A common Chinese dish is braised pork belly cooked in brown sauce. It has a sweet and salty tang to it as it melts in your mouth. Hangzhou-style pork belly is typically served with a bowl of white rice or even some Man-Tau (steamed buns).

When cooking the pork belly, it’s crucial to note that the size of the pot shouldn’t be too big in terms of size. You should be able to place the pork belly in the pot without having to stack it, but there shouldn’t be extra space around the pork.

Ingredients for Hangzhou Braised Pork Belly

• 2 pounds of Pork Belly
• 8 slices of Ginger
• 3 bunches of Spring Onions
• 2 cups of Rice Wine
• 3 tablespoons of Dark Soy Sauce
• ¾ cups of Light Soy Sauce
• ½ cup of Rock Sugar
• 1 large Red Chili (optional)

Instructions for Cooking

1. Cooking Hangzhou-style pork belly starts by washing and blanching the pork belly in boiling water for about 3 minutes while making sure to remove any impurities. After 3 minutes, remove the pork belly and cut it into small cube-sized pieces (about 3×3-inches)
2. In a medium-sized saucepan, add the washed and cut spring onions (about 1.5-inches long) to the base of the pan so that it is covered entirely. On top, add the slices of ginger and optional chili pepper.
3. Add in the pork belly with the skin-side down, on top of the spring onions and the ginger. Pour in the rice wine and both soy causes. Sprinkle the rock sugar over the pork belly.
4. Put the pot on medium-high heat until the liquid starts boiling then reduce to low. Cover the pot with a lid and leave to simmer for 90 minutes.
5. Flip the pork belly pieces so that they are skin-side up in the pot and continue to simmer on low for an additional 90 minutes.
6. Serve the Hangzhou pork belly with white rice or steamed buns. You can also use scissors to cut the pork.

If you dread the seasonal slump each year, a warm weather escape is perfect for you to ditch the chill and bask in the sun. Here are a few incredible sun-soaked destinations for you to check out this winter.

Palm Springs, California

With its sublime warm weather, stunning scenery, bold architecture, boutique hotels, and flourishing culinary scene, the stylish desert oasis of Palm Springs has long been a luxe and trendy gateway. The L’Horizon Hotel, designed by famed William F. Cody, with lavish and vintage furnishings, was once the playground for Hollywood elites like Marilyn Monroe, Betty Grable, and many others. The nearby Aerial Tramway is an 11-minute, thrilling cable car ride taking passengers to a height of 500-feet to face Mount San Jacinto. After the ride head to the Purple Palm to ease your queasy stomach with nouvelle Mediterranean fare and strong drinks.

Negril, Jamaica

Jamaica is no doubt the ideal getaway with its postcard-perfect beaches, soulful vibes, and alluring cruises. But if you seek somewhere quaint and quintessential, ditch the touristy cruise ports and head instead to Negril on the secluded western tip of the island. This quiet beachside town boasts of charming luxury cliffside pads like the Caves, Rockhouse Hotel, etc. The local favorite 3 Dives lets you tuck into delicacies like lobster with a live reggae side, or open-fire jerk chicken. End your day watching a scenic sunset at Seven Mile Beach, next to the turquoise water. It’s the perfect Jamaican day!

Kauai, Hawaii

If venturing outdoors is your thing, Kauai is perfect for you. Kauai is the oldest and greenest of the Hawaiian islands, adorned with verdant hills, towering cliffs, gushing waterfalls, and plunging valleys. Take a Blue Hawaiian helicopter tour of the Waimea Canyon for a breathtaking bird’s eye view of the island. A thrilling sailboat ride around the Na Pali coastline gives you the exotic view of fluted walls, thousand feet long sheer ridges rising from the blue water, and majestic valleys. A collection of uptown cottages like the Lodge at Kukui’ula offer comfortable stays all year long.

Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain

Tenerife is the largest island of the Canary Islands in Spain. This tropical and warm destination boasts 42 miles of beachline with supreme sand in various blonde shades. Los Gigantes Beach and Alcala Beach are two of the island’s best beaches. RedLevel at Gran Melia Palacio de Isora makes a great basecamp for a day trip to the Teide National Park, home to a magnificent crater, volcano, and petrified lava-filled landscape with snow-capped peaks of Mount Teide. Head to Haydee to savor some unique dishes like olive octopus risotto, or spicy tuna tartare with cherry sorbet.