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BBQ Pork Belly | Easy Japanese Recipes at JustOneCookbook.com
4.67 from 9 votes

BBQ Pork Belly

Make this perfectly charred and succulent BBQ Pork Belly the star of your next cookout. Inspired by Asian BBQ flavors, the marinade is easy to make with ingredients from the Japanese pantry. The smoky, oh-so-tender grilled meat is simply irresistible!
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time10 minutes
Marinating Time4 hours
Total Time20 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Japanese
Keyword: bbq, pork bbq
Servings: 4
Calories: 1214kcal
Author: Namiko Hirasawa Chen

Ingredients

  • 2 lb sliced pork belly (sliced ¼ inch, 6 mm thick, perfect for grilling; I purchased it pre-sliced from my favorite Korean meat shop; I previously used Japanese pork belly sliced ⅛ inch thick, but the very thin slices burn easily on the grill)

For the Marinade

  • ½ onion
  • 1 knob ginger (1 inch, 2.5 cm; peeled)
  • 1 green onion/scallion (chopped)
  • 4 Tbsp soy sauce
  • 4 Tbsp sake
  • 3 Tbsp honey
  • 1 Tbsp ketchup
  • 4 cloves garlic (minced)
  • ½ Tbsp toasted white sesame seeds
  • 2 dried red chili pepper (chopped)
  • freshly ground black pepper
US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  • Before You Start: Please note that I recommend a marinating time of at least 4 hours and up to 12 hours for this recipe.
  • Grate ½ onion and 1 knob ginger. Add to a medium mixing bowl.
  • Add 1 green onion/scallion (chopped), 4 Tbsp soy sauce, 4 Tbsp sake, 3 Tbsp honey, and 1 Tbsp ketchup.
    chopped green onion, soy sauce, sake, honey, and ketchup in a glass bowl
  • Add 4 cloves garlic (minced), ½ Tbsp toasted white sesame seeds, 2 dried red chili pepper (chopped), and freshly ground black pepper.
    minced garlic, sesame seeds, and chopped red chili pepper in a glass bowl on wood cutting board
  • Add 2 lb sliced pork belly and toss to combine. Transfer to a large baking pan or container and cover. Marinate in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours and up to 12 hours.
    BBQ Pork Belly 4

To Grill

  • Prepare a hot (450°F/230°C) charcoal or gas grill fire. Clean and lightly oil the grill grate. For the best flavor, go with a charcoal grill. Remove the pork belly from the marinade and let any excess drip off; discard the marinade. Grill the pork belly, flipping once, until it‘s done to your liking, about 2–4 minutes total. Transfer to a serving platter. You can pan-fry or use a cast iron skillet to pan-broil the meat indoors as well.
    BBQ Pork Belly 5

To Store

  • You can keep the leftovers in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for 4 days and in the freezer for a month.

Nutrition

Calories: 1214 kcal · Carbohydrates: 8 g · Protein: 22 g · Fat: 120 g · Saturated Fat: 44 g · Polyunsaturated Fat: 13 g · Monounsaturated Fat: 56 g · Cholesterol: 163 mg · Sodium: 373 mg · Potassium: 472 mg · Fiber: 1 g · Sugar: 5 g · Vitamin A: 125 IU · Vitamin C: 3 mg · Calcium: 22 mg · Iron: 1 mg