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Five Spice Eggs and Pork Belly Stew

A heartwarming stew combining tender pork belly and aromatic five-spice eggs that offers a comforting explosion of flavors, perfect for family gatherings.
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Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 2 hours 30 minutes
Total Time 3 hours
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: Comfort Food, East Asian
Calories: 450
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Spices
  • 2 sticks cinnamon sticks (about 8 inches total)
  • 8 pieces cloves
  • 2 pieces star anise
  • 1 tsp coriander seeds
  • ½ tsp Sichuan peppercorns
  • 3 pieces cilantro roots or 10 cilantro stems
Main Ingredients
  • 1.5 lb pork belly, cut into 1.5-inch chunks
  • ½-1 tsp salt (adjust to taste)
  • 60 g palm sugar (⅓ cup packed)
  • 5 cups unsalted pork or chicken stock
  • 2 Tbsp soy sauce
  • 1 Tbsp Golden Mountain Sauce (or substitute soy sauce)
  • 1 Tbsp oyster sauce
  • 2-3 tsp black soy sauce or dark soy sauce
  • ½ tsp white pepper, ground
  • 4 cloves garlic, crushed
  • 6-8 pieces eggs (about 1-2 per person)
  • 8 pieces tofu puffs, halved
  • Jasmine rice for serving

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Crush the cinnamon sticks and toast them along with the star anise, cloves, coriander seeds, and Sichuan peppercorns in a dry sauté pan until aromatic (about 2-3 minutes).
  2. Place the toasted spices into a cheesecloth or spice bag along with the cilantro stems or roots and tie it securely.
  3. In a pot (skip this step if using the Instant Pot), sear the pork belly over medium-high heat until golden brown.
  4. Add the palm sugar to the pot, stirring until it darkens slightly, and then mix in the stock.
  5. Add the soy sauce, Golden Mountain Sauce, oyster sauce, ground white pepper, crushed garlic, and the spice bag. If the pork wasn’t seared, add salt here.
Cooking
  1. Cover and simmer the pork for 2-2.5 hours until it is fork-tender, giving it occasional stirs.
  2. While the pork simmers, boil the eggs for 8 minutes, cool in an ice bath, and then peel.
  3. Add the eggs and tofu puffs to the pot and simmer for an additional 8 minutes. Adjust seasoning as needed before serving.
Serving
  1. Serve over fragrant Jasmine rice, soaking up all that rich broth.

Notes

This stew can be stored in the fridge for up to 3 days and can be frozen for up to a month. Adjust ingredients based on preference and consider adding seasonal vegetables or different proteins for variety.