My version of the traditional Filipino dish. This can be prepped well ahead of time, leaving the pork to marinate for at least a couple of hours, the longer the better. Adobo is the name for the marinade. Use either all pork belly or a mix of it plus other pork cuts such as loin and shoulder. Key elements are the use of dark soy sauce, not light, sparkling lemonade, and apple (Pink Lady®, Jazz™, or Pacific Rose™ are ideal). Serve with rice.Ingredients | Vietnamese Pork Belly Sandwich
Combine pork belly and pork loin in a large bowl. Toss with 1 tablespoon groundnut oil to coat. Add garlic, ginger, red chile, peppercorns, brown sugar, bay leaves, and cumin. Mix in diced apple, cider vinegar, and soy sauce. Stir to coat the pork. Marinate in the fridge, stirring occasionally, for at least 1 hour.
Heat remaining 1 tablespoon oil in a deep pan over medium heat. Melt 1 tablespoon butter in the pan and sprinkle in salt and pepper. Add onion, bell pepper, and mushrooms. Fry until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the pork and marinade; cook until pork starts to brown, about 6 minutes. Stir in lemonade, cornstarch, and bouillon; sauce should cover the pork and vegetables.
Reduce heat and simmer, covered, until liquid is reduced and pork is tender but still slightly pink in the center, about 1 hour. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read at least 145 degrees F (63 degrees C). Add the remaining 1 tablespoon butter 10 minutes before pork is finished cooking. Discard bay leaves before serving.
Chicken can also be used instead of pork.
When creating the marinade, you can add more oil, dark soy, or apple cider vinegar to get a nice balance. The pork wants to be very moist but not splashing.
Adding vegetables is optional: onion, bell pepper, broccoli, and shiitake mushrooms work well.
Info | Vietnamese Pork Belly Sandwich
prep:
15 mins
cook:
1 hr 15 mins
additional:
1 hr
total:
2 hrs 30 mins
Servings:
6
Yield:
6 servings
