Twice Cooked Pork
This tender, caramelized pork is the best of both worlds.
Cooking Summary
Ingredients: (detailed list)
- Main Ingredients: carrot, dried tofu, onion, dried chili pepper, garlic, green onion white, cabbage, pork belly, hot water, oil, cooking wine, sesame oil
- Sauce Ingredients: ground bean sauce, oyster sauce, hoisin sauce, light soy sauce, sugar, doubanjiang
- Slurry Ingredients: cornstarch, water
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Top 3 Mistakes
- Slicing the pork too thick:
Cut the prepared pork belly into the thin slices specified before its second cooking stage. Thick pieces will not behave like the slices intended to brown quickly in the wok.
- Moving pork before it browns:
Spread the pork slices out and give the first side time to brown before turning. Constant stirring at this stage skips the contact time that gives twice-cooked pork its seared texture.
- Leaving ingredients too wet:
Drain and dry the ingredients as directed before they reach the pan. Extra water changes how they cook, making it harder to get the browning and texture the recipe calls for.
Overview
The name of this dish, Twice Cooked Pork (回鍋肉), is a literal explanation of how its starring ingredient—pork belly—is cooked. The meat is first parboiled, then stir fried so you get the best of both worlds. Each slice has a tender texture from the boiling, but also beautiful browning from stir frying.
Twice-cooked pork belly originally comes from Sichuan and has a spicier profile than this recipe. It usually contains fresh chili peppers, whole fermented soybeans and green garlic, as shown by Chef Wang Gang. My dad's twice-cooked pork recipe has been tweaked to fit our family's Cantonese palate and only has a hint of spice from doubanjiang, or ground bean paste.
Ingredients
Why this recipe
Most twice cooked pork recipes online are tested only a handful of times. My dad used to make this dish multiple times a day, every day, for 60+ years and can make this in his sleep.
I know you'll love it as much as our community does! This recipe has over 84.2K views, 1.9K likes on YouTube.
On pork belly
Pork belly is a very common and popular ingredient in Chinese cooking. The decadent, fatty cut of meat is the star of many classic recipes, including Siu Yuk, Braised Pork with Potatoes, and—of course—Fried Pork Belly.
When shopping for pork belly, look for pieces with clear, distinguished layers of fat and lean meat. For these dishes, we're typically looking for full cut of pork belly and not thinly-sliced bacon or the type used in Korean barbecue. If you need help selecting meat, it's always a good idea to shop at a store where a butcher can help.
How to make Twice Cooked Pork
Peel the carrot (2 ounce). Cut into small chunks. Lay each piece flat and cut into 1/4-inch thick slices.
Cut the dried tofu (4 oz) into 1/4-inch thick slices.
Peel the onion (0.50 ounce). Slice the onion in half, then cut half of it into triangular chunks. Separate into individual pieces. Save the remaining half for other uses.
Use scissors to remove half of the dried chili pepper (0.50 ounce). Cut it open and remove the seeds, then cut into smaller pieces.
Peel the garlic (2 clove). Remove the hard ends, then cut the garlic into thin slices.
Cut off the green onion whites (2 ounce) (Reserve the green parts for another use.). If the whites have bulbs, slice them apart. Smash the bulbs, then cut them into 2-inch segments.
Remove the core from half a head of cabbage (8 ounce). Rinse the cabbage in water, then cut into chunks, ripping apart layers by hand if needed.
In a small bowl, combine the ground bean sauce (1 tablespoon), oyster sauce (1 tablespoon), hoisin sauce (2 teaspoon), light soy sauce (2 teaspoon), sugar (1 tablespoon), and doubanjiang (0.50 teaspoon). Mix until thoroughly combined. Taste and adjust as needed.
Add the hot water (6 cup) to a wok with the heat on high.
Once the water is about to boil, add the pork belly (13 ounce) and flip occasionally so it cooks evenly. When the water comes to a boil, decrease the heat to medium and let it cook for 2 to 3 minutes.
As the pork cooks, fill a large bowl with cold water.
Cover the wok with a lid and let cook for another 2 to 4 minutes.
Remove the lid and cook for another 2 to 3 minutes, for a total cook time of 6 to 10 minutes, depending on the size of the meat. Flip and move around to ensure even cooking.
Remove the pork belly and place in the cold water for 4 to 5 minutes.
Strain out any scum or fat left in the water.
Add the cabbage to the water first, making sure all the pieces are submerged, then add the carrots to the wok. Cook for roughly 1 minute.
Remove and let them drain in a colander.
Remove the pork belly from the cold water and pat dry with paper towels.
Cut the pork belly into thin 1/4-inch thick slices and set aside.
Discard the boiling water.
Heat the wok on high, roughly 1 minute.
Turn the heat to low, add the oil (1 tablespoon) and spread it around the wok with a spatula.
Add the pork belly and spread them out so all pieces can brown. Cook for 1 minute before turning and cooking for 1 more minute.
Add the garlic, dried chili pepper, and green onion whites. Stir fry until aromatic for 20 to 30 seconds.
Add the onions and stir fry for 30 to 40 seconds.
Add the dried tofu, letting the pieces pan fry in the middle of the wok for about 1.5 to 2 minutes.
Add the sauce and stir fry to mix, about 20 to 30 seconds.
Add the cabbage and carrots. Pour in the cooking wine (1 tablespoon) along the edge of the wok and stir fry for 1.5 to 2 minutes.
Combine the cornstarch (1 teaspoon) and water (1 tablespoon) in a small bowl and mix thoroughly to combine.
Increase the heat. If the sauce is too watery, add in the cornstarch slurry while mixing and stir fry for 40 to 50 seconds until reaching your desired consistency.
Add the sesame oil (1 teaspoon) and stir fry to mix, about 20 to 30 seconds.
Taste test and plate.
Frequently Asked Questions
What other cuts of pork can you use for Twice Cooked Pork?
The recipe typically calls for pork belly, but other cuts such as pork shoulder or rump would work well if you can't find good pork belly.
Is twice-cooked pork skin on or off?
This recipe uses pork belly with the skin off. You can find skin-off pork belly at most grocery stores, including Costco, or if you're shopping at a butcher store, you can ask them to remove it.
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Made with love ❤️
We started Made With Lau to celebrate Cantonese culture and honor the legacy of our wonderful parents, Jenny and Chung Sun Lau.
Our hope is that these recipes and stories help you spread the joy, love, and nostalgia that I felt growing up.