Savory Pork Belly Soy Sauce Pasta
The Ultimate Home Cook’s Dish! How to Make Delicious Pork Belly Soy Sauce Pasta with a Korean Twist
Transform leftover pork belly into a spectacular meal with this recipe! It’s a savory and umami-rich pasta dish infused with a bulgogi-inspired soy sauce base that perfectly suits the Korean palate. The combination of abundant mushrooms and tender pork belly is exceptional, offering a special flavor with simple ingredients.
Main Ingredients
- 2 servings of pasta noodles
- 160g pork belly
- 2 handfuls of dried shiitake mushrooms
- 0.5 Tbsp minced garlic
- 100ml water
- 2 Tbsp cooking wine or sake
- 7 Tbsp soy sauce
- 2/3 Tbsp sugar
- A pinch of black pepper
- 0.5 Tbsp red pepper flakes (or gochugaru)
- 2 Tbsp olive oil
- 0.5 Tbsp salt (for boiling pasta)
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, bring a generous pot of water to a boil. Add 0.5 Tbsp of salt and cook the pasta noodles for 2 servings. Boil for about 9 minutes, or one minute less than the package instructions, to achieve a perfectly al dente texture. (It’s best to slightly undercook the pasta as it will continue to cook in the sauce.)
Step 2
Soak the dried shiitake mushrooms in lukewarm water for about 10 minutes until rehydrated. Squeeze out excess water and slice them into bite-sized pieces. (You can reserve the soaking water to add depth of flavor to the sauce.)
Step 3
Heat a pan over medium-high heat. Add the pork belly and pour in 2 Tbsp of cooking wine or sake to remove any gaminess and enhance flavor. Stir-fry the pork belly until it’s golden brown and has rendered most of its fat. Set the cooked pork belly aside on a plate.
Step 4
In the same pan used for the pork belly, add the rehydrated shiitake mushrooms and sauté them. Now, prepare the sauce base by adding 0.5 Tbsp minced garlic, 7 Tbsp soy sauce, and 2/3 Tbsp sugar. Stir well to combine the ingredients.
Step 5
Pour in 100ml of water and stir constantly to prevent the sauce from burning. Return the cooked pork belly to the pan and let the ingredients simmer together for 2-3 minutes until the sauce has slightly reduced and coated everything. (Adding a small amount of the mushroom soaking water at this stage will boost the umami.)
Step 6
Once the mushrooms are tender and the sauce has thickened slightly, season with a pinch of black pepper. For a touch of heat, add 0.5 Tbsp of red pepper flakes. (Feel free to add chopped chili peppers or gochugaru according to your preference.)
Step 7
Add the pre-cooked pasta noodles to the pan and toss them with the sauce. Stir-fry for about 1 minute, ensuring the pasta evenly absorbs the delicious sauce.
Step 8
Finally, drizzle in 2 Tbsp of olive oil for a glossy finish and give it one last stir-fry. Turn off the heat and plate your pasta beautifully for a stunning presentation.
Step 9
Your delicious Pork Belly Soy Sauce Pasta, with its savory and deep umami flavor, is now ready! Enjoy this special homemade pasta that the whole family can savor.
