If you’re looking for something new to make for your family, you should definitely give this Sticky Basil Pork Belly recipe a try! This is the first time I made this for my family and they loved it! I do make the same version all of the time but with using boneless skinless chicken thighs. We love to eat it as lettuce wraps with rice, cilantro, cucumbers, and sweet Thai chili sauce. Another way we eat is by making seaweed wraps with a little bit of rice on the seaweed, pork belly or chicken, cilantro, and cucumber. It is sweet, spicy, and aromatic with all the basil. The real dish uses Thai Basil, but I couldn’t get a hold of any, although I have made it with Thai Basil and it is even better!

Why you will love this recipe-

This dish is packed full of flavor and goes perfectly with the crunchy lettuce, cilantro, and cucumbers. The sauce is also eaten deliciously with rice.
It’s a perfect way to eat a lot of vegetables with your meal and the kids won’t complain about it. my kids love wrapping things in lettuce. (I think it’s like the whole do it yourself thing that makes them more interested in it and like it more).
A unique meal to add to your weeknight dinner rotation.

Ingredients you will need-

3 lbs. pork belly, cut into bite size peices
1 head of garlic minced up
7 dried chilies peppers, rehydrated in water (I chopped half and left some whole)
2 tablespoons oil
2 tablespoons soy sauce
2 tablespoons oyster sauce
2 tablespoons fish sauce
3 teaspoons sugar
1/2 cup basil, torn
1 teaspoon dried basil

How to make-

Step 1. First cut up the pork belly into bite sized pieces and set aside. Mix the Soy sauce, oyster sauce, fish sauce, and sugar in a small bowl and set aside.

Step 2. Next rehydrate the chilies by putting them into a small bowl of water and microwaving for about 2 minutes, until softened. Mince up the garlic with half of the chilies.

Step 3. Then in a wok, heat up 2 tablespoons of oil on medium heat. Add in the garlic and chilies and cook for about 1 minute. Then add in the Pork belly and cook until browned and a little bit crispy. (I cooked mine in two batches which took like 20 minutes for each batch).

Step 4. After that you will want to drain the grease, then add in the sauce mixture. Let cook for 3-5 minutes. Turn off the heat, add in the dried basil, fresh basil, and give it a stir.

Step 5. The Sticky Basil Pork Belly is ready to enjoy over hot rice or in lettuce wraps.

Tips-

One thing I like to do that I feel makes it easier is to cut up the pork belly when it is slightly frozen. It makes it easier to cut.
When you add the sauce make sure the temperature is at med-low, so it doesn’t burn.
Adding in the basil at the very end is best to preserve the flavor with the heat off.
Feel free to add or take away chilies. I used all 7 in mine and it wasn’t that spicy

Storage-

Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.