I love pork belly. I honestly think sometimes it may be my favorite protein. You can make it crispy, savory, braised or chewy & the results are fabulous!
I think my passion for steamed buns is a close second though. The soft, fluffy texture filled with sweet or savory ingredients. The possibilities are endless!
The only issue though, is the dough is tricky AF to make. SOOOO finicky & I don’t always have the time & energy to produce it. So in comes this EASY bun recipe. And by easy I mean all you have to do is take it from the freezer & steam it. Saves sooooo much time & honestly the results are pretty good!
Also these are always easy to whip up. Add a dash of hoisin sauce on top & ta-daa! You’ve made some delicious pork belly buns with half the effort.
Easy Crispy Pork Belly Buns
Difficulty: Easy4
servings15
minutes50
minutesIngredients
1 lb pork belly, skin on
1 pack of frozen buns (steamed to instructions)
1 tablespoon salt (for scoring the skin)
1 teaspoon salt (for seasoning)
1 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon five-spice powder
1 teaspoon chicken bouillon
1 tablespoon rice vinegar or white vinegar
1 carrot (julienned)
1 small bunch of cilantro
Hoisin Sauce
Crushed Peanuts (optional)
Directions
- Prepare the Pork Belly:
Pat the pork belly dry with paper towels. This step is crucial for getting that crispy skin!
Flip the pork belly so the meat side is facing up. Score the skin lightly with a sharp knife in a crisscross pattern, making sure not to cut into the meat. - Prep the Skin:
Flip the pork belly back to skin side up. Brush the skin with rice vinegar or white vinegar, and then rub 1 tablespoon of salt all over the skin. - Dry the Pork Belly:
Let the pork belly sit uncovered in the fridge for at least 2 hours, or overnight if you have time. This dries out the skin and helps it crisp up in the air fryer. - Season the Meat:
Rub the meat side of the pork belly with 1 teaspoon of salt, black pepper, five-spice powder, and chicken bouillon. Be generous on the meat side but avoid getting seasoning on the skin. - Air Fry the Pork Belly:
Preheat your air fryer to 325°F. Place the pork belly skin side up in the air fryer basket. Cook for 45-50 minutes, or until the skin is crispy and golden brown. You may need to rotate or flip the pork halfway through if your air fryer cooks unevenly. Increase to 400°F in the last 6-7 minutes to crispy up the skin. - Rest and Slice:
Let the pork belly rest for 10 minutes after cooking to allow the juices to redistribute. Then, slice into bite-sized pieces. Place a piece of pork belly, carrots, cilantro and hoisin sauce into a bun. Eat ASAP!
