If you’re paying attention to food trends, you know that pork belly is the ingredient to indulge in. True, you might think that it’s just pork but don’t underestimate the meaty and hearty taste of pork belly in particular. After all, pork belly makes for the most versatile pork-based ingredient when it comes to a plethora of delicious dishes you can create.

What Is Pork Belly?

To put it simply, a pork belly is a bone-free piece of meat obtained from the pig’s belly. A whole cut can appear like a meat brick almost, and it allows you to see the rich layer of fat that’s focused on the top of the cut and runs throughout the entire piece. You have already tried a variety of pork belly – essentially, this is the meat cut where bacon comes from! But this time, pork belly in its full form will be the main star of the dishes.

How to Cook Pork Belly?

The key to the perfectly delicious pork belly is to cook it slow and low. It takes time for the meat to become tender and juicy. In general, the best practice involves scoring the top fat, rubbing with spices, and searing until the meat becomes crispy. This is the time to place the meat into the oven with crispy skin facing up for a couple of hours until the meat braises perfectly and pulls apart.

6 Best Ways to Cook Pork Belly Slices with Jalapeno

1. Pork Belly Bao Recipe

Many people’s favorite pork belly dish is none other than pork belly bao. Bao, or Baogel, is a special bagel/bun that complements the spicy and salty taste of pork belly perfectly. Together with jalapenos, the spiciness and juiciness level is out of this world yet perfectly manageable thanks to the bun.

Bao pork belly Ingredients:

  • 1 ½ to 2 pounds of pork belly
  • Sliced jalapenos
  • Chopped cilantro
  • Pickled veggies
  • Lime wedges
  • Sriracha sauce
  • 12 bao buns

And for the sauce:

  • A quarter of a cup of Hoisin sauce
  • 1 tablespoon of soy sauce
  • 2 tablespoons of rice vinegar and Asian fish sauce each

Roast the pork belly in a heated oven (275 F) and wrapped in aluminum foil for about 2 hours, and then cut it into slices once cool. Proceed to take a mixing bowl where you’ll combine the sauce ingredients. If necessary, steam your buns by following the instructions on the package; the simplest way to do it is to put them in a microwave and cover with a moist paper towel. Then it’s time to get your saucepan out where you’ll fry your pork belly slices until all of the slices are cooked. And once this bit is done, coat your pork belly slices in Hoisin sauce.

Carefully open up your buns and fill them with a slice of pork belly, pickled veggies, jalapeno slices, and cilantro. To top everything off, serve with lime wedges and Sriracha sauce. The pork belly bagel calories put this dish into the medium density food with about 280 calories per 100 grams.

2. Jalapeno Glazed Pork Belly with Asian Slaw

For a gluten-free and juicy meal for a whole family, you simply can’t go wrong with jalapeno glazed pork belly. It goes amazingly well with spicy jalapeno relish and Asian salad.

Ingredients:

  • 2 pounds of pork belly
  • A jar of Jalapeno Relish
  • 2 heads of pak choi (shredded)
  • 1 shredded carrot
  • Half a cup of shredded red cabbage
  • 2 tablespoons of shredded ginger root
  • 4 tablespoons of sugar snap peas
  • 4 tablespoons of chopped peanuts
  • 2 tablespoons of coriander
  • 1 red chili
  • 1 lime (juice)
  • Drizzling oil
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Roast pork belly in an oven at 356 F for about an hour. After an hour, take the meat out and coat it in the jalapeno relish. Put the jalapeno-coated pork belly back in the oven to roast for another hour but keep brushing a new layer of jalapeno relish every 15 minutes. Cut the pork belly into slices and grill a bit to achieve the perfect crispiness. Take a bowl where you’ll mix the cabbage, pak choi, peas, carrot, and ginger. Add your meat and top off with chili, peanuts, lime juice, and coriander. Serve together with the slaw and more jalapeno relish.

3. Low and Slow Pork Belly with Jalapeno Creamed Corn

Another gluten-free recipe that your family will absolutely love and is very easy to make (despite the lengthy preparation time) features pork belly with jalapeno creamed corn.

Ingredients:

  • 3 pounds of pork belly
  • 1 ¼ cup of baby leaf greens
  • 4 large corn cobs
  • Half a cup of double cream
  • 2-3 tablespoons of pickled jalapenos (chopped and drained)
  • 2 chopped onions
  • 1 crushed garlic clove
  • 1/8 cup of butter
  • 1 teaspoon of black pepper, chili powder, coriander, and smoked paprika each
  • 2 teaspoons of sea salt
  • 2 tablespoons of groundnut oil

Mix the spices, salt, and oil, and rub your pork belly with the mixture thoroughly. Place the meat onto the roasting tin rack, cover it with foil, and pour about a mug of water into the tin. Cook for about 3 hours at 300 F. After those 3 hours, remove the foil and turn the heat up to about 420 F. Cook for about 20 minutes more. Take out the pork belly and leave it to cool for about 20 minutes or so before cutting it into slices.

With meat in the oven, place the corn, butter, garlic, and onions in a pan and cook for about 10 minutes on low heat. Proceed to add the cream with half a cup of water, simmer for a bit, and then cover everything and leave it to cook for 10 more minutes. Take out your stick blender and mush some corn in the pan randomly and then proceed to add jalapenos. Simmer for additional 6 minutes, and proceed to add the seasoning and coriander. Steam the greens and serve everything together with pork belly slices.

4. Mojo Candied Jalapeno Pepper BBQ Pork Belly

If you want a hearty meal for a special family occasion, you simply can’t go wrong with the BBQ-style pork belly served with mojo candied jalapeno.

Ingredients:

  • 3 pounds of pork belly
  • 1 jar of candied jalapeno BBQ sauce

And for Mojo:

  • 3 cups of ham stock
  • ¾ cups of orange juice
  • 1 large onion cut in half
  • 6 garlic cloves
  • Half a bunch of chopped cilantro
  • 2 teaspoons of oregano and cumin powder each
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1 teaspoon of chipotle chili powder
  • Half a teaspoon of coriander and red pepper flakes each
  • Salt to taste

Take out a mixing bowl and combine all of the Mojo ingredients well. Place your pork belly in a large stockpot and pour about ¾ of mojo over it. Bring to a boil and simmer for about 2 and a half hours. While this is simmering, mix the remaining Mojo with half a jar of the jalapeno BBQ sauce. After the pork is done simmering, place it in an oven at 350 F and roast for about an hour. Every once in a while, brush the pork belly with the other half of jalapeno BBQ sauce. Serve with Mojo and enjoy!

5. Chipotle Pork Belly-Stuffed Jalapeno Poppers

Perfect for every get-together, these spicy and crispy bites will be a satiating delight for the entire party!

Ingredients:

  • ¼ pound of diced pork belly
  • 12 split and deseeded jalapeno peppers
  • 2 oz of cream cheese
  • 1 ½ oz of shredded Cheddar and Monterey Jack cheese each
  • 2 teaspoons of salt and brown sugar each
  • Half a teaspoon of chili powder, chipotle chili powder, and black pepper each
  • A quarter teaspoon of ground mustard powder

In one large bowl, mix the salt, sugar, pepper, chili powders, and mustard, and then toss in the diced pork belly to coat the meat with the mixture. Then proceed to cook the pork belly pieces in a skillet until they appear crispy.

Take another bowl where you’ll mix the cream and shredded cheeses and fold the drained pork belly pieces into it. Take this filling and fill the jalapeno pepper halves with it. Place the peppers in an oven and bake at 375 F for about 20 minutes.

6. Smoked Pork Belly Burnt Ends with a Jalapeno Kick

If you’re a fan of all things spicy and hearty, you’ll definitely enjoy this particular dish, ideal as both the appetizer and main course!

Ingredients:

  • 5 pounds of pork belly without the skin and cut into cubes
  • 1 cup of BBQ rub and BBQ sauce each
  • 2 sliced jalapeno peppers
  • 3 tablespoons of butter
  • 2 tablespoons of brown sugar and honey each
  • Apple juice and apple jelly
  • Hot Sauce

In case you get your pork belly with skin, make sure to remove it and cut the meat into cubes. Then coat the cubes with the BBQ rub.  Smoke the cubes like this for about 2 and a half hours at 275 F. After this period, take your smoked pork belly cubes and place them in a roasting pan. Arrange butter pieces randomly on top of the cubes together with the sliced jalapeno peppers. Top everything off with honey and brown sugar. This is the time to cover the pan with the aluminum foil and proceed to smoke everything for an additional hour and a half.

While the meat is getting smoked, it’s time to prepare the glaze. Take a mixing bowl and combine the apple juice, jelly, hot sauce, and BBQ sauce together. Once the meat is done, place it all into a clean roasting pan (no juice) and cover in a glaze. Leave it uncovered like that on the smoker for 15 more minutes, and you’re done.

With so many delicious pork belly recipes, your mouth has probably begun to water already. In case you’re interested in trying some of the tastiest pork belly and jalapeno dishes without having to spend time in your own kitchen, don’t hesitate to pay us a visit at Ichimora restaurant. We put a great deal of love, care, skill, and tradition into our dishes so that you can truly enjoy a mindful moment and make both your tummy and heart happy and satisfied.