Dairy-Free Taiwanese Braised Pork Rice Bowl (Lu Rou Fan)

Instructions

1. 1Place the 6 whole dried shiitake mushrooms in a bowl and cover with 3 cups of warm water. Let them soak for at least 30 minutes until softened. Once softened, remove the mushrooms, squeeze out any excess water, and slice them. Reserve the soaking liquid.
2. 2Cut the about 680 g pork belly, skin on, into 2.54 cm cubes. Thinly slice the 4 shallots. Mince the 4 cloves of garlic. Slice the soaked shiitake mushrooms.
3. 3Heat the 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil in a large, heavy-bottomed pot or Dutch oven over medium heat (about 175°C/175°C). Add the thinly sliced 4 shallots and cook, stirring occasionally, for 5-7 minutes, or until they are golden brown and crispy. Use a slotted spoon to remove the crispy shallots from the pot and set them aside on a plate lined with paper towels.
4. 4Add the 2.54 cm cubes of about 680 g pork belly to the same pot. Increase the heat to medium-high (190.6°C/190°C) and sear the pork belly on all sides until it is nicely browned, about 5-8 minutes. Do not overcrowd the pot; sear in batches if necessary.
5. 5Pour the 1/2 cup soy sauce, 2 tablespoons dark soy sauce, 1/4 cup rice wine, and 2 tablespoons rock sugar into the pot with the pork belly. Add the minced 4 cloves of garlic, 1 teaspoon five-spice powder, and 1/2 teaspoon white pepper. Stir everything together to coat the pork belly.
6. 6Add the sliced shiitake mushrooms and the reserved soaking liquid (strain it first to remove any grit) to the pot. Add 3 cups of water. Bring the mixture to a boil over high heat (100°C/100°C), then reduce the heat to low (94°C/95°C), cover the pot tightly, and simmer for at least 1.5 hours (90 minutes), or until the pork belly is very tender and easily pierced with a fork. If using, add the 4 whole hard-boiled eggs to the pot during the last 30 minutes of simmering.
7. 7Serve the tender braised pork belly and its rich sauce over 4 cups of cooked white rice. Garnish with the reserved crispy shallots and a whole hard-boiled egg, if desired.

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