Caramelized Pork Belly & Garlic Noodles

Tender pork belly caramelized in a sweet and savory sauce, served with chewy garlic noodles and crisp steamed green beans for a balanced weeknight meal.

• Prep: 30 min
• Cook: 45 min
• Total: 1 hr 15 min
• Servings: 6
• Cuisine: Vietnamese
• Difficulty: Medium
• Cost: $4.07/serving

Dietary

• High-Protein

Tags

• savory
• stir-fry

Ingredients

• 1.5 pound pork belly (skin on, cut into 1-inch cubes)
• 2 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 1 yellow onion (large, thinly sliced)
• 6 clove garlic (minced)
• 0.25 cup light brown sugar (packed)
• 0.5 cup fish sauce
• 0.5 cup water
• 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
• 1 pound egg noodles
• 0.25 cup butter
• 1 pound green beans (fresh, trimmed)
• 0.25 cup roasted peanuts (chopped, for garnish)
• 2 tablespoon fresh cilantro (chopped, for garnish)

Instructions

1. Heat 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the pork belly cubes and cook until browned on all sides, about 8-10 minutes. Remove the pork belly and set aside, reserving 1 tablespoon of the rendered fat in the pot.
2. Add the sliced yellow onion to the pot with the reserved fat and cook until softened and lightly golden, about 5 minutes. Add 3 minced garlic cloves and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
3. Stir in the light brown sugar, fish sauce, water, and rice vinegar. Bring the mixture to a simmer. Return the pork belly to the pot, cover, reduce heat to low, and braise for 30-40 minutes, or until the pork is very tender and the sauce has thickened to a rich, caramelized consistency.
4. While the pork braises, cook the egg noodles according to package directions. Drain well. In a separate large skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the remaining 3 minced garlic cloves and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add the cooked noodles to the skillet and toss to coat evenly with the garlic butter.
5. Steam the fresh green beans until tender-crisp, about 5-7 minutes. You can steam them in a microwave, on the stovetop, or using a steamer basket.
6. To serve, portion the garlic noodles onto plates, top with caramelized pork belly and a generous spoon of the sauce. Serve with steamed green beans on the side. Garnish with chopped roasted peanuts and fresh cilantro, if desired.

Notes

Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat gently on the stovetop or in the microwave. Pork belly can be substituted with pork shoulder for a leaner option, adjusting braising time as needed.

Nutrition (per serving)

• Calories: 670
• Protein: 38.2 g
• Carbohydrates: 55.6 g
• Fat: 30.1 g
• Fiber: 4.1 g
• Sodium: 1580 mg
• Saturated Fat: 11.5 g
• Sugar: 18.3 g
• Cholesterol: 135 mg