Okinawa Shoyu Pork
I believe the Okinawans have the slow meal concept down pat; growing up, this was one of my favorite dishes; shoyu pork, either over rice or on top of soba noodles. I think the Okinawans have it perfect. The pork that has been marinated in soy sauce and slow-cooked, with just the proper amount of sweetness (think of Okinawan brown sugar), comes quite near to being excellent…
Ingredients
- 1 ½ pounds whole pork belly
- ½ cup soy sauce
- ½ cup packed brown sugar
- ½ cup water
- ½ cup mirin (Japanese sweet wine)
- 2 teaspoons ground ginger
- 1 clove garlic, or to taste
Directions
Step: 1
Step: 2
After removing it from the water, the pork should be placed on a chopping board. After allowing the pork to cool for a few minutes, carefully remove and discard the pig’s thick skin. Slice the leftover pork meat into pieces that are exactly one inch thick. Set aside.
Step: 3
In a large saucepan, combine the soy sauce, brown sugar, half a cup of water, mirin, ginger, and garlic, and bring to a boil over high heat. After adding the sliced pork belly, bring the liquid back up to a boil. The heat should be turned down to a low setting, and a layer of aluminum foil should be placed directly over the meat and sauce. Simmer uncovered for 30 to 45 minutes, turning the pork several times to ensure that it cooks evenly and achieving the desired tenderness.Nutrition Facts (per serving)
| 331 | Calories |
| 16g | Fat |
| 27g | Carbs |
| 15g | Protein |
What is pork shoyu?
Okinawan shoyu pork is a typical Okinawan cuisine that consists of pork belly that has been carefully simmered in a mixture of soy sauce, sake, mirin, brown sugar, and ginger. The dish is served with a variety of vegetables. In spite of the fact that the flavors are comparable to those of teriyaki, this style of cooking is distinguished in a unique way by the melting-in-your-mouth tenderness that results from hours of slow simmering.
What is Okinawa pork called?
Rafute
The Okinawan dish known as rafute is prepared by stewing or simmering blocks of pork belly in dashi stock, Awamori (an Okinawan style of sake), sugar, and soy sauce. Rafute is considered to be a regional specialty dish. The beef has a robust flavor that comes through clearly, and the dish has a velvety consistency that makes it feel like it will melt in your mouth.