Slow-Cooked Red Braised Pork Belly

Ingredients

• 1.5 pounds pork belly , cut into bite-size pieces
• 0.25 cups vegetable oil
• 3 tablespoons brown sugar
• 0.25 cups dark soy sauce
• 0.25 cups Shaoxing rice wine
• 0.25 cups light soy sauce
• 4 scallions , halved
• 4 slices fresh ginger
• 4 stars anise pods
• water to cover
• 0.5 packages vegetarian chicken substitute , 8 ounce
• 6 hard-boiled eggs , Optional

Instructions

1. 1

   Fill a large pot with water and bring to a boil. Add pork belly; cook until starting to soften, about 5 minutes. Drain.

2. 2

   Heat vegetable oil and brown sugar in a wok or large skillet over medium heat until sugar is melted. Add pork; cook until browned on all sides, about 2 minutes. Add dark soy sauce; cook and stir until flavors combine, about 5 minutes.

3. 3

   Transfer pork mixture to a slow cooker. Add rice wine, light soy sauce, scallions, ginger, and star anise. Pour in enough water to just cover the pork.

4. 4

   Cook on Low until pork is tender, about 6 hours. Add diced chicken substitute, hard-boiled eggs, and more water to cover.

5. 5

   Cook on Low until eggs absorb cooking liquid, rotating halfway through, about 1 hour more.