Red braised pork belly facts for kids
Red braised pork belly
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| Alternative names | Hong shao rou |
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| Associated national cuisine | China |
| Main ingredients | Pork |
| Ingredients generally used | Ginger, garlic, aromatic spices, chilies, sugar, star anise, light and dark soy sauce, and rice wine |
Red braised pork belly or hong shao rou (simplified Chinese: 红烧肉; traditional Chinese: 紅燒肉; pinyin: hóngshāoròu) is a super popular and tasty pork dish from mainland China. It's made with pork belly, which is a fatty cut of pork, cooked slowly until it's incredibly soft and almost melts in your mouth. This dish is famous for its rich, sweet, and slightly sticky sauce. It gets its name, "red braised," because the soy sauce used in cooking gives the pork a beautiful reddish-brown color.
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What is Red Braised Pork Belly?
Red braised pork belly is a classic Chinese dish. It uses pork belly as its main ingredient. The pork is cooked for a long time. This makes the fat and skin become very soft. They almost melt in your mouth. The sauce is usually thick and sweet. It also has a bit of a sticky texture.
How is it Made?
The dish is made using a cooking method called red cooking. This means ingredients like soy sauce are used to give the food a deep, reddish color. Key ingredients include ginger, garlic, and various aromatic spices. Chilies, sugar, and star anise are also added. Both light and dark soy sauce are used. A touch of rice wine completes the flavor.
The pork belly is slowly cooked in this sauce. This long cooking process is called braising. It helps the liquid reduce and become thick. This is how the pork gets its amazing melt-in-the-mouth texture.
How is it Served?
Red braised pork belly is often served with plain steamed rice. It also goes well with dark green vegetables. People often enjoy this dish during holidays. Sometimes, hard-boiled chicken eggs are cooked with the pork. Other vegetables might be added too. They soak up all the delicious juices from the sauce. This makes them extra flavorful.
Famous Versions of Hong Shao Rou
Many different parts of China have their own ways of making red braised pork belly. Each region adds its own special touch.
Chairman Mao's Favorite Dish
One very famous version comes from Hunan province. It is often called "Mao's family style red braised pork" (Chinese: 毛氏紅燒肉; pinyin: Máo shì hóngshāoròu). This is because it was said to be one of Chairman Mao's favorite dishes. Chairman Mao was a very important leader in China's history. Many Hunan restaurants across China specialize in "Mao-style cuisine." They serve this dish to honor his preference.
Official Recipe
Because the dish is so popular, the government of Hunan province took a special step. They decided to make an official recipe for hongshao rou. This was done to make sure the dish is always made correctly. They even decided that only meat from a special type of pig should be used. This pig is called the Ningxiang breed. Using this specific pig helps make sure the authentic hongshao rou tastes just right.
