Honey Pork Belly with spinach in a plate and yellow flower in a flower pot.

Recently by coincidence, I have been receiving a lot of feedback about my recipes from my friends and family. They knew about my blog when I first started, but I had no idea that they have been actually following my blog and cooking my recipes! Some of them also asked me to keep sharing more quick and easy recipes for them. So friends and family, this fast and delicious recipe is for you!

Honey Pork Belly with spinach and Japanese mayo over a bowl of white rice.

Well, it’s for everyone of course. We are all busy with work, children, social activities, and all the responsibilities we have in our lives. As I’m a mother of two young children who are considered “very active” according to people who know them well, I am always busy crossing out my To-Do list. On top of my children’s activities, playdates, and studying, I want my house to be kept clean and tidy and have fresh ingredients in the fridge to cook meals for the family. The list goes on and on and I’m sure you probably know exactly how I feel. On a busy day when I simply run out of time, I tend to cook donburi (Japanese rice bowl) dishes with quick miso soup. It’s super easy to make but it’s delicious and way better than eating out or taking out food. It’s nice to have several go-to recipes to count on when our busy lives don’t allow time for cooking. If you ask me my favorite among all the donburi recipes I shared so far, here are my picks:

Honey Pork Belly and spinach in a bowl.

They are all easy to make, and more importantly, they take very little time!

Honey Pork Belly and spinach on a plate.

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4.84 from 31 votes

Honey Pork Belly

Honey Pork Belly is a fast recipe for busy weeknights. Pan seared until golden and juicy, the pork belly slices get glazed in a sweet-and-salty sauce made with five ingredients. The key is wiping the pan clean after searing so the honey glaze clings to every slice. Ready in 25 minutes.
Prep: 5 minutes
Cook: 20 minutes
Total: 25 minutes
Servings: 2

Ingredients 
 

Instructions

  • Gather all the ingredients.
    Honey Pork Belly Ingredients
  • Slice ¾ lb pork belly crosswise into ¼-inch (6-mm) pieces.
    Honey Pork Belly 1
  • Grate 2 cloves garlic.
    Nami's Tip: I use a garlic press.
    Honey Pork Belly 2
  • Heat a large frying pan over high heat. Add a thin layer of neutral oil, then add the pork belly slices in a single layer. Cover with a splatter screen.
    Honey Pork Belly 3
  • Once the bottom of the pork belly slices browns, flip them. Cook until the second side is deep golden brown and caramelized, then turn off the heat.
    Honey Pork Belly 5
  • Wipe the excess oil in the pan with paper towels.
    Honey Pork Belly 6
  • Return the pan to medium heat. Add 2 Tbsp honey, 2 Tbsp soy sauce, 1 Tbsp oyster sauce, and the garlic to the pan.
    Honey Pork Belly 7
  • Stir to combine, then cook over medium heat—honey burns quickly, so don't walk away. Cook until a glaze develops and coats the meat.
    Honey Pork Belly 8

To Serve

  • Plate the pork belly with blanched spinach. For donburi style, serve over a bowl of hot steamed rice and finish with Japanese Kewpie mayonnaise and ichimi togarashi (Japanese chili pepper).
    Honey Pork Belly

To Store

  • Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or in the freezer for 2 weeks.

Notes

Variations and Customizations
  • Swap the protein. Thinly sliced beef, chicken thighs, or pork shoulder work well in place of pork belly. 
  • Make it vegetarian. Use thick slices of firm tofu or king oyster mushrooms. Pat them dry before adding to the pan.
  • Use hoisin sauce. Swap the oyster sauce for hoisin sauce (same amount) for a deeper, slightly sweeter glaze with a hint of spice.
  • Adjust the sweetness. Reduce the honey by half and add a splash of mirin for a less-sweet glaze.

Nutrition

Calories: 966kcal, Carbohydrates: 17g, Protein: 22g, Fat: 91g, Saturated Fat: 33g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 10g, Monounsaturated Fat: 42g, Cholesterol: 122mg, Sodium: 793mg, Potassium: 1283mg, Fiber: 4g, Sugar: 9g, Vitamin A: 15958IU, Vitamin C: 49mg, Calcium: 184mg, Iron: 6mg

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