Simple Coke Boiled Pork Belly (Bossam) for Solo Living
Easy Bossam for One: Make it with Cola!
Even when living alone, you don’t have to give up delicious Bossam! This recipe makes it incredibly easy for solo dwellers to prepare tender, flavorful boiled pork without any fuss. Just toss everything in and let the cola work its magic.
Ingredients- Pork Belly or Pork Shoulder 1.1kg (approx. 2.4 lbs)
- 1 large Onion
- A handful of whole Garlic cloves (about 5-6)
- 1 stalk Green Onion
- A few Bay Leaves (2-3)
- 1L (approx. 4 cups) Cola
- A pinch of Black Pepper (whole or ground)
- Assorted Lettuce and Greens for wraps
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, prepare aromatics to help remove any gaminess from the pork. Fill a pot with cold water. Add the roughly chopped onion, whole garlic cloves, and bay leaves. (If you received bay leaves from your butcher when buying the pork, you can use those.)
Step 2
Now, place the whole piece of pork into the pot along with the aromatics. You can add it directly without parboiling or rinsing. Add the vegetables (onion, garlic, green onion, bay leaves) at this stage. If you have whole black peppercorns, you can add a few at this time.
Step 3
Here’s the secret to the deliciousness – cola! Pour 1L of cola over the pork and vegetables, ensuring they are mostly submerged. The sugar in the cola tenderizes the meat and creates a slight caramelization, enhancing the savory flavor. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce to medium-low, cover, and simmer for about 1 hour. If the liquid reduces too much during cooking, you can add a little more cola or water.
Step 4
After simmering for an hour, your delicious cola Bossam will be ready! Pierce the pork with a chopstick or fork; if it goes in smoothly and no pink liquid comes out, it’s perfectly cooked. Carefully remove the boiled pork from the pot and slice it into bite-sized pieces. Serve hot with rice, your favorite wrap vegetables, ssamjang (spicy dipping paste), and garlic slices. Enjoy! You can also strain the leftover cooking liquid for other uses.
