Black Bean (Pickled) Pork
A savory Asian-inspired dish featuring tender pork slow-cooked with black beans, ginger, garlic, and soy sauce, perfect for hearty, flavorful meals with complex umami notes.
Ingredients
Instructions
- Heat a pot over medium heat.
- Add garlic and chopped ginger to the pot and sauté briefly.
- Brown the pork butt and spareribs in the pot.
- Wash the black beans slightly and mash them finely.
- Combine the mashed black beans with soy sauce, sugar, salt, and the garlic and ginger in the pot.
- Pour the mixture over the browned pork and spareribs.
- Mix thoroughly to coat all the meat with the sauce.
- Simmer uncovered for 1 hour until the pork is tender.
Tips & Substitutions
To enhance the flavors, consider marinating the pork in the black bean mixture for a few hours or overnight before cooking. If you can't find black beans, fermented black beans can be a great substitute. For added depth, feel free to include sliced onions or bell peppers during the sautéing step. This dish can also be adapted for other pork recipes by using different cuts.
Serving Suggestions
Serve the black bean pickled pork over steamed rice or alongside stir-fried vegetables for a balanced meal. It pairs beautifully with a side of Baked Cabbage And Butter Cantonese for a delicious contrast. You can also top it with fresh cilantro or green onions for added freshness and flavor.
Storage & Reheating
Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. To reheat, gently warm in a saucepan over low heat, adding a splash of water or broth if needed to keep it moist. Alternatively, you can reheat it in the microwave, covered, in short intervals to avoid drying it out.
Nutrition & Diet Analysis (per serving)
Each serving of Black Bean (Pickled) Pork contains roughly 930 calories, with 54g protein, 177g carbohydrates, and 4g fat. It is an excellent source of dietary fiber (146% of the Daily Value), protein (109% of the Daily Value), and potassium (80% of the Daily Value). Note that it is relatively high in sodium, at 607mg per serving (26% of the Daily Value).
Estimated from ingredients & per-serving nutrition — verify against package labels for allergies or strict diets.
* % Daily Values based on a 2,000 calorie diet (FDA 2020).
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a different cut of pork for this recipe?
Absolutely! While pork butt and spareribs are recommended for their tenderness and flavor, you can use pork shoulder or even pork belly. Just adjust the cooking time as needed since different cuts can vary in tenderness.
Is there a vegetarian option for this dish?
For a vegetarian alternative, consider using mushrooms or a hearty meat substitute like seitan or tempeh. You can follow the same cooking method, using vegetable broth instead of meat, and adjusting the seasonings to taste.
What can I serve with pickled pork?
This dish pairs well with rice or noodles, and you can also serve it with steamed or stir-fried vegetables. For a more traditional experience, consider making some dumplings as a side, similar to the flavors in Gram'S Swedish Potato Dumplings.
Nutrition is estimated from USDA FoodData Central ingredient data and may vary with brand, portion and preparation — see our methodology. This information is for general educational purposes only and is not medical or dietary advice (disclaimer).