Slow Roasted Pork Belly Bites

These Slow Roasted Pork Belly Bites over Jalapeno Slaw are a perfect game day or dinner party appetizer. Pork Belly Appetizers start the party off deliciously right! So flavorful and pretty atop jalapeno slaw.

My introduction to pork belly was years ago via the TV show Top Chef. For years I would see the amazing chefs on the show each season make pork belly recipes in various ways. I knew that I needed to have a pork belly recipe in my life as soon as possible!

My first taste of a recipe with pork belly was at a place called Marsha Browns, which was a popular restaurant in the trendy town of New Hope, Pennsylvania. Along the bank of the Delaware River. (If you are ever near Bucks County Pennsylvania, New Hope is a fantastic place to spend a half-day or an evening!!). I still think of that smoked pork belly bite . It was perfect!

Since I couldn’t find pork belly anywhere, I decided to take matters in my own hands and ask my farmers market for a big hunk of double-smoked bacon. It was about 5 inches wide, 9 inches long and 2 inches deep. It had to be similar right??

Maybe that is what pork belly was I thought to myself, and around here they just don’t call it that. I grilled it and waited for the magic to happen. I figured it was the same thing. NOPE!! It was not what I wanted it to be at all, lol!

What is pork belly?

• Pork belly is a cut of meat that comes from the belly of a pig, hence its name. Pork belly is known its rich flavor and tender texture, which is achieved through a high fat content.
• It can be slow-cooked, roasted, grilled or braised. Due to its flavor and versatility many Chinese and Korean recipes feature it and these days its popular in American BBQ. Pork Belly when prepared correctly absorbs flavors beautifully.

Working with pork belly

• The key to cooking pork belly comes down to rendering some of the fat to achieve a tender meat texture.
• Slow cooking is key. That allows the some of the fat to melt away, leaving the meat very flavorful and moist.
• Crisping up the outer layer after its cooked to your liking gives it the perfect texture bite after bite.
• Some sort of sauce is also key in my opinion. One of favorite dished period is Pork Belly Burnt Ends

How do you make Slow Roasted Pork Belly Bites?

• I made these Slow Roasted Pork Belly Bites over Jalapeno Slaw for a Saturday night nibble with my husband while we enjoyed cocktails out back and watched the kids swim.  
• I seasoned the heck out of them, marinated them, pan-seared the cubes. After I allowed the pork belly to slow roast in the oven for hours with just a bit of stock. Next, I took them out, blotted them dry, added the reserved marinade to a pan and cooked them until bubbly, glazed and delicious.

I used bagged slaw, threw in some thinly sliced jalapenos, tossed it with a quick homemade dressing.  I grabbed a couple of small plates plopped onto each some of the slaw and each one with a pork belly bite. Then we feasted!

I have also served these bites over these Spicy Spiralized Pickled Cucumbers (ready in just a few hours).

Tips

• Make this pork belly recipe for the first time for you in a smaller batch (unless you are already familiar with cooking with pork belly.
• I have found that depending on the cut and fat content of your belly, it will cook up very differently (sometimes you need to score it, sometimes you don’t).
• I think that if you use the pressure cooker method (like many did on top chef due to the time requirement), it yields the finished product much quicker and almost guarantees success. However you can make it without one as I do.
• Now that pork belly is mainstream my go to is Costco for it. They sell it both in large pieces like pictured above or even better already cut into cubes.

Ingredients for Slow Roasted Pork Belly

• pork belly 
• salt & pepper
• brown sugar
• Grapeseed oil
• honey
• soy sauce
• sesame oil
• chili with garlic sauce
• scallions
• vegetable or chicken stock

Almost every recipe I have on Souffle Bombay, I stand 100% behind and know you will make it with success. This one takes a little bit of practice in my opinion. I want you to know my feelings on this, nothing worse than being excited for a dish you are making and then it goes astray! Believe me, I have been there a few times. Let’s not discuss my Short Rib fail….

However a few people have emailed me or messaged me that they won various cooking competitions with this recipe for pork belly . Super cool!

If you have a proven technique for Pork Belly, I would LOVE to hear about it!! 

Since this post was originally published, I have also made Asian flavored Sous Vide Pork Belly recipe, which you can find here.

You may also enjoy these super quick and super flavorful Lemon Pepper Pork Chops. They have a lot of great reviews on my TikTok (watch video here)

Storage

• Once cool, store in an airtight container for up to 4 days. Reheat and enjoy.

I hope you enjoy this recipe and fall in love with pork belly! Stay tuned for my Pork Belly Burnt Ends Recipe! xo – Colleen

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Originally posted 2016, recipe updated, October 2023.