Instant Pot Taiwanese Braised Pork Recipes

TAIWANESE BRAISED PORK BELLY (LU ROU FAN) - INSTANT POT OR SLOW COOKER

Steps:

• Turn on the "sauté" function of the pressure cooker, press "adjust" once to switch to "more" for browning. Add vegetable oil to coat the bottom.
• Once the oil is hot, add pork belly and give it a stir so that it's not sticking to the bottom. After 3-5 minutes, there's liquid coming from the pork belly. Let it cook until the liquid evaporates. This is to make sure it doesn't dilute the seasonings that will be added later on and allow the flavors to quickly penetrate the pork belly.
• Add ginger, garlic, dark soy sauce, shaoxing wine, cinnamon, star anise, rock sugar, dried shrimps, shiitake mushrooms and fried shallots. Mix it well and add hot water. Cover with the lid.
• Turn on the "manual" function, set the timer to 20 minutes or 30 minutes if you have more time. Natural OR quick release after done. Skim off the fatty oil from the top.
• Turn on the "sauté" function, and "adjust" to "more". This is to thicken the sauce and darken the pork belly. The longer the pork is sautéed, the darker color it gets and the sauce becomes more concentrated. This is up to your preference. Add light soy sauce or salt to taste. If you want to thicken the sauce, mix 2 tbsps water with 1 tbsp corn starch and add it to the pork and cook until the sauce is thickened.
• Ladle the braised pork over rice with some sauce. Top with an egg and vegetables.
• Heat the vegetable oil in a large pan over high heat and sauté the pork belly till golden brown. Add ginger, garlic, dark soy sauce, shaoxing wine, cinnamon, star anise, rock sugar, dried shrimps, shiitake mushrooms and fried shallots. Mix it well and transfer to a slow cooker.
• Add hot water, set to low and cook for 2 hours. Skim off the oil from the top.
• Heat a large saucepan over high heat. Transfer the pork belly to the pan and cook it till the sauce starts thickening. The longer the pork is sautéed, the darker color it gets and the sauce becomes more concentrated. This is up to your preference. Add light soy sauce or salt to taste to desired saltiness. If you want to thicken the sauce, mix 2 tbsps water with 1 tbsp corn starch and add it to the pork and cook until the sauce is thickened.

TAIWANESE BRAISED PORK BELLY MADE IN AN INSTANT POT

Steps:

• Cut the pork belly into 1-inch pieces. Add the pork belly to a pot filled with water and turn the heat up to medium-high. Let it cook for 3-5 minutes and rinse with cold water. Drain the pork belly and set it aside
• In an Instant Pot, add Pork belly, ginger, garlic, green onion, cinnamon stick, star anise, whole red chili, soy sauce, dark soy sauce, brown sugar, Chinese cooking wine (optional), and ¼ cup of water. Mix everything
• Put the lid on and set it to pressure cook for 25 minutes.
• Pair with rice and garnish with green onion.

INSTANT POT TAIWANESE BRAISED PORK

Steps:

• Brown Pork Belly in Instant Pot: Heat up Instant Pot using "Sauté More" function. Wait until Instant Pot says "HOT" in order to induce a maillard reaction. Add 1 tsp (5ml) peanut oil in Instant Pot's inner pot, then ensure the whole bottom is coated with oil. Lightly season the pork belly's skin side with salt. Place pork belly's seasoned skin side down in Instant Pot. Brown pork belly for roughly 5 minutes per side. Lightly season the other side of pork belly with salt. Then, brown the pork belly's two thinner sides for 3 minutes per side. Set aside the browned pork belly.
• Optional Flavor Enhancing Step - Caramelize Sugar: Add 1.5 tbsp (22g) unsalted butter in Instant Pot, then ensure the whole bottom is coated with melted butter. Add 2 tbsp (29g) brown sugar, then stir very occasionally. *Pro Tip: Ensure the sugar reaches a deep caramelized color (see photo). This process will take ~1.5 - 2 mins.
• Saute Shallot and Garlic: Once the brown sugar has a deep brown color, add ¼ cup (60g) deep fried shallots (or minced shallot) in Instant Pot to stop the sugar from burning. Then, add in ginger slices and minced garlic. Saute for another minute.
• Deglaze: Pour 1 tbsp (15ml) Shaoxing wine and 1 cup (250ml) cold water in Instant Pot. Deglaze by scrubbing all the flavorful brown bits off the bottom of the pot with a wooden spoon. Give it a quick mix.
• Pressure Cook Pork Belly: Add in 2 - 3 (3g) star anise, 2 bay leaves, 3 tbsp (45ml) soy sauce, 1 tbsp (15ml) dark soy sauce, 1 tbsp (15ml) Chinese black vinegar, ½ tsp (0.8g) five-spice powder, ¼ tsp (1g) ground white pepper. Give it a quick mix, then turn off the heat. Slowly cut the pork belly into small strips (see photo), then place pork belly in Instant Pot, and give it a quick mix. *Pro Tip: Ensure the pork belly is partially submerged in the cooking liquid. Close lid, then turn Venting Knob to Sealing position. Pressure Cook at High Pressure for 20 minutes + 10 minutes Natural Release. After 10 minutes, release the remaining pressure by turning the Venting Knob to Venting position. Carefully open the lid.
• Thicken Lu Rou Sauce: Remove & discard the star anise and bay leaves. *Pro Tip: If you want to add in soft or hard boiled eggs, add them at this stage. Bring the delicious content to a simmer with the "Saute More" function. Let the content simmer for 3 - 10 minutes to break down the meat & thicken the sauce. Stir occasionally.
• Season & Serve Taiwanese Braised Pork: Taste and season the Taiwanese Braised Pork Belly (for reference, we used 3 pinches of salt & ~1 tsp white sugar here to balance & further bring out the depths of flavors). Garnish with thinly sliced green onions, then serve on rice. Enjoy your delicious Classic Taiwanese Minced Pork!~ :)

INSTANT POT MILK-BRAISED PORK (MAIALE AL LATTE)

Steps:

• Season the pork generously with salt on all sides. Using a 6- to 8-quart electric pressure cooker, turn on the sauté setting (on the "more" or hot setting, if you have it). Add the vegetable oil, and, working in two batches, brown each piece of pork on two sides, about 5 minutes per side. With tongs, remove the browned pork to a plate as you go.
• Turn off the sauté setting. Stir in the leeks, garlic, lemon zest and herbs, scraping the bottom of the pot with a metal spatula. Add the milk, and continue to scrape up the browned bits. (This is important for flavor, but also to avoid a "burn" error.) Return the pork and any liquid on the plate to the pot. Season with 1 teaspoon kosher salt and a generous amount of black pepper. Close the lid and twist the pressure knob to seal. Pressure cook for 1 hour.
• Turn off the pressure cooker, and quick-release the pressure by carefully turning the pressure knob to venting. Using tongs, remove the pork to a serving platter. Remove and discard the herb sprigs. Turn on the sauté setting (on the "more" or hot setting, if you have it), and bring the milk to a rolling boil. Let the milk boil until it is reduced by about half and has darkened to a golden caramel color, about 20 minutes. (If you have time, you can caramelize it further, but take care to stir occasionally and make sure it doesn't burn on the bottom.) Break the pork apart a little, into coarse chunks, and spoon the sauce over the top. Serve with lemon slices on the side.