© Lena Staal | Foodstyling: Gitte Jakobsen

Crispy Pork Belly with Yuzu-Ponzu and Rice

Tenderly braised and crisply fried, this dish spotlights one of the quintessential tenets of Japanese cuisine: the emphasis on simplicity. The delicate acidity of the Yuzu-Ponzu sauce adds a refreshing zest to the meat.

Julian Kutos

Cooking time: 01:30

Ingredients for the Yuzu-Ponzu

Ingredients (4 servings)
100 ml Soy sauce
40 ml Mirin
25 ml Yuzu juice
Zest of one organic lemon

Preparation of Yuzu-Ponzu:

  • Combine all ingredients and mix well.

For the Marinade

Ingredients (4 servings)
2 tablespoon(s) Soy sacue
2 tablespoon(s) Mirin
3 cm Ginger
100 ml Light vinegar

Preparation of the Meat Marinade:

  • Mix soy sauce, Mirin, grated ginger, and vinegar together.

Ingredients for the Pork Belly

Ingredients (4 servings)
1 kg Pork belly
2 tablespoon(s) Black peppercorns
3 Garlic cloves with skin
30 g Ginger
1 l Oil for frying

Preparation of the Pork belly:

  • Thoroughly wash the meat. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add the meat, garlic, ginger, and peppercorns and cook for 15 minutes. Then drain the meat well.
  • Pierce the meat several times on all sides with a fork or skewer. Thoroughly massage the prepared marinade into the meat with your hands.
  • For best results, wrap the marinated meat in cling film and let it marinate overnight.
  • Place the meat in the oven and 'dry' for 20 to 30 minutes at 180°C. Let the meat cool down, then cut into 4 cm thick slices and pat dry thoroughly before frying.
  • Heat the oil in a large pot to 180°C and fry the meat for several minutes until it is crispy brown and bubbles form.
  • Drain on kitchen paper, season with pepper, and serve hot. Serve with Yuzu-Ponzu.

Ingredients for the Rice

Ingredients (4 servings)
250 g Sushi rice
275 ml Water

Preparation of the Rice:

  • Rinse the rice under running water and drain well.
  • Then bring the rice to a boil with cold water.
  • Once the water boils, reduce the heat and simmer covered on low flame for about 30 minutes. Keep the lid closed during cooking and do not stir.
  • Let it sit for 10 minutes after cooking.

Ingredients for the Rice Marinade

Ingredients (4 servings)
60 ml Rice vinegar
30 ml Mirin
10 g Salt
15 g Sugar

Preparation of the Rice Marinade:

  • Combine vinegar, Mirin, salt, and sugar in a pot and bring to a boil.
  • Once the rice is cooked, pour the marinade over the hot rice and mix carefully.

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Julian Kutos
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