Discover 2 easy ways to make aromatic Five-Spice Fried Meat for tender and delicious results – Mytour

Five-spice is a type of seasoning originating from China but widely used in daily Vietnamese cuisine. It can be incorporated into various tasty dishes, including the irresistible flavorful fried meat. Let's team up with Mytour in the kitchen with this incredibly simple recipe for five-spice fried meat below! 

1. Five-Spice – a common spice in Vietnamese cuisine

Despite its origins from China, five-spice has long become a staple seasoning in Vietnamese kitchens. Perhaps you didn't know, five-spice comprises 5 basic flavors in cooking: sour, spicy, salty, sweet, and bitter. The ingredients of five-spice are also made from 5 types of herbs such as cinnamon, star anise, fennel seeds, cloves, and peppercorns. 

Image: collected by enthusiasts

In Vietnam, people often use five-spice to create various delicious dishes. Among them, the most popular is to use it for marinating or grilling meat. Nowadays, five-spice powder is commonly packaged and sold in stores. Thanks to this, you can easily purchase and showcase your culinary skills for the whole family to enjoy. 

2. Ingredients for Five-Spice Marinated Fried Meat

To prepare delicious and enticing five-spice marinated fried meat, you need to prepare the following ingredients:

• 500g pork belly (can include skin)
• 1 packet of five-spice powder
• 1 tablespoon oyster sauce
• ½ teaspoon peppercorns
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 1 purple onion
• 1 stalk lemongrass
• 1 chili pepper
• 1 stalk ginger

3. Guide on how to marinate five-spice pork belly for frying

Below are the detailed steps to help you prepare aromatic and enticing five-spice fried pork belly:

Prepare the ingredients

Step 1: Clean pork belly and pat dry. Meanwhile, prepare a pot of boiling water to blanch the meat. Once the water starts boiling, add the meat and blanch for about 5 minutes, then remove and soak in a bowl of water. Afterward, use a fork to pierce the surface of the meat to allow it to absorb the seasoning more evenly. 

Step 2: Peel and finely chop the purple onion and ginger. 

Method for marinating five-spice fried pork belly

Step 1: Place the chopped purple onion and ginger into a large bowl. Then add 1 teaspoon of seasoning powder, 1 teaspoon of sugar, 1 teaspoon of MSG, 1 tablespoon of honey, 1 packet of five-spice powder, and 1 tablespoon of oyster sauce. Mix the sauce mixture evenly to dissolve the seasonings. 

Image: collected by enthusiasts

Step 2: Place the meat into the seasoning mixture above. Gently massage the meat to allow better absorption of the seasoning. Let the meat marinate for at least 3-4 hours. (Preferably overnight for a richer flavor).

You might be interested: 

• 5 recipes for air-fried pork belly

4. Guide to simple ways of frying five-spice meat

There are 2 methods to make five-spice fried meat: frying with a regular pan and using an air fryer for your reference:

Frying with a regular stove

• Step 1: Add cooking oil into the pan and wait for it to heat up before adding the meat for frying.
• Step 2: During the frying process, you should flip the meat pieces regularly to ensure even cooking. It's recommended to fry on low heat to thoroughly cook the meat inside. 
• Step 3: When the meat is cooked and turns golden brown, turn off the stove, remove the meat, and use paper towels to absorb excess fat from the meat. 

How to make crispy five-spice fried pork belly using an air fryer

• Step 1: Preheat the air fryer for 5 minutes at 200°C.
• Step 2: Place a piece of parchment paper or aluminum foil underneath to prevent the meat from sticking to the bottom of the air fryer. Use a fork to prick the surface of the pork belly skin (only prick the skin, not deep into the meat). Then, place the seasoned meat into the air fryer. Fry the meat at 200°C for 10 minutes. Flip the meat and continue frying for an additional 5-7 minutes until the skin becomes crispy. 

Image: Peng’s Kitchen

5. Finished product requirements

After frying, cut the meat into small bite-sized pieces. The meat will have a beautiful reddish-brown color after frying. 

• Requirements for crispy fried pork belly: The crispy skin is visually appealing. The meat, after being sliced, remains moist with sweet meat juices flowing. The meat is flavorful and well-infused with spices. 

• Requirements for regular five-spice fried pork: The meat's surface has a brownish-yellow color. After slicing, you will see layers of meat alternating with fat. The meat, when eaten, is not dry and tough. 

6. Some notes when making five-spice pork belly

To make the five-spice fried pork more delicious and enticing, you should keep in mind the following tips: 

• You should boil the meat before marinating and frying. Boiled meat will be tastier and cook faster. 
• Choose pork belly with alternating layers of meat and fat. Avoid too lean or too fatty cuts as they may result in dryness or greasiness when cooked. 
• Ensure that the pork is completely dry before frying to prevent oil splatters. 
• After frying, let the meat rest for about 15 minutes before slicing. 

Five-spice fried pork with its rich, aromatic flavor is sure to delight anyone who tastes it. Hopefully, with the recipe suggested by Mytour Blog above, you'll be able to easily showcase your cooking skills for the whole family to enjoy!

Explore more recipes: 

• Tender coconut braised spare ribs, an absolute rice pleaser
• Secret recipe for incredibly delicious peppercorn braised pork belly