Pork Belly Stir Fry -

I’m a Trader Joe’s fanatic. Oklahoma City got its first TJ’s a few years ago and I’ve been making a weekly or bi-weekly trip ever since.

Now, Trader Joe’s is not my normal grocery store of choice. I usually go there to try out new things, peruse, or buy olive oil. Trust me when I say this: buy your olive oil at Trader Joe’s. It’s cheap (I’m talking $8 for half a gallon, basically) and a good quality. I enjoy the 100% kalamata olive oil.

Anyway— TJ’s isn’t there to be your number one grocery store. That’s not its purpose. The store’s purpose is to reel you in with all the fantastical foods and drinks it can muster. I follow Trader Joe’s List on Instagram and get hooked every single time.

Pancake bread? Got to get my hands on it.

Umami seasoning? Must try it ASAP.

Truffle seasoned Marcona almonds? On my way RIGHT NOW.

I’ll usually stock up on stuff I want to try and then bring it to work and share with everyone. I like when all of my coworkers and I get together to judge food. It’s the best.

One thing I saw on the Trader Joe’s List on Insta the other day was their fully-cooked pork belly. Pork belly is increasingly difficult to find in this city. I’ve only used it once and had to buy it from the Asian grocery store (Super Cao) and it was neither cooked nor did it come with instructions. This pork belly TJ’s was offering was fully cooked—all you had to do was sear it. Count me in.

While wandering around TJ’s looking for the pork belly, I daydreamed what I was going to do with it. The best thing, obviously, was a stir-fry. So, I took even MORE time carefully looking through the produce aisle for what I would mix with it. Broccoli slaw: check. Shishito peppers: we good.

Done.

All thrown together in a wok and this stir fry turned out pretty good. Shishito peppers, for those who don’t know, taste like a mix between okra and jalapenos. They’re hardly spicy, but what they lack in heat they make up for in flavor. Give them a shot. TJ’s sells a bag of them, by the way.

Enjoy!

Pork Belly Stir Fry

Servings: 4
Time: 25 mins
Difficulty: Easy
Print

A stir fried delight: seared pork belly, broccoli slaw & shishito peppers.

Ingredients

1 lb. pork belly (if using the Trader Joe’s kind, buy two boxes), sliced about 1/4″ thick
1 TBS. sesame oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp. ground ginger
1/2 cup soy sauce
1 (10 oz) package broccoli slaw
2 cups shishito peppers
Sesame seeds, for topping

Directions

Heat your oven’s broiler. Place shishito peppers on a baking sheet and broil until blackened and blistered, about 4-5 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool. Once cooled, chop peppers into small pieces.
Meanwhile, heat a wok or large skillet over medium-high heat. Add pork belly, a few at a time, and sear on both sides, about 3-4 minutes per side.
Add sesame oil to skillet and garlic. Stir with pork belly and cook for 1 minute.
Add cooked peppers, ginger, broccoli slaw, and soy sauce. Stir fry for 4 minutes or until slaw is slightly softened. Serve with sesame seeds on top of stir fry.

Step-By-Step Instructions

Heat your oven’s broiler. Place shishito peppers on a baking sheet and broil until blackened and blistered, about 4-5 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool. Once cooled, chop peppers into small pieces. Meanwhile, heat a wok or large skillet over medium-high heat. Add pork belly, a few at a time, and sear on both sides, about 3-4 minutes per side.

Add sesame oil to skillet and garlic. Stir with pork belly and cook for 1 minute. Add cooked peppers, ginger, broccoli slaw, and soy sauce. Stir fry for 4 minutes or until slaw is slightly softened. Serve with sesame seeds on top of stir fry.