Pork Belly Lettuce Wraps

Name: Pork Belly Lettuce Wraps
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 45 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: Korean
Ingredients: 2 lbs pork belly slices (1/4-inch thick); 2 butter lettuce heads, leaves separated; 1/4 cup gochujang (Korean chili paste); 2 tsp toasted sesame oil; 2 tbsp gluten-free soy sauce (tamari); 4 garlic cloves, minced; 4 scallions, thinly sliced; 4 garlic cloves (for dipping plate), thinly sliced; 16 perilla leaves (or shiso or mint); 1 tsp kosher salt; 1/2 tsp black pepper

Crispy, caramelized pork belly slices grilled and wrapped in cool butter lettuce leaves with spicy gochujang, garlic, and sliced scallions in the Korean ssam style. Plan ahead: pork belly benefits from 1 hour of refrigerated rest after seasoning.

45 minMediumServes 4520 cal/serving

KoreanDinnerGrill and StovetopKetoLow CarbHigh ProteinGluten-FreeDairy-FreeCorn-Free

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Ingredients

2 lbs pork belly slices (1/4-inch thick)
2 butter lettuce heads, leaves separated
1/4 cup gochujang (Korean chili paste)
2 tsp toasted sesame oil
2 tbsp gluten-free soy sauce (tamari)
4 garlic cloves, minced
4 scallions, thinly sliced
4 garlic cloves (for dipping plate), thinly sliced
16 perilla leaves (or shiso or mint)
1 tsp kosher salt
1/2 tsp black pepper

Instructions

1

Season 2 lbs pork belly slices (1/4-inch thick) on both sides with 1 tsp kosher salt and 1/2 tsp black pepper. Mix together 2 tbsp gluten-free soy sauce (tamari), 2 tsp toasted sesame oil, and half of the 4 minced garlic cloves. Toss the pork in this marinade and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
2

In a small bowl, stir together 1/4 cup gochujang (Korean chili paste), the remaining garlic cloves, and a drizzle of toasted sesame oil to make the dipping sauce. Set aside.
3

Heat a grill or cast-iron grill pan over high heat until very hot. Grill the pork belly slices (1/4-inch thick) slices in a single layer for 3-4 minutes per side until deeply caramelized, crispy at the edges, and cooked through to an internal temperature of 145°F (63°C). Work in batches if needed.
4

Transfer the cooked pork to a cutting board and slice into bite-sized pieces if desired.
5

Arrange 2 leaves separated butter lettuce heads on a platter alongside the sliced pork, 16 perilla leaves (or shiso or mint), 4 thinly sliced scallions, 4 thinly sliced garlic cloves (for dipping plate), and the gochujang sauce.
6

To eat, place a piece of pork in a lettuce leaf, add a smear of sauce, some scallions, and a slice of garlic. Wrap and enjoy.

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Questions

What internal temperature should Pork Belly Lettuce Wraps reach?

For Pork Belly Lettuce Wraps, the target internal temperature is 145 F (about 65 C), given in step 3. A probe thermometer removes the guesswork.

Do I need any special equipment for Pork Belly Lettuce Wraps?

Beyond a knife and a board, the method uses a cast-iron skillet (step 3) and a grill pan (step 3). If you do not have one, a heavy stainless skillet replaces the cast iron; preheat it a little longer.

Is there a substitute for gochujang in Pork Belly Lettuce Wraps?

The entry for Pork Belly Lettuce Wraps calls for 1/4 cup gochujang (Korean chili paste). In its place: Mix two parts sriracha or another chili paste with one part white miso and a pinch of sugar. It lands close on heat and body and a little short on fermented depth.

Is Pork Belly Lettuce Wraps spicy?

Moderately. The heat in Pork Belly Lettuce Wraps comes from 1/4 cup gochujang (Korean chili paste). For a milder plate, start with half the gochujang and add more to taste at the end; nothing else in the method changes. For more, add it at the table rather than in the pot, so everyone sets their own level.

Is Pork Belly Lettuce Wraps gluten-free?

Yes. As written, nothing in the ingredient list for Pork Belly Lettuce Wraps is wheat, barley or rye. Gluten hides in packaged goods, so read the label on the gochujang and the tamari.

Which part of Pork Belly Lettuce Wraps can be done ahead?

Everything up to step 1. Step 1 is a built-in pause of 30 minutes: "Toss the pork in this marinade and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes." Do everything up to that point ahead of time and pick up at step 2 when you are ready to finish.

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