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This is the archived version of the Milk Street website and is no longer up to date.

Please visit 177milkstreet.com to see the current website with all of the latest recipes!

Crisp-Skin Pork Belly Rice Bowls with Pickled Vegetables

6 Servings

4½ hours 1 hour active

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Tender, succulent pork with deliciously crisp skin is the star of these rice bowls. They’re our re-creation of a dish we enjoyed in Paris at Khantine, a casual eatery that serves Khmer-inspired fare. There, chef Simon Octobre employs a two-day process to prepare the restaurant’s simmered, salted, then deep-fried pork belly that ends up both exceedingly tender and golden-brown crisp. Our faster, simpler version uses a hands-off roasting method that does the bulk of the cooking in a moderately low oven, then increases the heat to brown and crisp the skin. It’s important to purchase skin-on pork belly; skin-on boneless shoulder works well, too. In the supermarket meat case, these cuts often are skinless, so you may need to ask the butcher or order ahead. These rice bowls involve multiple components, but all are easy to make. The pickled vegetables can be prepared up to five days ahead and refrigerated; the sauce can be mixed a couple days ahead and refrigerated.

6

Servings

Tip

Don’t rub the fish sauce mixture onto the skin of the pork. In order to brown and crisp properly, the skin needs to be completely dry. For that reason, we even pat it dry with paper towels before sliding the pork into the oven.

4½ hours

1 hour active

For the Pickled Vegetables:

  • 2

    medium carrots, peeled and shredded on the large holes of a box grater

Directions

Reviews
Beth R.
June 6, 2023
Terrific meld of textures and flavors for a delish rice bowl!
I found skin on pork belly at a local Asian market (many Asian cultures use skin on pork belly). I used a package of coleslaw vegetables for the pickled veggies. Taste of pickles is similar to Vietnamese pickled daikon and carrots, as well as Filipino achara (made with green papaya). I made the rice in my zojirushi rice cooker, instead of following the stove top instructions for this part of the recipe. We really enjoyed this recipe and will make again. Leftover sauce would work well with grilled chicken.
BRENDA V.
August 24, 2025
Pork belly rice bowl
Lovely crispy skin, great textures and lovely tasting! Will definitely make again.
C P.
April 7, 2024
Is this supposed to follow the Chinese style of roast pork?
Not sure about the flavor as I'm used to the Chinese style-somewhat similar style of cooking method, slight differences. But definitely no flavor on its own, you MUST use the sauce to provide any flavor to this dish, it's ok but not something I'd make again. Also, you definitely need to poke MANY holes into the pork belly skin in order to get that blistering of fat on top-it's not as easy as it reads. I prefer my homey way w/a dash of Five Spice and other seasonings, and the skin needs to be very dry-mine sits overnight in the frig exposed w/the meat side protected.

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