5best2buy
The Recipe · No.473 · Twice-Cooked Pork

Twice-Cooked Pork, and where to source it

Twice-Cooked Pork — 5best2buy.com 5BEST2BUY.COM Twice-Cooked Pork Chinese 5best2buy.com

The name is literal: you boil the pork belly whole, chill it so it slices clean, then fry the slices until the edges curl and crisp. The soul of the dish is doubanjiang fried in oil until it turns the fat red and fragrant.

By Vince Gonzalez · Published July 2026 · Sourcing verified 5 Jul 2026

Prep15 min
Cook35 min
Makes4 servings
CuisineChinese
Cost$$
Dairy-free
Contains  gluten · soy
Make it gluten-free: swap in tamari instead of soy sauce (check the other labels too).
The Ingredients — and where to get them
Cook for 4 servings
Pork belly
Skin-on belly gives the fat that renders and crisps in the second cook.
1.25 lb
Chili crisp
Stands in for doubanjiang to fry the base to a fragrant red oil.
2 tbsp
Soy sauce
Seasons the stir-fry and deepens the color.
1 tbsp
Dried chiles
Fried whole for aroma and low background heat.
4
Leeks or scallions
Cut on a sharp bias and added at the end for bite.
2 stalks
Garlic & ginger
Sliced, not minced, so they stay present in the fry.
1 tbsp each

Using pork belly? It behaves the way it does for a reason — what this cut is for and how to cook it →

The Rundown
Greedometer ●●●●● A fair little treat
A reasonable little indulgence.
EffortSome doing
Cook it with
Instant PotSlow cookerOne-pot
The Method
  1. SimmerBoil the belly whole with ginger and scallion for 25 minutes until just firm, then chill.
  2. SliceCut chilled belly into thin 2-inch slices so the fat and lean stay attached.
  3. RenderFry slices in a dry hot wok until edges curl and cup, about 3 minutes.
  4. Bloom pastePush pork aside, fry chili crisp and dried chiles until the oil turns red and fragrant.
  5. FinishToss everything with soy sauce and leeks for 1 minute until glossy.
The Toolkit

Wok · Wok spatula · Chef knife · Cleaver · Pot

Straight Answers
Can you make Twice-Cooked Pork in an air fryer? — Yes, with an insert

Not on its own — an air fryer can’t hold a pool of liquid. You can simmer it in an oven-safe dish or a silicone insert made to fit the basket, but the broth won’t reduce or brown the way it does on the stove, and that insert comes out scorching, so use oven mitts. For real depth, a pot on the stove wins.

Can you freeze Twice-Cooked Pork? — Yes

Yes — it freezes well. Cool it fully, portion into airtight containers, and it keeps a few months; thaw in the fridge and reheat gently.

Can you make Twice-Cooked Pork ahead of time? — Yes

Yes — it holds well and often tastes better the next day. Make it ahead and reheat gently before serving.

Is Twice-Cooked Pork gluten-free? — Not as written

Not as written — it contains gluten. Make it gluten-free: swap in tamari instead of soy sauce (check the other labels too).

Is Twice-Cooked Pork vegan? — No

No — it contains meat, so it isn’t vegetarian or vegan.

Community Notes

Cooked it? Changed something that worked? Leave a note for the next person — first-name basis, no account.

Loading notes…

Notes are public and posted as written. Be kind, no links. Spam and abuse get removed.

More Chinese recipes
Salt and Pepper ShrimpChinese Eggplant in Garlic SauceWonton SoupXiao Long BaoDumpling SoupChinese Broccoli with Oyster Sauce
All Chinese recipes →  ·  Browse all 1433 →
One list, with a link to where to buy each one.

Some ingredient and tool links are affiliate links — if you buy through one, 5best2buy may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. It never costs the maker anything, and it never decides who we recommend. The list is the list.
© 2026 5best2buy.com · Recipe No.473

Open data. Every maker on this site is published as a free dataset under CC BY 4.0 — use it in anything, commercial or not, as long as you credit 5best2buy. Browse the datasets →