Get ready to savor the irresistible flavors of my Korean BBQ Garlic Pork Belly! Marinated in a savory blend of Korean-inspired ingredients, this dish delivers smoky, grilled perfection that’s sure to elevate your next barbecue. With minimal prep and maximum flavor, it’s a must-try for anyone craving a delicious, hassle-free grilling experience!
Table of Contents
Why I Love This Recipe
As a fan of Korean-inspired cuisine, I’m always on the lookout for dishes that perfectly balance savory flavors with minimal effort! What makes my Korean garlic pork belly special is its delicious, easy-to-make nature – it’s a juicy pork belly marinated overnight in a flavorful blend of miso and garlic, then grilled to perfection using my tried-and-true at-home method from my Korean BBQ Grilled Pork Belly recipe!
This dish is my own creative take on Korean BBQ marinated pork belly, combining my signature miso marinade from recipes like my Miso Pork Belly and Garlic Miso Chicken Wings with authentic Korean flavors. It’s the ultimate main BBQ course for anyone craving a hassle-free, fail-proof BBQ experience with a mouthwatering twist of Korean flavor. Trust me, once you try this recipe, you’ll be hooked – it’s a guaranteed crowd-pleaser that’ll have everyone coming back for seconds!
Ingredients
Ingredients
- Sliced Pork Belly – skinless pork belly sliced to 1/2 inch thickness. Can be sliced at home or bought pre-sliced at Asian grocery stores.
- Neutral Oil –Â no taste or flavor with high cooking temperature. Some choices are sunflower oil, peanut oil, sallower oil, vegetable oil, and canola oil.Â
- Garlic –Â grated.
- Jalapeno – fresh and diced.
- Japanese Sake – typically will come in a large bottle labeled junmai sake. Can also substitute with dry sherry wine or Chinese cooking wine. Â
- Toasted Sesame Oil – 100% Toasted Sesame Oil that should have a dark brown color. Â
- Korean Soybean Paste –Â Korean style Soybean Paste found at Korean grocery stores. Can also use Japanese Miso.
🥓 Pork Belly Note
For Easier Slicing, Freeze the skinless pork belly for 20-30 Minutes before cutting into 1/2-inch thick, bite-sized pieces. This semi-frozen state makes slicing a breeze and ensures neat, uniform cuts.
Essential Kitchen Equipment
- Ziplock Bag
- BBQ Grill
Directions
Step 1 Start by creating the marinade rub. In a mixing bowl, combine grated garlic, diced jalapeno, Japanese sake, toasted sesame oil, and miso.
Step 2 Next, take your sliced pork belly and place it into a ziplock bag. Massage the marinade rub into the pork belly, ensuring it’s evenly coated. Let it marinate in the fridge for a duration of 24 to 36 hours, making sure to flip it halfway through the marinating process for even distribution of flavors.
💡 Marinating Pro Tip
For optimal flavors, marinate for up to 36 Hours in the fridge.
💡 Pork Belly Marinade Note
You can choose to Wash Off Excess Marinade if you prefer to avoid any potential burn spots, although it’s not necessary.
Step 3 For the grilling process, preheat your grill to 350°F (175°C). Place the marinated pork belly on the grill and cover it. Grill for approximately 5 minutes, flipping it halfway through to ensure even cooking.
🔥 Grilling Pro Tip
For optimal grilling results, allow the Pork Belly to reach Room Temperature before placing it on the grill. This ensures more even cooking throughout the meat. Additionally, ensure that the Grill is properly Preheated before grilling to achieve the best flavor, char, and texture.
Pairing Recommendations
Pair my garlic pork belly with my Korean BBQ Sesame Oil Dipping Sauce and other Korean inspired dishes like my Korean BBQ Short Ribs Marinade or Korean BBQ Marinated Chicken, along with rice and traditional banchan like Korean Spinach Salad, Korean Pickled Garlic or Korean Pickled Vegetables. You also could serve it with a green salad tossed in my Korean BBQ Salad Dressing. This combination creates a satisfying and authentic Korean BBQ meal that’s sure to impress!
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I pan fry these pork belly instead?
Yes! Add 1 tbsp of oil to a large frying pan and bring up to temperature on high, should take around 1-2 minutes. Once up to temp, reduce to medium heat, transfer pork belly and cook for about 2-3 minutes per side until nicely browned.
How do I know when the pork belly is cooked to perfection?
Simply check for browning on both sides of the thinly sliced pieces. Once they achieve a golden-brown color and are crispy on the edges, they are ready to be enjoyed!
How long should I marinate the pork belly for optimal flavor?
For optimal flavor, marinate the pork belly for 36-48 hours. This extended marination period allows the flavors to fully infuse into the meat, resulting in a delicious and well-seasoned dish.
Can meal prep the marinated pork belly?
Yes, you can meal prep the marinated pork belly! Once you're done with the marination process, simply place the marinated pork belly in the freezer until you're ready to cook it. This allows for convenient meal prep and ensures that the flavors have fully developed when you're ready to enjoy the dish.
Storage Tips
To store leftovers, transfer them to an airtight container and place it in the refrigerator. When stored properly, the leftovers will maintain their freshness and flavor for 5-7 days.
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Watch How To Make It
Korean BBQ Garlic Pork Belly
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 lb Pork Belly
- 4-6 Clove Garlic more depending on personal preference
- 1/4 Whole Jalapeno
- 2 tbsp Japanese Sake can substitute with dry sherry wine or Chinese cooking wine
- 2 tbsp Toasted Sesame Oil
- 2 tbsp Korean Soybean Paste can be substituted with Japanese miso
Instructions
- Gather all the ingredients.
- Combine grated garlic, chopped jalapeno, Japanese sake, toasted sesame oil and Korean soybean paste in mixing bowl.
- Cut pork belly into ~4 inch lengths and ~1/2 inch thickness and add into a zip-lock, along with the marinade. Massage in the marinade ensuring equal distribution. Place zip-lock bag flat in the fridge for 24 hours (up to 36 hour) flipping over at least once half way through the marinate. Note - it's easier to slice meat more precisely if semi-frozen.
- Preheat grill on high until temp reaches ~350F. Once the grill is up to temp, lower heat to medium-low and place pork belly on the grill. Close lid and cook for ~2-3 minute until browned. Flip pork bellies and repeat. Once cooked, transfer to a serving plate. Note - you can wash off the marinade if you want to avoid burning spots, but it'll result in a slightly lighter taste.
Nutrition
Should I use cooking sake or regular sake?
Hello! Either or. Cooking sake usually refers to cheaper sake like Takara Sho Chiku Bai (the ones that come in the big bottles), but you can use premium sake if you prefer.
Hi… you mentioned using monk fruit sweetener, in stead of cane sugar. It’s not listed in the recipe card? Do we not use any sweetener for the marinade? Thx.
Hello – thank you very much for catching that! There is no sweetener used in this recipe, it was a glitch in the program we use. We appreciate you pointing that out again!
if miso has varieties or different colors, which one should i use in this recipe?
Hi Gloria – we used Korean Doenjang soybean paste for this recipe. If you are using Japanese style miso, we would recommend brown miso (aka awese miso).
Instead of pan frying, can I use the oven for easier clean up? Convection bake or broil? and for how long? Thanks. They look delicious!
We’ve never tried baking this, but I would assume it would be similar to the time and heat of grilling. I would say 350F convection for 3-4 minutes per side. Hope that works out for you!