Hong Shao Rou recipe for any cooking level - Recipe by Doobydobap (2024)

Hong Shao Rou recipe for any cooking level - Recipe by Doobydobap (1)

Hong Shao Rou

  • Hong Shao Rou recipe for any cooking level - Recipe by Doobydobap (2)

Recipe

The juicy and fatty pork belly is smothered in caramelized sauce. It's sticky, savory, sweet, and succulent.

Written by Doobydobap

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Hong Shao Rou 红烧肉

Hong Shao Rou (红烧肉) is a popular Shanghainese dish. The literal translation of the dish is red braised pork. It's stewed and cooked in soy sauce and sugar, which gives the sauce a glossy caramelized finish.

I first had homemade Hong Shao Rou when I got invited to my friend Danielle, (who's now working as an assistant sommelier at ATOMIX!!! WOOHOO), 's boyfriend's family home. I was staying in New York City that summer working and was subsisting off of Trader Joe's sandwiches and in dire need of home-cooked Asian food.

When I asked what Ryan (Danielle's boyfriend)'s mother what her secret ingredient was, she said it was rock sugar. I had never heard of rock sugar until then. She brought out a gem-like rock to show me what it was. She told me that because the sugar crystals were so big, the slow melting of the sugar allowed for deeper flavors to develop within the sauce. Moreover, unlike granulated white sugar, rock sugar was a more "natural" way of cultivating sugar that dates back to the seventh century during the Tang Dynasty. The milder sweetness and extra molasses in it also gives the dish a shiny glaze.

I did a little research into the difference between regular sugar and rock sugar. Rock sugar is less sweeter than white granulated sugar, but the processing difference between granulated white sugar and rock sugar are minimal. Yellow rock sugar, which is the one I used, has higher amount of molasses, but it's also a negligible difference.

  • Hong Shao Rou recipe for any cooking level - Recipe by Doobydobap (3)
  • Hong Shao Rou recipe for any cooking level - Recipe by Doobydobap (4)

Most Chinese grocery stores will carry rock sugar; however, you can opt to substitute it with equal parts white/ light brown sugar as well.

Most restaurants that serve this dish add a hint of red food coloring to make the dish even more red and vibrant. I personally don't have food coloring at my home and wanted to use a natural coloring agent. I decided to use 1 tbsp of the homemade chili oil I have in my fridge in the braise and the color turned out absolutely stunning. The chili oil didn't add any spice to the dish but amplified the fragrance and glossiness of the sauce.

Here's the link to my homemade chili oil recipe if you're interested!

doobydobap.com/homemade-chili-oil

Ingredients for Hong Shao Rou

  • 500g pork belly, cut into approximately 3cm cubes
  • 1 tbsp neutral oil
  • 20g rock sugar or 2 tbsp sugar
  • 2 tbsp light soy sauce
  • 2 tbsp dark soy sauce
  • ¼ cup Shaoxing wine
  • 600mL water
  • 3 slices of ginger
  • 2 star anise pods
  • 1 tangerine peel (fresh or dry. Any citrus peel will work!)
  • 1 tbsp chili oil
  • Green onions for garnish

The aroma from the citrus peel, ginger, and star anise is phenomenal. A lot of the recipes online did not have citrus peel, but this was a tip I got from my friend's mom!

Directions

Blanch the pork belly. In a pot of boiling water, gently drop the pork belly cubes in. Blanch for 3-4 minutes until the scum rises to the top. This ensures that the impurities won’t be in our final sauce.

Rinse your pork chunks for any impurities. Drain and tab excess moisture with a tea towel.

  • Hong Shao Rou recipe for any cooking level - Recipe by Doobydobap (5)
  • Hong Shao Rou recipe for any cooking level - Recipe by Doobydobap (6)
  • Hong Shao Rou recipe for any cooking level - Recipe by Doobydobap (7)

Heat a heavy duty pot (like a dutch oven or large cast iron with a lid) on medium high heat.

Drizzle in the oil and add the pork.

Sear the pork on all sides and add the sugar and soy sauce in.

Once the sugar has caramelized and coated the pork, deglaze the pot with Shaoxing wine and water.

Add the ginger, citrus peel, and star anise.

  • Hong Shao Rou recipe for any cooking level - Recipe by Doobydobap (8)
  • Hong Shao Rou recipe for any cooking level - Recipe by Doobydobap (9)
  • Hong Shao Rou recipe for any cooking level - Recipe by Doobydobap (10)
  • Hong Shao Rou recipe for any cooking level - Recipe by Doobydobap (11)
  • Hong Shao Rou recipe for any cooking level - Recipe by Doobydobap (12)
  • Hong Shao Rou recipe for any cooking level - Recipe by Doobydobap (13)
  • Hong Shao Rou recipe for any cooking level - Recipe by Doobydobap (14)

Cover and lower the heat to low. Simmer for 1 hour until the pork is tender. Supplement with more water if the sauce seems too thick / might burn. Alternatively, you can cook this in an instant pot or pressure cooker with 300mL of water for 20 minutes on high pressure.

  • Hong Shao Rou recipe for any cooking level - Recipe by Doobydobap (15)
  • Hong Shao Rou recipe for any cooking level - Recipe by Doobydobap (16)

Serve on top of rice. Drizzle the glaze on the rice first and plate a generous mountain of pork belly! Garnish with scallions and enjoy!!

  • Hong Shao Rou recipe for any cooking level - Recipe by Doobydobap (17)
  • Hong Shao Rou recipe for any cooking level - Recipe by Doobydobap (18)
  • Hong Shao Rou recipe for any cooking level - Recipe by Doobydobap (19)

Hong Shao Rou recipe for any cooking level - Recipe by Doobydobap (20)

Hong Shao Rou 红烧肉

4 from 473 votes

Recipe by DoobydobapCourse: Meat, Main, DinnerCuisine: Chinese, ShanghaineseDifficulty: Easy

Servings

2

servings

Prep time

10

minutes

Cooking time

1

hour

10

minutes

The juicy and fatty pork belly is smothered in caramelized sauce. It's sticky, savory, sweet, and succulent.

Ingredients

  • 500 g pork belly, cut into approximately 3cm cubes

  • 1 tbsp neutral oil

  • 20 g rock sugar or 2 tbsp sugar

  • 2 tbsp light soy sauce

  • 2 tbsp dark soy sauce

  • ¼ cup Shaoxing wine

  • 600 mL water

  • 3 slices of ginger

  • 2 star anise pods

  • 1 tangerine peel (fresh or dry. Any citrus peel will work!)

  • Green onions for garnish

instructions

  • Blanch the pork belly. In a pot of boiling water, gently drop the pork belly cubes in. Blanch for 3-4 minutes until the scum rises to the top. This ensures that the impurities won’t be in our final sauce.
  • Rinse your pork chunks for any impurities. Drain and tab excess moisture with a tea towel.
  • Heat a heavy duty pot (like a dutch oven or large cast iron with a lid) on medium high heat.
  • Drizzle in the oil and add the pork.
  • Sear the pork on all sides and add the sugar and soy sauce in.
  • Once the sugar has caramelized and coated the pork, deglaze the pot with Shaoxing wine and water.
  • Add the ginger, citrus peel, and star anise.
  • Cover and lower the heat to low. Simmer for 1 hour until the pork is tender. Supplement with more water if the sauce seems too thick / might burn. Alternatively, you can cook this in an instant pot or pressure cooker with 300mL of water for 20 minutes on high pressure.
  • Serve on top of rice. Drizzle the glaze on the rice first and plate a generous mountain of pork belly! Garnish with scallions and enjoy!!

Recipe Video

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Hi, I’m Tina aka Doobydobap!

Food is my medium to tell stories and connect with people who share the same passion. My recipes are a culmination of my experiences. I hope you enjoy recreating them at home, and if you do, make sure to tag me on Instagram!


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Hong Shao Rou recipe for any cooking level - Recipe by Doobydobap (2024)

FAQs

What is the Hong Shao method of cooking? ›

About the “red braising” cooking method

Red braised cooking, also known as hong shao, is a popular Chinese cooking method in which food either protein or vegetables is braised in a mixture of aromatics, soy sauce, sugar, and sometimes spices. Hong Shao dishes are usually savory and sweet in flavor.

What is the difference between Lu Rou fan and Hong Shao Rou? ›

According to The Woks of Life, lu rou fan shares many similarities with hong shao rou, a pork belly dish from Shanghai that translates to "red cooked pork." Unlike lu rou fan, however, hong shao rou is made with larger cuts of pork belly and different spices. We obviously know where the Taipei City Government stands.

Why is my Hong Shao Rou not red? ›

Tips for Hong Shao Rou

Caramelize your sugar: Caramelizing your sugar gives the braising liquid its signature sweetness and deep amber/red color.

What is the translation of Hong Shao Rou? ›

Hong Shao Rou (红烧肉) is a popular Shanghainese dish. The literal translation of the dish is red braised pork.

What are the 4 styles of Chinese cooking? ›

A number of different styles contribute to Chinese cuisine but perhaps the best known and most influential are Cantonese cuisine, Shandong cuisine, Jiangsu cuisine (specifically Huaiyang cuisine) and Sichuan cuisine.

What is Hong Shao in English? ›

Red braised pork belly or hong shao rou (simplified Chinese: 红烧肉; traditional Chinese: 紅燒肉; pinyin: hóngshāoròu) is a classic pork dish from China, red-cooked using pork belly and a combination of ginger, garlic, aromatic spices, chilies, sugar, star anise, light and dark soy sauce, and rice wine.

What do you serve with hong shao rou? ›

Hong Shao Rou - Sticky Red Braised Pork Belly

The braising liquor is then reduced to a glossy, coating sauce with rock sugar, resulting in shiny, fatty nuggs of happiness, best served with steamed rice and pickled mustard greens.

What does hong shao rou taste like? ›

This Chinese Braised Pork Belly recipe, Hong Shao Rou, is packed with authentic Chinese flavors. The pork belly is juicy and umami. It melts in your mouth, but Without the greasy taste. I promise this Chinese Braised Pork Belly recipe is easy to make and I will show you exactly how to do it!

What meat is found in the Chinese dish hong shao rou? ›

Red-braised pork may be one of the most common of all Chinese dishes, but it is also one of the most glorious, a slow stew of belly pork with seasonings that may include sugar, soy sauce, Shaoxing wine and spices.

How long does it take to cook hong shao rou? ›

Shanghai-Style Braised Pork Belly (Hong Shao Rou)
  1. Prep: 15 minutes.
  2. Cook: 1 hour.
  3. Total: 1 hour 15 minutes.
Apr 14, 2014

Why is hong shao rou red? ›

So the technique of cooking "hong shao rou" is called "red cooking" or red braising. The red color is really more of an orange brown and comes usually from a dark soy sauce. In this recipe, the initial caramel made with peanut oil and sugar also add to this.

Is hong shao rou unhealthy? ›

In general, both healthy and sick people can eat the dish. However, eating too much will lead to excessive intake of calories which will converse into fat stored in the body and cause obesity - the source of many diseases; eating too much or cold eating can result in abdominal distension or diarrhea.

Where did hong shao rou originate from? ›

Hong Shao Rou, also known as Red Braised Pork Belly, is a classic dish in Chinese cuisine beloved for its rich flavor and melt-in-your-mouth texture. Originating from the Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces of China, this dish features succulent pork belly braised in a savory-sweet sauce infused with aromatic spices.

Is braised pork belly healthy? ›

Yes, pork belly can be part of a healthy diet when consumed in moderation and balanced with other nutritious foods. Is pork belly high in cholesterol? Pork belly does contain cholesterol, but dietary cholesterol has less impact on blood cholesterol levels than previously believed. However, moderation is still key.

What are the cooking methods in Hong Kong? ›

The basic cooking methods in Hong Kong cuisine are very similar to the ancient Chinese cooking, such as steaming, roasting, smoking and even fermentation. Over the years, the Hong Kong chefs have improved the flavors of Asian cooking, developing a unique cuisine.

What does Hong Shao Rou taste like? ›

Hong Shao Rou is a Chinese classic. The tender, juicy pork is coated in a glossy sauce that is sticky, savory, sweet, and full of fragrance. It's a perfect dish to cook on a weekend and enjoy throughout the week.

What are the cooking methods in Cantonese? ›

The most popular cooking methods in Cantonese cuisine are steaming, stir-frying and roasting. Dishes include different kinds of delicious dim sum, roast duck, chicken, pork belly and char siu pork, sweet and sour dishes and many more. These dishes are all stable dishes in Cantonese cuisine.

What is the most common Chinese cooking method? ›

Perhaps the most common method of Chinese cooking is stir-frying. A quick and simple method, all you have to do is chuck the ingredients in a wok and cook on high heat for a short period of time.

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