Braised Pork Belly Rice (Lu Rou Fan)

Lu Rou Fan is a well-known traditional dish from Taiwan. The main ingredients are pork belly, eggs, and rice. The dish is rich but not greasy, with a perfect balance of sweet and savory flavors and an enticing aroma. The tender, flavorful braised pork, coated in a thick, rich sauce, is served over a bowl of glistening white rice. Each grain of rice absorbs the dark, savory sauce, making every bite incredibly tempting and delicious!

7 Reviews
7 Comments
POSTED:03/06/2024
Level:Medium
Yield:2-3 servings
Total:1 hr 10 min
(includes chilling time)
Active:15 min

Lu Rou Fan is a dish you’ll never tire of, and it’s easy to make at home. With these tips, you can cook soft, flavorful, and rich-but-not-greasy Lu Rou Fan yourself.

1.Choosing Pork Belly:

For the best results, use fresh pork belly with skin on. The ideal cut is evenly marbled with fat, providing a perfect balance of lean and fatty meat. This ensures a rich, aromatic flavor without being greasy, giving it an excellent texture.

You can also marinate the pork belly in advance to make it even more tender. To marinate: cut the pork belly into small pieces and mix with a suitable amount of light soy sauce, cooking wine, and a pinch of sugar. Let it marinate in the refrigerator overnight.

2.Caramelizing Sugar:

Caramelizing sugar, using either white sugar or rock sugar, is a crucial step in preparing braised pork belly. This technique enhances the dish by improving its color, adding a touch of sweetness, and reducing any unpleasant odors, while also enriching the overall flavor. When using rock sugar, it’s important to be especially mindful of the heat, as the sauce can thicken more quickly during the reduction process.

3.Cooking Braised Pork Belly:

Render the Fat: When browning the pork belly, try to render out as much fat as possible. This will help ensure the final dish is not overly greasy.

Use Hot Water: Always add hot water, not cold, when you need to add water to the pot. Cold water can cause the meat to contract and become tough. The water should just cover the meat. Monitor the heat to avoid reducing the sauce too much, as this can result in a dry dish that won't pair well with rice.

Simmer on Low Heat: It's essential to simmer the braised pork belly over low heat for at least 30 minutes. This slow cooking process helps tenderize the meat and meld the flavors.

Add Eggs: Consider adding some eggs to cook with the pork belly. This not only helps the sauce reduce more quickly but also allows the eggs to absorb the flavorful braising liquid, enhancing their taste.

4.Cooking Rice:

To achieve perfectly cooked rice, aim for grains that are distinct yet plump, slightly sticky but not too much, and fully cooked with a bit of chewiness. This texture will allow the rice to absorb the braising sauce without losing its individual grain structure.

5.Side Dishes:

Serve the braised pork belly with eggs and green vegetables. The eggs provide additional protein, while the vegetables offer essential vitamins. This combination helps balance the meal's nutritional content, contributing to a healthier diet.

INGREDIENTS

MAIN INGREDIENTS

  • 14 oz pork belly
  • 1 bowl of cooked white rice

ACCESSORIES

  • 1 head baby cabbage (about 7 oz)
  • 4 eggs

SEASONINGS

  • 1 piece of ginger
  • 3 star anise
  • 20 peppercorns
  • 2 teaspoons white sugar
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • Cooking oil (as needed)
  • Soy sauce (as needed)
  • Cooking wine (a splash)

DIRECTIONS

STEP 1

Cut 1 piece of ginger into slices.

Instruction to slice one piece of ginger.

STEP 2

Cut 14 ounces of pork belly into rectangular chunks about 1/2 to 3/4 inch in size.

Cut pork belly into 1/2 to 3/4 inch chunks for recipe.

STEP 3

Cut a 7-ounce baby cabbage into 6 equal wedges.

Cut a 7-oz baby cabbage into 6 wedges.

STEP 4

Fill a pot with enough water and add 4 eggs.

Water and 4 eggs needed for pot.

STEP 5

Cover the pot and boil on high heat for 5 minutes.

Boil covered pot on high heat for 5 minutes.

STEP 6

Turn off the heat and let the eggs sit for 5 minutes, then remove.

Tips:

Place the eggs in cold water to cool. This makes them easier to peel. You can also substitute quail eggs.

Cool eggs in water after boiling for easier peeling. Substitute with quail eggs.

STEP 7

Heat a suitable amount of oil in a pan, add 2 teaspoons of sugar, and stir until melted.

Heat oil, add sugar, stir until melted.

STEP 8

Add the pork belly and stir-fry until the surface is slightly browned.

Stir-fry pork belly until browned.

STEP 9

Add the sliced ginger, 3 star anise, and 20 peppercorns, Stir-fry until fragrant.

Instructions: Add ginger, star anise, and peppercorns, stir-fry until fragrant.

STEP 10

Pour in a suitable amount of soy sauce and stir-fry until the pork is evenly colored.

Stir-fry pork with soy sauce until evenly colored.

STEP 11

Add a splash of cooking wine and pour in enough hot water to cover the pork.

Add cooking wine and hot water to cover pork for cooking.

STEP 12

Add the peeled eggs, bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce to low heat and simmer for 30 minutes.

Simmer peeled eggs in boiling water for 30 minutes.

STEP 13

Once the pork is tender, add 1 teaspoon of salt, stir to thicken the sauce, and set aside.

Add salt to tender pork, thicken sauce, set aside.

STEP 14

Fill a pot with enough water, add a suitable amount of oil and 1 teaspoon of salt.

Instructions for boiling water with oil and salt in a pot.

STEP 15

When the water boils, add the cleaned baby cabbage and cook until tender. Remove and set aside.

Boil baby cabbage until tender, then set aside.

STEP 16

Invert a bowl of cooked white rice onto a plate. Arrange the cooked baby cabbage around the rice, then add the braised belly pork and eggs. Your braised pork belly rice is ready!

Make braised pork belly rice by inverting rice, adding cabbage, pork, and eggs. Delicious!

Recipe analyzer

  • Recipes: Braised Pork Belly Rice (Lu Rou Fan)
  • Main Ingredients:4
  • Servings per recipe:1
  • Servings size:1.3 kg
Nutritional Summary of Recipe
Amount per 1340 g= 1 serving(s)
  • Energy (calories):1497 kcal
    69%
  • Protein:145.85 g
    267%
  • Fat:55.67 g Why gray?
    115%
  • Carbohydrates:99.4 g
    40%
Calorie breakdown
  • Protein: 41%
    608 kcal
  • Fat: 33%
    501 kcal
  • Carbohydrates: 26%
    388 kcal
The chart shows the percentage of calories intake (energy) coming from the respective macronutrients (fats, protein and carbohydrates).
Omega 6 : Omega 3
1:1
20:1
9:1
Both fatty acids are essential, but nowadays the majority of western diets include excessive amounts of Omega 6 acid.

The ratio shows whether the proportion of both fatty acids in your diet is optimal. Red color means too much of Omega 6 or too little of Omega 3. The data are rounded off and approximate.

7 REVIEWS

Review
Your rating:
QuinnNovember 07, 2024

Braised pork with rice is one of my favorite Chinese food, every cooking is a journey to explore the joy of food, every bite is a moody and delicious enjoyment!
QuentinOctober 25, 2024

Tasting authentic braised pork with rice in the U.S. makes me feel the flavor and warmth of my hometown, every bite is a nostalgic and satisfying one, and such food touches the heart!
PiperOctober 12, 2024

Braised Pork Rice is bright and attractive in color, the meat is tender and juicy, the rice is fragrant, every bite is a delicious treat, it is simply a mouth-watering Chinese cuisine!
reply:
October 15, 2024
Thank you for your compliments! Braised Pork Rice takes patience and skill to cook, I hope you keep enjoying this delicious Chinese cuisine.
PeterSeptember 28, 2024

Every time I make braised pork rice I feel that the rice is a bit too soggy, is there any way to make the rice more fluffy and dry?
reply:
October 01, 2024
Try to control the amount of water and cooking time, or add a little fat or sesame seeds when steaming the rice, which will make it fluffier and drier.
OliviaSeptember 15, 2024

Whenever I try to make braised pork rice, I can never get a good handle on the tenderness of the meat, any tips on how to make the meat more flavorful and tender?
reply:
September 18, 2024
Try adding a little juice or sauce before marinating the meat and simmering it slowly over a moderate heat or try seasoning it with some spices, which will help enhance the texture and flavor of the braised pork.
CharlesAugust 01, 2024

Mine doesn't really feel tender after 30 minutes of simmering, do I still need to simmer it?
DavidJuly 18, 2024

This Braised Pork Belly Rice recipe is mouthwatering and rich in flavor with its fatty and lean pork and tangy sauce.
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