Kakuni (Japanese Pork Belly)

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Tender pieces of slow cooked pork belly, this Kakuni recipe is melt-in-your mouth tender, rich and delicious. Braised in a ginger broth, then served in a sweet soy sauce based sauce, this Japanese Pork Belly is also easy to make!

This Kakuni (or Japanese Pork Belly) is one of the best things ever. Braised in an incredible cooking liquid then caramelized under the broiler, this stuff is SO GOOD.

And it's SO EASY. Throwing some pork belly in a pot and letting it simmer on low for a couple hours just doesn't take that much effort.

And at the end you have a beautiful fall apart tender melt-in-your-mouth piece of pork - like with this Chinese braised pork belly or these braised pork shanks that we really love too!

Seriously, this pork just melts in your mouth. It's incredible. Serve it on top of some rice with some sliced green onions and you've got yourself a pot of gold.

These Pork Belly Tacos are another great way to indulge in pork belly, as is this Crispy Pork Belly Yakisoba or sous vide pork belly.

Check out the Japanese braised pork belly story!

What is Kakuni?

Kakuni is a classic Japanese braised pork belly dish. It is typically slow cooked until tender and served in a sweet soy sauce based sauce.

Ingredients

Most of these ingredients can be found at your local grocery store.

Pork Belly - see below for tips on choosing the best pork belly for this recipe. You should be able to get it at your local grocery store or butcher. You can also buy pork belly online.
Dashi powder - combined with water, this makes a dashi stock, or a dried kelp and bonito flake broth, used often in Japanese cooking.
Mirin - sweet Japanese rice wine.
Sake - Japanese rice wine.

If you want to learn a little more about the Japanese ingredients I use in my cooking, check out this post on the Japanese Pantry Essentials.

The full list of ingredients can be found in the recipe card at the bottom of the post.

How to Choose Pork Belly

For the best results, buy center cut pork belly, and get it as lean as you can. Pork belly has a very high fat content, and while we want the fat (it's what makes it so good!), we also want a good ratio of meat to fat, like we use in this Twice Cooked Pork.

Learn more about pork belly.

Why This Recipe Works

Braising the pork belly in a lightly seasoned broth helps it to become melt-in-your-mouth tender;
Broiling the pork belly after it finishes braising adds perfectly crisp, caramelized edges. Which are incredible.
The sugar in the cooking liquid makes the pork belly deliciously sticky and balances the saltiness of the dashi and soy sauce.

Step By Step Instructions

Heat a Dutch oven over medium high heat and add the pork belly. Brown on all sides.

raw pork belly in a dutch oven (browning)

Cover the pork belly with water and add the piece of ginger and the green onions.

Bring to a boil and turn the heat down to a simmer. Simmer for about 2 hours.

pork and green onions in a broth in a dutch oven

Drain the pork belly and add it back to the pot with all the other ingredients.

Bring back to a boil, reduce the heat and simmer another 30 minutes.

Drain and place the pork belly on a foil or parchment paper lined baking sheet. Place pork belly under the broiler to crisp the edges. Crisp on both sides.

Serve over Instant Pot sushi rice, in ramen or with vegetables.

Expert Tips

Place the pork belly under the broiler for 5-10 minutes to crisp up the fat. Be careful not to let it burn! It will burn quickly due to the sugar in the braising liquid.
Buy the pork belly with the least amount of fat you can find. It will still have plenty of fat to be nice and tender.
If you don't have sake, you can substitute a dry white wine.
You can substitute chicken stock for the dashi, but the flavor of the dish will not be as good.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I reheat Kakuni?

I recommend reheating the pork belly in the oven for the best results. This will enable the skin to crisp back up. Be careful not to overcook.

How do I freeze Kakuni?

Leftover kakuni can be stored in the freezer (in a freezer safe bag or container) for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight and reheat in the oven to re-crisp the skin.

What is my braised pork belly tough?

Pork belly is typically tough when it hasn't been cooked long enough. It can also be tough if you choose a meat that is too lean and overcook it - it should have a good amount of fat on it, while still having a good amount of meat.

What is spicy Kakuni?

Kakuni is not typically spicy. Kakuni is a braised pork belly commonly used in Japanese cuisine. It has a sweet and savory taste. If you want to make it spicy, you can serve it with hot sauce or chili oil.

bowl of rice and pork belly with chopsticks

How to Use Kakuni (Ways to Eat Kakuni)

Serve it with some steamed white rice or Fried Rice and garnish it with sliced green onions;
Place slices of kakuni in Homemade Ramen;
Serve it with a side of veggies like this Baby Bok Choy or pickles to cut the richness of the pork.
Serve it on a sandwich with a Japanese mayonnaise.

If you're a pork lover like I am, you may want to also browse all the Pork Recipes - there are some ultra delicious ones on the site!

Did you make this Kakuni recipe? Rate the recipe and leave me a comment to let me know how it turned out!

This recipe was originally published in January 2018. It has been updated for content and photos.