🇹🇭 Thailand · Food
Five-Spice Pork Belly Stew
By eatmundo · August 3, 2026
🇹🇭 THA fragrant, slow-cooked Thai stew featuring tender pork belly, hard-boiled eggs, and tofu simmered in a rich broth infused with five-spice powder and star anise.
Ingredients
check them off as you prepareHow to Make It
- 1
Hard-boil 4 eggs for 8 minutes, peel them carefully, and set them aside for later infusion.
- 2
Cut 500g of pork belly into bite-sized 3cm cubes and brown them in a large pot over medium heat until golden.
- 3
Crush 4 garlic cloves and add them to the pot with 2 star anise, frying until fragrant for 1 minute.
- 4
Stir in 1 tbsp of five-spice powder, coating the meat thoroughly for 30 seconds to activate the spices.
- 5
Pour in enough water to cover the meat, then add 4 tbsp of soy sauce and 2 tbsp of palm sugar.
- 6
Cover and simmer on low heat for 30 minutes, then add the peeled eggs and 1 sliced block of firm tofu.
- 7
Continue simmering for another 15 minutes to allow the eggs and tofu to absorb the dark, flavorful broth.
- 8
Remove the lid and simmer for a final 5 minutes to slightly reduce the sauce until it looks glossy and rich.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I make the eggs perfectly brown?+
Simmer the boiled eggs in the stew for at least 15 minutes; the longer they sit in the broth, the darker they get.
Is it okay to use regular white sugar?+
Palm sugar provides a deeper, caramel-like sweetness that is essential; white sugar will work but lacks that characteristic depth.
What if the stew is too salty?+
Add a little more water and adjust with a touch more palm sugar to balance the saltiness.
Can I use lean meat instead of pork belly?+
Yes, but pork belly is traditional because its fat keeps the stew moist and silky during the long simmer.
🇹🇭 THMundo Match
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