This Chinese braised Pork Belly with Pickled Mustard Greens (酸菜卤肉饭) is savory, tangy, and perfect over rice. This is the time of year to make it, so grab a package of sour pickled mustard greens, some pork belly, and warm up your kitchen with this recipe!
I remember having it while living in Beijing, at a Chinese fast food chain called 真功夫 (Zhēn Gōngfū), which served it during the winter months. This dish has been on my mind ever since, so suffice it to say, creating a recipe for it has been on my to-do list for almost 10 years.
A Treasured Combination
Rich meats and pickled vegetables are a common combination across many cuisines around the world. Think hot dogs and sauerkraut, pâté and charcuterie with cornichons or pickled onion, or kimchi and Korean BBQ.
The tang of the pickled vegetables wakes up your taste buds and cuts through the heaviness of the meat, making for a balanced, satisfying dish. I think the taste is incredibly savory—dare I say refreshing—and addictive.
Here are some good examples of this combination across recipes from various regional cuisines on our site:
![Pork Belly with Pickled Mustard Greens (pickled cabbage braised pork rice) 80 Pickled Long Beans with Pork Stir Fry, by thewoksoflife.com](https://thewoksoflife.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/pickled-long-beans-8.jpg)
![Pork Belly with Pickled Mustard Greens (pickled cabbage braised pork rice) 81 Pickled Long Beans with Pork Stir Fry, by thewoksoflife.com](https://thewoksoflife.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/pickled-long-beans-8.jpg)
![Pork Belly with Pickled Mustard Greens (pickled cabbage braised pork rice) 82 Noodle Soup with Pork and Pickled Greens by thewoksoflife.com](https://thewoksoflife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/pickled-vegetable-noodle-soup-8.jpg)
![Pork Belly with Pickled Mustard Greens (pickled cabbage braised pork rice) 83 Noodle Soup with Pork and Pickled Greens by thewoksoflife.com](https://thewoksoflife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/pickled-vegetable-noodle-soup-8.jpg)
![Pork Belly with Pickled Mustard Greens (pickled cabbage braised pork rice) 84 Chicken with Pickled Mustard Greens](https://thewoksoflife.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/chicken-ham-choy-pickled-mustard-16.jpg)
![Pork Belly with Pickled Mustard Greens (pickled cabbage braised pork rice) 85 Chicken with Pickled Mustard Greens](https://thewoksoflife.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/chicken-ham-choy-pickled-mustard-16.jpg)
![Pork Belly with Pickled Mustard Greens (pickled cabbage braised pork rice) 86 Northern Chinese Sour Cabbage Stew](https://thewoksoflife.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/pork-belly-Chinese-sour-cabbage-16.jpg)
![Pork Belly with Pickled Mustard Greens (pickled cabbage braised pork rice) 87 Northern Chinese Sour Cabbage Stew](https://thewoksoflife.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/pork-belly-Chinese-sour-cabbage-16.jpg)
![Pork Belly with Pickled Mustard Greens (pickled cabbage braised pork rice) 88 Taiwanese Beef Noodle Soup (Instant Pot), by thewoksoflife.com](https://thewoksoflife.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/taiwanese-beef-noodle-soup-instant-pot-14.jpg)
![Pork Belly with Pickled Mustard Greens (pickled cabbage braised pork rice) 89 Taiwanese Beef Noodle Soup (Instant Pot), by thewoksoflife.com](https://thewoksoflife.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/taiwanese-beef-noodle-soup-instant-pot-14.jpg)
I absolutely love this recipe, and I know you will too—especially if you love tangy flavors.
![Pork Belly with Pickled Mustard Greens (pickled cabbage braised pork rice) 90 Pork Belly with Sour Pickled Mustard Greens - Sauerkraut and Braised Pork Rice](https://thewoksoflife.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/pork-belly-sour-mustard-greens-19.jpg)
![Pork Belly with Pickled Mustard Greens (pickled cabbage braised pork rice) 91 Pork Belly with Sour Pickled Mustard Greens - Sauerkraut and Braised Pork Rice](https://thewoksoflife.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/pork-belly-sour-mustard-greens-19.jpg)
What Type of Pickled Mustard?
You may find several different products labeled “pickled mustard” at the Chinese grocery store.
For this recipe, you’re looking for vacuum-sealed packages of pickled mustard stem. Or you can use our homemade haam choy. Follow Bill’s grandmother’s recipe to make it yourself!
![Pork Belly with Pickled Mustard Greens (pickled cabbage braised pork rice) 92 Vacuum pack of pickled sour mustard](https://thewoksoflife.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/squid-pickled-mustard-greens.jpg)
![Pork Belly with Pickled Mustard Greens (pickled cabbage braised pork rice) 93 Vacuum pack of pickled sour mustard](https://thewoksoflife.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/squid-pickled-mustard-greens.jpg)
![Pork Belly with Pickled Mustard Greens (pickled cabbage braised pork rice) 94 Removing pickled mustard greens from jar](https://thewoksoflife.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/pickled-mustard-greens-ham-choy-32.jpg)
![Pork Belly with Pickled Mustard Greens (pickled cabbage braised pork rice) 95 Removing pickled mustard greens from jar](https://thewoksoflife.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/pickled-mustard-greens-ham-choy-32.jpg)
Here’s another store-bought brand that you can look for:
![Pork Belly with Pickled Mustard Greens (pickled cabbage braised pork rice) 96 Chinese-sour-pickled-mustard-greens](https://thewoksoflife.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/haam-choy-chinese-sour-pickled-mustard-greens.jpg)
![Pork Belly with Pickled Mustard Greens (pickled cabbage braised pork rice) 97 Chinese-sour-pickled-mustard-greens](https://thewoksoflife.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/haam-choy-chinese-sour-pickled-mustard-greens.jpg)
Note!
One of the important steps of this dish is to cook the pickled mustard greens separately. I’ve learned this from Bill’s aunt. She said that pickled mustard greens must be stir-fried in a little bit of oil to dry out any liquid. This way, the pickled mustard greens can better absorb the flavor of the pork. In other words, no shortcuts!
Braised Pork Belly with Pickled Mustard Greens: Recipe Instructions
In a colander, rinse the pickled mustard greens a couple times. This reduces some of their saltiness and sourness (rinse more times if you are sensitive to salt). Then squeeze out any excess liquid from the greens with your hands. Cut the stem portion of the greens into ½-inch pieces. Chop the leaf portions a bit larger, so they don’t fall apart during cooking.
Cut the pork belly into ½-inch (1.25cm) thick pieces.
![Pork Belly with Pickled Mustard Greens (pickled cabbage braised pork rice) 98 pork belly cut into pieces on cutting board](https://thewoksoflife.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/pork-belly-sour-mustard-greens.jpg)
![Pork Belly with Pickled Mustard Greens (pickled cabbage braised pork rice) 99 pork belly cut into pieces on cutting board](https://thewoksoflife.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/pork-belly-sour-mustard-greens.jpg)
Put the star anisebay leaves, cinnamon stick, and Sichuan peppercorns into a small tea filter bag (those designed for loose leaf tea), or tie them into a small piece of cheesecloth with kitchen string.
![Pork Belly with Pickled Mustard Greens (pickled cabbage braised pork rice) 100 cinnamon, star anise, Sichuan peppercorns and bay leaves on plate with sachet](https://thewoksoflife.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/pork-belly-sour-mustard-greens-2.jpg)
![Pork Belly with Pickled Mustard Greens (pickled cabbage braised pork rice) 101 cinnamon, star anise, Sichuan peppercorns and bay leaves on plate with sachet](https://thewoksoflife.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/pork-belly-sour-mustard-greens-2.jpg)
Add the pork belly to a medium pot with enough water to cover. Bring it to a boil. Once boiling, immediately drain the pork belly through a colander, rinse clean, and set aside. This will give the dish a cleaner flavor and appearance.
Heat 1 tablespoon of neutral oil in a wok over medium-low heat, and add the rock sugar. Cook until the sugar melts into an amber-colored liquid, and then add the pork belly.
![Pork Belly with Pickled Mustard Greens (pickled cabbage braised pork rice) 102 melting rock sugar in wok](https://thewoksoflife.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/pork-belly-sour-mustard-greens-3.jpg)
![Pork Belly with Pickled Mustard Greens (pickled cabbage braised pork rice) 103 melting rock sugar in wok](https://thewoksoflife.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/pork-belly-sour-mustard-greens-3.jpg)
![Pork Belly with Pickled Mustard Greens (pickled cabbage braised pork rice) 104 browning pork belly in oil and rock sugar](https://thewoksoflife.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/pork-belly-sour-mustard-greens-4.jpg)
![Pork Belly with Pickled Mustard Greens (pickled cabbage braised pork rice) 105 browning pork belly in oil and rock sugar](https://thewoksoflife.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/pork-belly-sour-mustard-greens-4.jpg)
Increase the heat to medium-high, and cook for a few minutes to lightly brown the edges of the pork belly pieces.
![Pork Belly with Pickled Mustard Greens (pickled cabbage braised pork rice) 106 browning pork belly in oil and rock sugar](https://thewoksoflife.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/pork-belly-sour-mustard-greens-5.jpg)
![Pork Belly with Pickled Mustard Greens (pickled cabbage braised pork rice) 107 browning pork belly in oil and rock sugar](https://thewoksoflife.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/pork-belly-sour-mustard-greens-5.jpg)
Then add the Shaoxing wine, light soy sauce, dark soy sauceand 2 (or 3 if you want more sauce) cups of water. If you are not using a wok, use 1½ to 2½ cups of water. (The liquid won’t cook off as quickly in a thick-bottomed pot.)
![Pork Belly with Pickled Mustard Greens (pickled cabbage braised pork rice) 108 amber colored pork belly pieces in wok](https://thewoksoflife.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/pork-belly-sour-mustard-greens-6.jpg)
![Pork Belly with Pickled Mustard Greens (pickled cabbage braised pork rice) 109 amber colored pork belly pieces in wok](https://thewoksoflife.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/pork-belly-sour-mustard-greens-6.jpg)
![Pork Belly with Pickled Mustard Greens (pickled cabbage braised pork rice) 110 pork belly with soy sauce, water, Shaoxing wine in wok](https://thewoksoflife.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/pork-belly-sour-mustard-greens-8.jpg)
![Pork Belly with Pickled Mustard Greens (pickled cabbage braised pork rice) 111 pork belly with soy sauce, water, Shaoxing wine in wok](https://thewoksoflife.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/pork-belly-sour-mustard-greens-8.jpg)
Add the spice packet you prepared earlier. Then bring the contents of the wok to a boil. Once boiling, reduce the heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer for 35 minutes.
Meanwhile, in a separate pan, heat the remaining 2 tablespoons of oil over medium-high heat. Cook the ginger slices for 1 minute. Increase the heat to high, and add the pickled mustard greens. Stir, and cook for about 5 to 8 minutes, until the greens are dry and you start hearing a popping sound from the greens in the pan. Remove from the heat. This step is key!
![Pork Belly with Pickled Mustard Greens (pickled cabbage braised pork rice) 112 chopped mustard greens in pan](https://thewoksoflife.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/pork-belly-sour-mustard-greens-9.jpg)
![Pork Belly with Pickled Mustard Greens (pickled cabbage braised pork rice) 113 chopped mustard greens in pan](https://thewoksoflife.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/pork-belly-sour-mustard-greens-9.jpg)
![Pork Belly with Pickled Mustard Greens (pickled cabbage braised pork rice) 114 cooking chopped pickled mustard greens in stainless steel pan](https://thewoksoflife.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/pork-belly-sour-mustard-greens-10.jpg)
![Pork Belly with Pickled Mustard Greens (pickled cabbage braised pork rice) 115 cooking chopped pickled mustard greens in stainless steel pan](https://thewoksoflife.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/pork-belly-sour-mustard-greens-10.jpg)
![Pork Belly with Pickled Mustard Greens (pickled cabbage braised pork rice) 116 pan-fried pickled mustard greens with ginger](https://thewoksoflife.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/pork-belly-sour-mustard-greens-12.jpg)
![Pork Belly with Pickled Mustard Greens (pickled cabbage braised pork rice) 117 pan-fried pickled mustard greens with ginger](https://thewoksoflife.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/pork-belly-sour-mustard-greens-12.jpg)
Once the pork has simmered for 35 minutes, remove the spice packet, and stir in the cooked pickled greens with the ginger.
![Pork Belly with Pickled Mustard Greens (pickled cabbage braised pork rice) 118 simmered pork belly with spices](https://thewoksoflife.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/pork-belly-sour-mustard-greens-11.jpg)
![Pork Belly with Pickled Mustard Greens (pickled cabbage braised pork rice) 119 simmered pork belly with spices](https://thewoksoflife.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/pork-belly-sour-mustard-greens-11.jpg)
![Pork Belly with Pickled Mustard Greens (pickled cabbage braised pork rice) 120 pork belly in wok with pickled mustard greens](https://thewoksoflife.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/pork-belly-sour-mustard-greens-13.jpg)
![Pork Belly with Pickled Mustard Greens (pickled cabbage braised pork rice) 121 pork belly in wok with pickled mustard greens](https://thewoksoflife.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/pork-belly-sour-mustard-greens-13.jpg)
Simmer for another 15 minutes, or longer if you like the pork belly really tender. I don’t like this dish to be too saucy, but I understand it’s nice to have sauce to go with your rice. Feel free to adjust the sauce level by adding more water if it is too dry (or by turning up the heat to cook off the liquid if it’s too wet).
![Pork Belly with Pickled Mustard Greens (pickled cabbage braised pork rice) 122 Chinese braised pork belly with sour pickled mustard greens recipe](https://thewoksoflife.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/pork-belly-sour-mustard-greens-14.jpg)
![Pork Belly with Pickled Mustard Greens (pickled cabbage braised pork rice) 123 Chinese braised pork belly with sour pickled mustard greens recipe](https://thewoksoflife.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/pork-belly-sour-mustard-greens-14.jpg)
Serve with steamed rice!
![Pork Belly with Pickled Mustard Greens (pickled cabbage braised pork rice) 124 Chinese pork belly with sour pickled mustard](https://thewoksoflife.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/pork-belly-sour-mustard-greens-16.jpg)
![Pork Belly with Pickled Mustard Greens (pickled cabbage braised pork rice) 125 Chinese pork belly with sour pickled mustard](https://thewoksoflife.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/pork-belly-sour-mustard-greens-16.jpg)
![Pork Belly with Pickled Mustard Greens (pickled cabbage braised pork rice) 126 Chinese braised pork belly with sour pickled mustard greens over rice](https://thewoksoflife.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/pork-belly-sour-mustard-greens-17.jpg)
![Pork Belly with Pickled Mustard Greens (pickled cabbage braised pork rice) 127 Chinese braised pork belly with sour pickled mustard greens over rice](https://thewoksoflife.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/pork-belly-sour-mustard-greens-17.jpg)
Braised Pork Belly with Pickled Mustard Greens (pickled cabbage braised pork rice)
This Braised Pork Belly with Pickled Mustard Greens (酸菜卤肉饭) is savory, tangy, and perfect over rice. The tang of the pickled vegetables wakes up your taste buds and cuts through the heaviness of the meat, making for a balanced, satisfying dish.
![Pork Belly with Pickled Mustard Greens (pickled cabbage braised pork rice) 128 Pork Belly with Sour Pickled Mustard Greens over rice](https://thewoksoflife.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/pork-belly-sour-mustard-greens-18-599x599.jpg)
![Pork Belly with Pickled Mustard Greens (pickled cabbage braised pork rice) 129 Pork Belly with Sour Pickled Mustard Greens over rice](https://thewoksoflife.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/pork-belly-sour-mustard-greens-18-599x599.jpg)
serves: 6
Prep: 20 minutes
Cook: 1 hour 15 minutes
Total: 1 hour 35 minutes
Instructions
-
In a colander, rinse the pickled mustard greens a couple times, to reduce some of their saltiness and sourness (rinse more times if you are sensitive to salt). Then squeeze out any excess liquid from the greens with your hands. Cut the stem portion of the greens into ½-inch pieces, and cut the leaf portions a bit larger, so they don’t fall apart during cooking.
-
Cut the pork belly into ½-inch (1.25cm) thick pieces. Put the star anise, bay leaves, cinnamon stick, and Sichuan peppercorns into a small tea filter bag (those designed for loose leaf tea), or tie them into a small piece of cheesecloth with kitchen string.
-
Add the pork belly to a medium pot with enough water to cover. Bring it to a boil. Once boiling, immediately drain the pork belly through a colander, rinse clean, and set aside. This will give the dish a cleaner flavor and appearance.
-
Heat 1 tablespoon of neutral oil in a wok over medium-low heat, and add the rock sugar. Cook until the sugar melts into an amber-colored liquid, and then add the pork belly. Increase the heat to medium-high, and cook for a few minutes to lightly brown the edges of the pork belly pieces.
-
Then add the Shaoxing wine, light soy sauce, dark soy sauce, and 2 (or 3 if you want more sauce) cups of water. If you are not using a wok, use 1½ to 2½ cups of water, as the liquid won’t cook off as quickly in a thick-bottomed pot. Add the spice packet you prepared earlier, and bring the contents of the wok to a boil. Once boiling, reduce the heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer for 35 minutes.
-
Meanwhile, in a separate pan, heat the remaining 2 tablespoons of oil over medium-high heat. Cook the ginger slices for 1 minute. Increase the heat to high, and add the pickled mustard greens. Stir, and cook for about 5 to 8 minutes, until the greens are dry and you start hearing a popping sound from the greens in the pan. Remove from the heat. This step is key!
-
Once the pork has simmered for 35 minutes, remove the spice packet, and stir in the cooked pickled greens with the ginger. Simmer for another 15 minutes, or longer if you like the pork belly really tender. Feel free to adjust the sauce level by adding more water if it is too dry (or by turning up the heat to cook off the liquid if it’s too wet). Serve with steamed rice!
nutrition facts
Calories: 659kcal (33%) Carbohydrates: 13g (4%) Protein: 13g (26%) Fat: 60g (92%) Saturated Fat: 22g (110%) Polyunsaturated Fat: 6g Monounsaturated Fat: 28g Cholesterol: 82mg (27%) Sodium: 487mg (20%) Potassium: 930mg (27%) Fiber: 3g (12%) Sugar: 8g (9%) Vitamin A: 173IU (3%) Vitamin C: 1mg (1%) Calcium: 60mg (6%) Iron: 1mg (6%)