Instant Pot Japanese Braised Pork Belly Recipe (Kakuni) – FOOD is Four Letter Word (2024)

May 11, 2018Van

Instant Pot Japanese Braised Pork Belly Recipe (Kakuni) – FOOD is Four Letter Word (1)

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Prep time: 30 minutes

Cook time: 30 minutes

Serves: 6

Eating this braised pork belly dish is poetic. The history of this thousand year old dish involves one of Chinas most celebrated poets, Su Dongpo. A poor, not so starving artist who desired the most flavorful pork dish to cure his ails. Dongpo used a low and slow method with wine to achieve the now legendary flavors so famous throughout numerous Asian Cuisines even today. In fact, several renditions of this Braised Pork Belly are celebrated throughout Asia and this Japanese Version is one of my favorites. The Japanese impart the flavors of Sake and Mirin which make it sing.

Normally this dish takes at least three hours of simmering on the stovetop to get the pork belly tender and rendered, but with the modern conveniences the Instant Pot we can cut much of that time away. One of my favorite aspects of the Japanese Version is the karashi (Japanese Mustard) dip served on the side as a condiment—such a perfect addition. The warm spice cuts through the fat and gives us a tongue tingling sensation that is honestly quite addictive. Give it a try.

Instant Pot Japanese Braised Pork Belly Recipe (Kakuni) – FOOD is Four Letter Word (2)Instant Pot Japanese Braised Pork Belly Recipe (Kakuni) – FOOD is Four Letter Word (3)

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Instant Pot Japanese Braised Pork Belly Recipe (Kakuni) – FOOD is Four Letter Word (4)

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Instant Pot Japanese Braised Pork Belly Recipe (Kakuni) – FOOD is Four Letter Word (5)

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May 11, 2018Van

  • Prep time: 30 minutes
  • Cook time: 30 minutes
  • Serves: 6

www.foodisafourletterword.com

Ingredients

  • 2½ Pounds Pork Belly, cut into 1-1½ inch squares, remove skin if you prefer
  • 3 Green Onions, separate the white and green parts
  • 3 Inch piece of Fresh Ginger, peeled and sliced into ¼ inch slices
  • 1 Large Onion, coarsely sliced
  • 1 Tablespoon Vegetable Oil
  • 6 Eggs
  • ¼ Cup Sake
  • ½ Cup Mirin
  • ½ Cup Soy Sauce
  • ⅓ Cup Granulated Sugar
  • ¾ Cup Water
  • Karashi (Japanese Mustard), optional

Method

  • 1)

    Bring a large pot of water to boil, add the Pork Belly, Sliced Onions, Sliced Ginger and green section of the Green Onions. Once the water starts to boil again, let it boil for 10 minutes. Drain in a colander and discard the onions and ginger.

  • 2)

    Make Soft Boiled Eggs by placing 1 cup of water into your Instant Pot and place 6 eggs on top of a trivet or in a steamer basket. Seal the Instant Pot lid and switch the knob to Sealing, set the Instant Pot for High Pressure / Manual for 3 Minutes, once the timer is up, switch the knob to Venting to do a quick release of the steam, when the pin drops – open the lid. Immediately place the eggs into a large bowl of ice water for 5 minutes. Peel the eggs and refrigerate them. Drain the water from the Instant Pot and dry the pot.

  • 3)

    Place 1 Tablespoon of Oil into the Instant Pot and choose Sauté on the “More” option. Once the display shows “hot” add the Pork Belly and white sections of the Green Onions. Sauté until the pork belly is slightly brown on all sides. Remove and discard the green onions.

  • 4)

    Add ¼ Cup Sake, ½ Cup Mirin, ½ Cup Soy Sauce, ⅓ Cup Granulated Sugar and ¾ Cup Water. Scrape the bottom of your pot to make sure there’s nothing stuck. Press Cancel on the Instant Pot to turn off Sauté mode. Seal the Instant Pot lid and switch the knob to Sealing. Choose High Pressure / Manual and set for 30 Minutes, once the timer is up, wait 15 minutes before switching the knob to Venting to release the rest of the steam, once the pin drops – open the lid.

  • 5)

    Press Cancel on the Instant Pot and choose Sauté on the “Less” option. Add the soft boiled eggs and let the mixture simmer for 10-15 minutes. Turn the eggs several times to ensure even browning and absorption of the sauce. The eggs should be perfectly hard boiled once they have simmered. Serve with short grain rice, steamed vegetables and karashi. Enjoy!

↓ Supplies to make this recipe ↓


6 Comments

  • Janie

    February 16, 2019 at 11:08 am

    Hi! I came across your recipe and it looks so yummy and easier than the others I’ve searched online.
    My question is this: After the 30mins, do I let it continue to warm while I’m waiting the 15mins to quick release or do I turn off the instant pot completely while it’ releasing?

    I hope this makes sense.

    Looking forward to hearing from you as I am dying to try out this recipe but a little scared.

    Thank you in advance!

    Reply

    1. Van

      February 16, 2019 at 11:57 am

      Hi Janie, while you’re waiting for the natural pressure release, you leave it on Keep Warm. Hope you enjoy it!

      Reply

  • Roger

    March 31, 2019 at 9:33 pm

    This dish was amazing! Everything came out perfectly cooked, including the super tender pork and just as described eggs. I saw pork belly on sale in Costco and had no idea what to do with it. My Japanese friend said it rivals her mom’s home-cooked version, which takes substantially longer to prepare.

    Reply

    1. Van

      April 1, 2019 at 5:29 am

      That’s awesome Roger, thanks for letting me know!

      Reply

  • Evans

    August 11, 2021 at 1:54 pm

    I’ve made this three times and every time I’ve done it it’s come out PERFECTLY, but the last time I doubled the recipe and when unopened the instant pot it wasn’t done yet, how should I adjust the time for a larger batch?

    Reply

    1. Van

      August 11, 2021 at 5:08 pm

      Hi Evans, it should have the same cooking time even if you double the recipe. Were the pork belly pieces cut to the usual size of 1-1.5 inch squares? You could try adding 10 minutes to the cooking time (keep NPR time the same).

      Reply

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Instant Pot Japanese Braised Pork Belly Recipe (Kakuni) – FOOD is Four Letter Word (6)

Hi everyone! I’m Van, the creator and recipe developer for FOOD is a Four Letter Word. Follow this page for delicious & eclectic recipes. I hope you find something that you enjoy making on here. Subscribe to my YouTube & Instagram below to get updates when I post a new recipe.
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Instant Pot Japanese Braised Pork Belly Recipe (Kakuni) – FOOD is Four Letter Word (2024)

FAQs

What does kakuni mean in japanese? ›

Kakuni (角煮) is a Japanese braised pork dish which literally means "square simmered".

What is the difference between chashu and kakuni? ›

Kakuni is similar to chashu in that it's simmered pork belly, but this version comes in chunks and is modeled after the Chinese method of red braising. Bacon can be sliced and added to the simmering broth, or stir-fried briefly before topping the bowl.

Why is braised pork belly tough? ›

If your braised pork belly is tough, it either needs to cook longer or it was cooked over too high heat.

Is Kakuni fatty? ›

I can easily imagine doing this with other meats or other cuts of pork if belly isn't your sort of thing. Some people say that the fat is rendered out due to slow cooking but it isn't really, this is a gloriously unctuous and fatty dish and you can eat as much or little of the fat on top that you want.

What is pork belly in Japanese? ›

Pork Vocabulary
VocabularyJapanesePronunciation
Pork bellyバラ肉bara niku
Back ribバックリブbakku ribu
Bone-in loin骨付きロースhonetsuki rosu
Hamもも肉momo niku
5 more rows
Aug 3, 2022

What is the Japanese kanji for pork? ›

means 'pork'

Kanji are classified as Jōyō (常用, common use), Jinmeiyō (人名用, used in names), or Hyōgaiji (表外字, 'outside the chart').

What is Kakuni meat? ›

Kakuni is also pork but literally means “square simmered”. It is always made from pork belly and no other part of the pig – for this reason, it's my choice of cut over the Chashu. This dish has a similar cooking technique to Chashu but involves cutting the pork into squares that are then braised.

What is Japanese pork ramen called? ›

Tonkotsu ramen is a deliciously creamy pork bone broth traditionally served up with long thin noodles and topped with a variety of ingredients. In Japanese, the word ton translates to pork and kotsu to bone.

What does chashu mean in Japanese? ›

In Japanese, chashu means. simmered or braised pork. We have tucked the braised.

Is braised pork belly unhealthy? ›

Because pork belly contains so much fat, it's high in calories. It has roughly 585 calories per 4 ounces (113 grams) ( 1 ). Therefore, it may not be a great option for people trying to lose weight or decrease calorie intake.

What is braised pork belly called? ›

Chinese braised pork belly, or hong shao rou, is one of the most popular dishes in China, and for good reason! Each bite melts in your mouth and explodes with the amazing flavor of the sweet and savory sauce!

Is braised pork belly healthy? ›

Yes, pork belly can be part of a healthy diet when consumed in moderation and balanced with other nutritious foods. Is pork belly high in cholesterol? Pork belly does contain cholesterol, but dietary cholesterol has less impact on blood cholesterol levels than previously believed. However, moderation is still key.

Do Japanese people eat pork belly? ›

Buta no kakuni is a classic Japanese dish of braised pork belly that is slowly cooked until the meat is tender, juicy, and packed full of umami. It is simmered with traditional Japanese flavors that include soy sauce, mirin, sake, and sugar, with a hint of ginger and scallions.

Is pork belly good for you? ›

A1: Yes, pork belly is a source of high-quality protein, which is essential for muscle health and overall well-being. Q2: Is the fat in pork belly unhealthy? A2: While pork belly is higher in fat, it contains heart-healthy monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats that can contribute to a balanced diet.

What is the pork belly in ramen called? ›

Today is all about what is perhaps my favorite part of a bowl of ramen: the tender, salty, sweet, fatty, melt-in-your-mouth slices of braised pork belly known as chashu. It's a component of a perfect bowl of ramen that's all-too-often overlooked at restaurants.

What is Kakuni Manju? ›

by Tim Anderson from Nanban. These Japanese style pork belly buns are a real treat. The pork is flavoured with Asian spices and dashi, before being served with hoisin sauce and cucumber.

What does fat mean in Japan? ›

Anyone with a BMI of 22kgs/m2 and above is considered fat in Japan. Women in Japan consider themselves overweight if their BMI is above 23kgs/m2. On the other hand, the Japanese say their men are fat if their BMI exceeds 25kg/m2.

What is the meaning of fat in Japanese? ›

太い {adj.} fat (also: thick) 太った {adj.} fat (also: chubby, plump, stout, pursy) 肥った {adj.}

What is meat in Japanese hiragana? ›

By itself, “meat” is 肉 = にく /niku/ and “beef” from a cow is 牛肉 = ぎゅうにく /gyuuniku/.

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