol.
  6. Add the water, sugar, soy sauce, salt, and return the pork to the pot. Bring to a simmer and then turn down the heat and cover with a tight fitting lid.
  7. Simmer until the pork belly is fall-apart-tender (about 2 hours).
  8. Strain the braising liquid and if you are going to serve the kakuni right away, skim off the extra fat. It's best if you let this sit in the fridge overnight though as this gives the meat a chance to absorb more flavor, and it will make removing the excess fat a lot easier.
  9. To serve, gently reheat the pork belly. Slice and serve with some of the braising liquid, hot mustard and steamed greens.