Kakuni (Japanese Simmered Pork Belly)

Kakuni is a delicious Japanese dish made with simmered pork belly, typically cooked in a flavorful broth until tender and packed with umami flavors. Here’s a basic recipe to make Kakuni at home:

Ingredients:

• 2 lbs (about 1 kg) pork belly, cut into large chunks
• 1 cup soy sauce
• 1 cup mirin (Japanese sweet rice wine)
• 1 cup sake (Japanese rice wine)
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 4 cups water
• 2-3 slices of ginger
• 2-3 green onions, chopped (for garnish)
• Steamed rice (to serve)

Instructions:

1. Prepare the Pork Belly: Rinse the pork belly under cold water and pat it dry with paper towels. Cut it into large chunks, about 2-inch pieces.
2. Boil the Pork Belly: Bring a pot of water to a boil and add the pork belly pieces. Boil for about 5 minutes to remove any impurities. Drain the pork belly and set it aside.
3. Make the Simmering Broth: In a clean pot or Dutch oven, combine soy sauce, mirin, sake, sugar, water, and ginger slices. Stir well to combine and dissolve the sugar.
4. Simmer the Pork Belly: Add the boiled pork belly pieces to the pot with the simmering broth. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to low. Cover the pot partially with a lid to allow steam to escape, and simmer the pork belly for about 2-3 hours, or until it becomes tender and easily pierced with a fork. Stir occasionally and skim off any foam or impurities that rise to the surface.
5. Finish and Serve: Once the pork belly is tender and the sauce has reduced and thickened to your liking, turn off the heat. Carefully remove the pork belly pieces from the broth and place them on a serving plate.
6. Optional: Glaze the Pork Belly (Tsukemen): For an extra step of flavor, you can glaze the cooked pork belly by brushing it with some of the reduced sauce and broiling or grilling it briefly until caramelized.
7. Garnish and Serve: Garnish the Kakuni with chopped green onions for freshness and color. Serve the tender pork belly hot over steamed rice, with some of the simmering broth spooned over the top for extra flavor.

Enjoy your homemade Kakuni, a comforting and flavorful Japanese dish that’s perfect for a cozy meal at home!