Tender Dongpo Pork Made Easy with an Air Fryer
‘Dongpo Pork’ That Tasted Like a Master’s Touch, Now Made with an Air Fryer!
If you’ve always wanted to try Chef Lee Yeon-bok’s Dongpo Pork! Now, here’s a home-style version made with an air fryer! Skip the hassle of deep-frying with this time-saving air fryer method! Let’s start making ‘Air Fryer Dongpo Pork’ right now! Discover all the recipes in the world with Man-Ke Recipe.
Main Ingredients- Pork belly or pork shoulder 500g
- 3 Tbsp Rice wine (Cheongju)
- 1 stalk Green onion
- 1 inch Ginger
- 3 cloves Garlic
- 1 Star anise
- 2 Tbsp Cornstarch
- 2 Tbsp Water (for cornstarch slurry)
Coloring Sauce- 2 Tbsp Dark soy sauce (for color and umami)
- 2 Tbsp Soy sauce
- 1 Tbsp Honey (for gloss and sweetness)
Braising Sauce- 3 cups Water (approx. 600ml)
- 1 Tbsp Chicken powder (or dashi stock)
- 6 Tbsp Soy sauce
- 2 Tbsp Sugar
- 1/2 Tbsp Dark soy sauce (for adjusting color)
- 1 Star anise
- 2 Tbsp Dark soy sauce (for color and umami)
- 2 Tbsp Soy sauce
- 1 Tbsp Honey (for gloss and sweetness)
Braising Sauce- 3 cups Water (approx. 600ml)
- 1 Tbsp Chicken powder (or dashi stock)
- 6 Tbsp Soy sauce
- 2 Tbsp Sugar
- 1/2 Tbsp Dark soy sauce (for adjusting color)
- 1 Star anise
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
Prepare the aromatics to infuse the Dongpo Pork with flavor. Cut the green onion into 2-3 pieces and peel and slice the ginger or cut it into 2-3 chunks. Smash or halve the garlic cloves. In a pot, combine the pork, 1 liter of water, 3 Tbsp rice wine, the prepared green onion, ginger, garlic, 1 star anise, a pinch of salt, and a pinch of pepper. Bring to a boil over high heat.
Step 2
Once the water boils, reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer the pork for about 30 minutes, or until fully cooked. You can check for doneness by piercing it with a chopstick; if no pink liquid comes out, it’s ready. Remove the cooked pork from the pot and rinse it lightly under cold water to remove any surface impurities. Pat the pork dry thoroughly with paper towels. Ensuring the pork is well-dried is key for achieving a crispy exterior in the air fryer.
Step 3
Now it’s time to give the pork a beautiful color. In a small bowl, mix together the coloring sauce ingredients: 2 Tbsp dark soy sauce, 2 Tbsp soy sauce, and 1 Tbsp honey. Generously brush this coloring sauce all over the surface of the boiled and dried pork. The honey might make it a bit sticky, so ensure an even coating.
Step 4
It’s time to cook the pork in the air fryer. Place the coated pork belly into the air fryer basket and cook at 180°C (356°F) for 10 minutes. After 10 minutes, flip the pork and continue to cook for another 5 minutes at 180°C (356°F). Cook until the exterior is golden brown and looks appetizing. Cooking times may vary depending on your air fryer model, so adjust accordingly.
Step 5
Let’s make the delicious braising sauce that will give the Dongpo Pork its signature flavor. In a pot, combine 3 cups of water, 1 Tbsp chicken powder (or you can use store-bought dashi stock), 6 Tbsp soy sauce, 2 Tbsp sugar, 1/2 Tbsp dark soy sauce, and 1 star anise. Mix well. Once the sauce comes to a boil, add the air-fried pork to the pot. Simmer over high heat for about 5 minutes, basting the pork with the sauce occasionally to allow it to absorb the flavors.
Step 6
As the pork braises, the sauce will reduce and thicken. When the sauce has reduced to about half its original volume, carefully remove the pork from the pot. Slice the pork into bite-sized pieces, about 1.5 cm thick. Set the sliced pork aside. In the same pot, prepare to thicken the remaining braising sauce. In a small bowl, mix 2 Tbsp cornstarch with 2 Tbsp water until smooth to create a cornstarch slurry. Gradually add this slurry to the reduced braising sauce, stirring continuously until it reaches your desired thick consistency. Be careful not to make it too thick.
Step 7
Finally, generously spoon the thickened braising sauce over the sliced Dongpo Pork. Your delicious Air Fryer Dongpo Pork is now ready! Enjoy it with warm rice and blanched greens like bok choy for a complete meal.
