Often saved for treats at BBQ joints and high end restaurants alike, pork belly seems a daunting dish to try at home. But what if I told you it was merely a case of making a spicy sweet Korean-inspired sauce and air frying it for under a half hour to get it on the table lickety split? Now there's a reason to smile!
I prefer the Korean sauce for these morsels, but if you want something a bit more reminiscent of barbecue burnt ends, opt for a blend of your favorite rub and your favorite barbecue sauce to get a similar result. I say similar because air frying will never capture the smoky flavor of true burnt ends … which is why I save those for my visits to excellent barbecue joints! You can skip the green onions and sesame seeds at the end, but I simply adore them and think they look spiffy too.
I like to make a light rice dish to have these served over - think rice stirred with rice vinegar and edamame or onion or garlic - and a fresh, crunchy cucumber salad. More on that next time. In the meantime, enjoy!
Korean Pork Belly Bites
- 1 pound pork belly, cut into one-inch pieces
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 tablespoon cooking oil
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, grated
- ¼ cup gochujang paste
- 2 tablespoons gochujaru powder or other hot chile powder
- 2 tablespoon soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons honey or hot honey
- 1-2 whole green onions, thinly sliced
- 2 tablespoons sesame seeds
Toss the pieces of pork belly with the salt, pepper, cooking oil, garlic, ginger, gochujang paste, gochujaru powder, soy sauce, and honey in a large bowl to coat evenly.
Preheat the air fryer to 400℉ for 4-5. Once the air fryer is preheated, add the pork belly to the basket in a single layer. Air fry at 400℉ for 15 minutes, turning the pork halfway through cooking.
When the pork belly is done, it should be mostly golden-brown with some charred bits at the edges. You may need to cook it an additional 5 minutes to get your desired level of crisp.
Plate and garnish with the green onions and sesame seeds. Serve immediately.
- Yields: 4 servings
- Preparation Time: 30 minutes