Ingredients

Pork Belly Braise:

• 2 lbs pork belly
• 4 cloves garlic smashed
• 1 inch ginger smashed
• 2 green onions cut into 3" pieces
• 2 Thai chilies optional
• 3 star anise whole
• 1 tablespoon fennel seed whole
• 1 teaspoon coriander seed whole
• 1 teaspoon white peppercorns whole
• ½ teaspoon 5-spice powder
• 4 tablespoon dark soy sauce
• 2 tablespoon light soy sauce
• 1 ½ tablespoon rock sugar
• 4 C beef broth or water

Garnish:

• ½ cucumber sliced
• ½ carrot julienned
• a few sprigs cilantro chopped
• 1 Thai chili chopped (optional)
• 1 green onion chopped (optional)
• Braising sauce

Bao (steamed buns)

• Buy them from an asian supermarket [example]
• Or make them yourself [recipe]

Instructions

Pork Belly Braise:

• Rinse pork belly and pat dry. Turn on the Instant Pot to Saute and add 1 teaspoon oil. Place pork belly in to brown on all sides for about 3-4 minutes.
• Add the chilies, garlic, spices and ginger and saute until fragrant. Add soy sauce, sugar, and 4 C of beef broth or water to cover. Cover with the lid and set the Instant Pot to Meat setting and cook for 40 minutes at high pressure.
• Once pork belly is cooked, remove from braising liquid and cut into pieces that fit into baos. Strain the braising liquid and remove the fat from the surface.
• Pour some of the braising liquid into a sauce pan and bring to a low boil. Throw in a little cornstarch slurry and stir until thick before tossing the cut pork slices in mixture.
• Place pork into steamed buns and add the trimmings!