Name: Five Spice Eggs and Pork Belly Stew
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 2 h 30 min
Total time: 3 h
Cuisine: Asian
Ingredients: 2 cinnamon sticks (about 8 inches total); 8 cloves; 2 star anise; 1 tsp coriander seeds; ½ tsp Sichuan peppercorns; 3 cilantro roots or 10 cilantro stems; 1½ lb pork belly, cut into 1.5-inch chunks; ½ – 1 tsp salt (to taste); 60g palm sugar (⅓ cup packed); 5 cups unsalted pork or chicken stock; 2 Tbsp soy sauce; 1 Tbsp Golden Mountain Sauce or substitute with soy sauce; 1 Tbsp oyster sauce; 2-3 tsp black soy sauce or dark soy sauce; ½ tsp white pepper, ground; 4 cloves garlic, crushed; 6-8 eggs (about 1-2 per person); 8 tofu puffs, halved; Jasmine rice for serving

Description

A comforting and rich stew combining tender pork belly and perfectly boiled eggs, flavored with a fragrant five-spice seasoning.

Ingredients

Scale

2 cinnamon sticks (about 8 inches total)
8 cloves
2 star anise
1 tsp coriander seeds
½ tsp Sichuan peppercorns
3 cilantro roots or 10 cilantro stems
1½ lb pork belly, cut into 1.5-inch chunks
½ – 1 tsp salt (to taste)
60g palm sugar (⅓ cup packed)
5 cups unsalted pork or chicken stock
2 Tbsp soy sauce
1 Tbsp Golden Mountain Sauce or substitute with soy sauce
1 Tbsp oyster sauce
2–3 tsp black soy sauce or dark soy sauce
½ tsp white pepper, ground
4 cloves garlic, crushed
6–8 eggs (about 1–2 per person)
8 tofu puffs, halved
Jasmine rice for serving

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Instructions

Prepare the Spice Bag: Crush the cinnamon sticks and toast them in a dry pan along with star anise, cloves, coriander seeds, and Sichuan peppercorns until fragrant. Place these spices in cheesecloth with cilantro roots or stems, then tie it up to form a spice bag.
Sear the Pork Belly: In a large pot, heat some oil over medium-high heat. Add the pork belly chunks and season with salt. Sear until browned on all sides. Pour off any excess fat, leaving about a tablespoon for flavor.
Create the Flavorful Broth: Add palm sugar to the pot and stir to melt. Pour in the stock, soy sauces, white pepper, garlic, and add the prepared spice bag. Bring to a simmer, then cover and cook for 150 minutes, until pork is fork-tender.
Cook the Eggs: In a separate pot, boil water, then gently add the eggs. Cook for 8 minutes for soft-boiled eggs. Transfer to ice water to cool, then peel.
Embellish the Stew: Once the pork is fork-tender, add boiled eggs and halved tofu puffs to the stew. Let simmer for another 8 minutes.
Let it Rest: Turn off the heat and let the stew rest for at least 30 minutes, or up to a day in the fridge for even richer flavors.
Serve: Serve hot over fluffy jasmine rice.

Notes

For optimal flavor, use high-quality pork belly. You can customize the protein or add spices according to your taste.

Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 150 minutes
Category: Main Course
Method: Stovetop
Cuisine: Asian

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 serving
Calories: 400
Sugar: 6g
Sodium: 500mg
Fat: 22g
Saturated Fat: 8g
Unsaturated Fat: 10g
Trans Fat: 0g
Carbohydrates: 30g
Fiber: 1g
Protein: 25g
Cholesterol: 300mg