Okinawa Salted Pork Recipes

OKINAWA SHOYU PORK

Steps:

• Place pork belly into a large pot, and cover with water about 1-inch above the pork. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, and simmer for 2 minutes. Discard water and fill pot with fresh water about 1-inch above the pork. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce heat to a simmer. Cook until the pork begins to soften, about 1 hour.
• Remove the pork from the water, and place on a cutting board. Allow pork to cool for a few minutes, then slice off the thick skin and discard. Cut the remaining pork meat into 1-inch wide slices. Set aside.
• Combine the soy sauce, brown sugar, 1/2 cup water, mirin, ginger, and garlic in a large saucepan, and bring to a boil over high heat. Add the sliced pork belly, then bring to a boil again. Reduce heat to low, and place a sheet of aluminum foil directly over the meat and sauce. Simmer uncovered until the pork is tender, 30 to 45 minutes, turning the pork several times to cook evenly.

GRILLED OKINAWA SALTED PORK WITH GARLIC AND HERBS

Steps:

• Peel the garlic cloves then finely mince.
• In a small bowl, combine the garlic and dried herbs and black pepper then mix well until well-combined.
• Slice the salted pork with about 1-centimeter thickness then coat each slice with the mixed garlic and herbs.
• Cut the scallions into about 5-centimeter pieces. Slice the carrot into several pieces. For the eggplant, cut in half if its long then cut along its length about 2-3 slices depending on its thickness.
• Put the salted pork on a grill then cook until both sides are done. Grill the vegetables after the pork is cooked then you can serve.

OKINAWA SOMEN WITH SALTED PORK AND KIMCHI

Steps:

• Heat a pan using medium heat then add half a tablespoon of sesame oil. Add the bean sprouts then stir-fry for about 2-3 minutes or until it is cooked. Add a little bit of salt and pepper.
• Chop the garlic chives into small pieces then slice the cucumber into thin strips.
• Slice the salted pork into thin pieces.
• Cook the somen noodles according to package's instruction. Drain then immediately rinse it with cold running water to stop the cooking process. Drain then toss half a tablespoon of sesame oil to prevent the noodles from sticking.
• Put the somen noodles in a deep plate. Top it with the garlic chives, cooked bean sprouts, kimchi, cucumber and the salted pork. Pour some of the pork broth reserved from making the salted pork. Top with some toasted sesame seeds before serving.

RAFUTE (OKINAWAN GLAZED PORK)

Steps:

• Place pork, skin side up, on the rack of a broiler pan, and broil until skin is browned.
• Rinse pork under warm running water, scraping off any charred areas with a knife.
• Place the whole piece of pork in a large pot, cover with water, bring to a boil, and cook 40 minutes.
• Remove pork and reserve broth.
• Allow the pork to cool, then slice into ½" thick, 2" x 2" squares.
• Combine other ingredients, except mirin, in a thick, wide, shallow pot, and bring to the boil.
• Lay the pork pieces in this sauce and cook, covered, for about 1½ hours over low heat.
• If during this time the pan seems dry, add a little of the reserved pork stock.
• As pork tenderizes, add mirin and cook a further half-hour uncovered, until pork is melt-in-the-mouth tender and evenly glazed with sauce.
• When warming leftovers, do not add water or soup stock- instead, use sake (or bourbon/whisky), which is said to keep pork tender and juicy.