From our Tasting Room Wine + Food Pairing: Lettuce Cups with Pork Belly + Kimchi

Crispy braised pork belly tucked into cool lettuce cups with funky, spicy kimchi. A small bite that punches well above its weight.

Recipe Information

Total Servings: 8

A lush wine and food pairing featuring lettuce cups with pork belly and kimchi, served alongside three glasses of wine on a w.

Ingredients

  • lb skinless pork belly
  • tbsp kosher salt
  • tbsp sugar
  • 1 head butter lettuce
  • 2 tbsp hoisin sauce
  • 0.33 cup kimchi (thinly sliced)
  • ½ cup English cucumber (sliced)
  • 2 green onions (julienned, green part only)
  • sea salt (as needed)

Directions

  1. Step 1

    Place the pork belly in a casserole dish. Mix the salt and sugar in a small bowl and rub over the meat. Cover and refrigerate overnight.

  2. Step 2

    Preheat oven to 400˚F. Remove the pork belly from the refrigerator and allow to come to room temperature. Discard any liquid that accumulated in the casserole dish. Put the pork belly on a wire sheet pan with a rack in the oven, fat side up, and cook for 1 hour, basting with the rendered fat in the bottom of the pan every 15 minutes, until golden brown. Turn the temperature down to 250˚F and cook for another hour, until the pork belly is tender but not falling apart. Remove from oven and let rest until room temperature. Once cooled, slice into ¼-inch-thick slices that are about 3 inches long.

  3. Step 3

    Lay the lettuce leaves out on a large platter. Spoon a small a tablespoon of hoisin sauce and a slice of pork belly in each lettuce cup. Top with the kimchi, cucumber and garnish with green onion.

  4. Step 4

    Enjoy with a glass of Cakebread Cellars Apple Barn Pinot Noir.

Pair with These Wines

Anderson Valley

Our single vineyard Apple Barn Pinot Noir offers black cherry and raspberry notes accented by baking spice and smooth tannins, a beautifully balanced wine, perfect for pairing at the table.