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    Home » Recipes » Appetizers

    Sweet and Spicy Instant Pot Keto Pork Belly

    by Oscar Chimenti, Last Modified: November 16, 2022 This post may contain affiliate or sponsored links. See the Disclosure Policy linked in my footer.

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    pork belly in a bowl with a fork garnished with sesame seeds and parsley

    This sweet and spicy instant pot keto pork belly is made with spicy flavours and a hint of sweetness made easily in the instant pot. This is literally an instant pot rendition of my original Sweet Spicy Keto Pork Belly Recipe.

    pork belly in a bowl with a fork, garlic cloves, bowl of soy and parsley this recipe

    Pork belly is one of those things that many people avoid due to it's high fat content. Plus many people think it's difficult to make but I am going to show you a quick and easy way to make this super delicious sweet and spicy crispy pork belly using the instant pot.

    Pork belly will turn out crispy and golden and not make you feel like you are eating a load of blubbery pork belly bites. Making it in the instant pot will also cut down on the amount of time it takes to make this keto pork belly recipe. You might also enjoy this Keto Air Fryer Pork Belly Bites recipe.

    Jump To:
    • What is pork belly?
    • 🥘 Ingredients Used
    • 👨🏻‍🍳 Steps to make this recipe
    • 👨🏻‍🍳 Substitutions and Variations
    • ♨️ Top tips and serving suggestions
    • 🥣 Equipment used to make
    • 💭 Frequently asked questions
    • 🍽 Other recipes you may like
    • Sweet and Spicy Instant Pot Keto Pork Belly

    What is pork belly?

    Pork belly is a fatty cut of pork meat that comes from the belly of a pig.

    🥘 Ingredients Used

    Pork belly recipes can be made in a variety of ways. I am going to use my original recipe but show you how to make it in the instant pot for an easy keto pork belly recipe.

    • Pork Belly: thick cut cubes of pork belly are used to make this recipe
    • Chicken Stock: used to add flavour and cook the pork belly until it is tender
    • Garlic: adding a nutty flavour to this sweet and spice recipe
    • Erythritol: giving it a hint of sweetness that cuts into the spiciness of this dish
    • Chili Pepper Flakes: giving the right amount of heat to this recipe without being too spicy
    • Tamari Sauce: this sauce can be interchangeable with soy sauce or coconut aminos

    👨🏻‍🍳 Steps to make this recipe

    How to Cook Keto Pork Belly?

    STEP 1: Cut the pork belly strips into one inch cubes and place in the instant pot with the chicken stock or broth, apple cider vinegar, ground ginger, erythritol and chopped garlic. Give it a mix and then place lid on instant pot and set to sealing, pressure cook on normal for 15 minutes.

    pork belly with broth in the instant pot

    STEP 2: Make the glaze sauce in a medium bowl by combining the salt, ginger, chili flakes, erythritol and tamari sauce. Mix well and set aside.

    bowl with spicy glaze and a red rubber spatula

    STEP 3: Allow instant pot to slow release for 10 minutes and then hit that venting switch and allow all the pressure to release. Remove lid and use a slotted spoon to transfer the pork belly to a bowl. Remove the remaining liquids from the pot.

    pork belly in the instant pot with a slotted spoon
    • STEP 4: Set the instant pot to the saute function on normal and add the olive oil to the pot. Transfer the cooked pork belly back to the pot and continue to saute until golden brown (8-10 minutes). Stir often and you might have to play with the saute setting switching from low to normal regularly.
    stirring the pork belly in the instant pot with a blue rubber spatula

    STEP 5: Next add the spicy glaze sauce into the pot and continue to stir until pork belly is well coated. Continue to saute stirring often alternating between low and normal heat. This takes a bit of patience but it's worth it. Please watch the video to see how I made them. Continue to saute for about 2 minutes or until desired crispiness is reached.

    pouring the glaze into the instant pot

    STEP 6: Pork belly should be almost brownish red in color. Remove once it has reached the desired colour and crispy skin. Some people like it extra crispy while others do not. Garnish with toasted sesame and chopped parsley.

    a slotted spoon scooping out the bork belly from the instant pot

    👨🏻‍🍳 Substitutions and Variations

    There are many variations of pork belly from burnt pork belly ends to pork belly sandwiches. Many chinese pork belly recipes make the use of a sticky sweet sauce often made with honey or brown sugar.

    • Maple - add a touch of maple with a maple extract to give this recipe a slight molasses flavour
    • Sweetener - brown sugar swerve or any other low carb sweeteners can be used in this dish. Monk fruit, allulose or xylitol are a few other options.
    • Sauce - I used tamari sauce in this recipe as it has less additives than soy sauce. However, soy or coconut aminos can be used alternatively.

    See this Low Carb Hoisin Sauce made with tamari that I used for a Low Carb Hoisin Beef Bowl recipe.

    ♨️ Top tips and serving suggestions

    Top Tip: As the pork belly sautees in the instant pot alternating between low and normal heat is key. Sometimes it seems like low is too low and then normal is too high. Alternating between both temperatures helped to get it to the right crispiness.

    Crispy Bits: it may seem like the pork belly is leaving all the crispy bits at the bottom of the pot. Once you add the glaze, scrape all the bits from the bottom. Continue to do so while cooking.

    • Serving: pork belly should be served with something lighter like a salad to cut the richness from the meat. A coleslaw or a fresh Panzanella Salad would go well with the pork belly.
    • Storage: you can store the completely cooled and cooked pork belly in an airtight container for 3-4 days. Reheat in a frying pan. It is not recommended to freeze the cooked pork belly with the spices and sauce.
    pork belly in a bowl with a fork

    🥣 Equipment used to make

    Here is a list of kitchen equipment I used for this recipe:

    • Instant pot
    • Slotted Spoon
    • Medium Bowls
    • Rubber spatula

    💭 Frequently asked questions

    Is eating pork belly bad for you?

    Pork belly has the highest fat content in meat. However, not all fat is unhealthy. In fact animal fat is often misunderstood by health professionals especially those who provide nutritional information. Here is a link to an article from the Diet Doctor website that explains everything you need to know about healthy fats.

    This pork belly recipe is sugar free and contains 4g of carbohydrates per serving. Depending on your daily macros this recipe should fit in to a low carb and keto friendly diet and is also diabetic friendly.

    What goes well with pork belly?

    Most often something acidic goes well with pork belly to cut the richness. Therefore, a salad with vinegar in it will pair nicely with pork belly.

    Why is my pork belly not crispy?

    If the pork belly is not cooked on high enough heat it will not get too crispy. This is why I suggest alternating between low and normal heat without burning the pork. This should make it a crispy pork belly.

    What is the difference between pork belly and bacon?

    Pork belly is uncured, un-smoked and un-sliced where as bacon is usually all of those.

    pork belly in a bowl with a fork

    🍽 Other recipes you may like

    • Cooked air fryer pork chops in the air fryer basket.
      Frozen Pork Chops in the Air Fryer
    • chicken thighs in air fryer basket.
      Air Fryer Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs
    • racks of ribs on a cutting board with tomatoes, pickles and fries.
      Keto Baby Back Ribs
    • bacon wrapped chicken legs on a grill.
      BBQ Bacon Wrapped Chicken Legs (Low Carb)

    If you enjoyed this recipe I would love if you would share on social or pin on pinterest.

    pork belly in a bowl with a fork

    Sweet and Spicy Instant Pot Keto Pork Belly

    Oscar
    This sweet and spicy instant pot pork belly is made with spicy flavours and a hint of sweetness.
    5 from 48 votes
    Print Pin This Recipe
    Prep Time : 5 mins
    Cook Time : 40 mins
    Total Time : 45 mins
    Course : Appetizer, Main Course, Side Dish
    Cuisine : American
    Diet : Diabetic, Gluten Free
    Servings : 4 people
    Calories : 406

    Equipment

    • Instant Pot
    • Slotted Spoon
    • Medium Bowl
    • Rubber Spatula

    Ingredients
      

    • 1 lb pork belly
    • 3 cups chicken stock
    • 1 teaspoon Ground Ginger
    • 3 cloves garlic chopped
    • 1 tablespoon Apple Cider Vinegar
    • 1 tablespoon sweetener
    • 2 tablespoon olive oil

    Spicy Glaze

    • 1 teaspoon ground ginger
    • 1 teaspoon chili pepper flakes
    • 1.5 tablespoon sweetener or other granular sweeteners
    • 2 tablespoon tamari or soy sauce or coconut aminos
    • dash salt
    Get the New E-bookCheck out Low Carb Comfort Food!

    Instructions
     

    • Cut the pork belly strips into one inch cubes and place in the instant pot with the chicken stock or broth, apple cider vinegar, ground ginger, erythritol and chopped garlic. Give it a mix and then place lid on instant pot and set to sealing, pressure cook on normal for 15 minutes.
    • Make the glaze sauce in a medium bowl by combining the salt, ginger, chili flakes, erythritol and tamari sauce. Mix well and set aside.
    • Allow the instant pot to slow release for 10 minutes and then hit that venting switch and allow all the pressure to release. Remove lid and use a slotted spoon to transfer the pork belly to a bowl. Remove the remaining liquids from the pot.
    • Set the instant pot to the saute function on normal and add the olive oil to the pot. Transfer the pork belly back to the pot and continue to saute until golden brown (8-10 minutes). Stir often, you might have to play with the saute setting switching from low to normal regularly.
    • Next add the spicy glaze sauce into the pot and continue to stir until pork belly is well coated. Continue to saute, stirring often and alternating between low and normal heat. This takes a bit of patience but it's worth it. Continue to saute for about 2 minutes or until desired crispiness is reached.
    • Pork belly should be almost brownish red in color. Remove once it has reached the desired colour and crispiness. Some people like it extra crispy while others do not. Garnish with toasted sesame and chopped parsley.

    Notes

    Top Tip: As the pork belly sautees in the instant pot alternating between low and normal heat is key. Sometimes it seems like low is too low and then normal is too high. Alternating between both temperatures helped to get it to the right crispiness.
    Crispy Bits: it may seem like the pork belly is leaving all the crispy bits at the bottom of the pot. Once you add the glaze, scrape all the bits from the bottom. Continue to do so while cooking.

    This recipe card provides the basic details to make this recipe. For more information, questions or variations please review the content above the recipe card.

    Updates and Revisions

    If conflicting information between the video and recipe card, the recipe card will always have the most up to date information, ingredients and instructions.

    Click here to add your own private notes.

    Nutritional Information

    All nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered estimates. Actual nutritional content will vary with brands used, measuring methods, portion sizes and more.

    Calories: 406kcal | Carbohydrates: 3g | Protein: 20g | Fat: 35g | Fiber: 0g | Sugar: 1g
    LOVE THIS RECIPE?Check out I Hacked Diabetes on Pinterest

    🌡️ Food safety

    • Cook to a minimum temperature of 165 °F (74 °C)
    • Do not use the same utensils on cooked food, that previously touched raw meat
    • Wash hands after touching raw meat
    • Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
    • Never leave cooking food unattended
    • Use oils with high smoking point to avoid harmful compounds
    • Always have good ventilation when using a gas stove

    See more food guidelines

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Addie

      October 07, 2021 at 10:46 pm

      5 stars
      This pork is so tender and flavorful! Loved the sauce.

      Reply
      • Oscar Chimenti

        October 09, 2021 at 8:52 pm

        Thank you.

        Reply
    2. Agnieszka

      October 07, 2021 at 10:14 pm

      5 stars
      This pork belly is so delicious my mouth is watering just thinking about it! Amazing recipe!

      Reply
    3. Alexandra

      October 07, 2021 at 6:33 pm

      5 stars
      The flavours of this are just so good! That glaze is incredible. Look forward to making again.

      Reply
      • Oscar Chimenti

        October 09, 2021 at 8:53 pm

        The glaze make it amazing.

        Reply
    4. Makhaya

      October 07, 2021 at 4:32 pm

      5 stars
      This pork recipe was amazing! So flavorful and tender. Thanks for sharing!

      Reply
    5. Natalie

      October 07, 2021 at 1:21 pm

      5 stars
      I'm seriously hungry right now. This looks very delicious. I love added ginger here in this recipe. I'm making this for sure!

      Reply
    6. Jessica l Tao of Spice

      October 07, 2021 at 10:05 am

      5 stars
      I don't usually comment on recipes but this dish was so good I just had to. My whole family loved it so I will definitely be making it again soon. Thanks!

      Reply
      • Oscar Chimenti

        October 09, 2021 at 8:54 pm

        Glad you enjoyed it. Thank you.

        Reply
    7. Natalie

      October 07, 2021 at 8:40 am

      5 stars
      This is so tasty and easy to make! Looking forward to leftovers!

      Reply
    8. Kayla DiMaggio

      October 07, 2021 at 8:25 am

      5 stars
      This sweet and spicy pork belly was so delicious! I loved all the flavors and it was so easy to make!

      Reply
    9. Megan Ellam

      October 07, 2021 at 8:20 am

      5 stars
      Now this is my kind of food. Thanks so much for sharing your recipes Oscar.

      Reply
    10. Marcellina

      October 07, 2021 at 7:01 am

      5 stars
      What amazing flavours! This is going to be delicious!

      Reply
    11. Anaiah

      October 07, 2021 at 4:43 am

      5 stars
      Thanks for making a keto version of this sweet and spicy pork belly. Love how easy it is to make in the instant pot. It turned out perfect!

      Reply
    12. Andrea White

      October 02, 2021 at 7:43 pm

      5 stars
      YUM! Love this so much! So tasty!

      Reply
    13. Geetanjali Tung

      October 01, 2021 at 9:20 pm

      5 stars
      This looks delicious! Will love this in dinner.

      Reply
    14. Rob

      October 01, 2021 at 7:57 pm

      5 stars
      You had me at sweet and spicy. Great recipe!

      Reply
    15. Amy

      October 01, 2021 at 7:01 pm

      5 stars
      Yum! I'm such a sucker for a good pork belly recipe!

      Reply
    16. Nora

      October 01, 2021 at 5:47 am

      5 stars
      Yum! This looks delicious! Can't wait to try it out myself! Thanks for sharing!

      Reply
      • Oscar Chimenti

        October 06, 2021 at 10:11 am

        Welcome, enjoy 🙂

        Reply
    17. Jean

      September 30, 2021 at 11:41 pm

      5 stars
      we love anything sweet and spicy, this is perfect for our rice meals!

      Reply
      • Oscar Chimenti

        October 06, 2021 at 10:11 am

        Right on!

        Reply

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    I am a Type 2 Diabetic and enjoy creating low-carb and diabetic-friendly recipes that are good for you! All recipes are developed to help you make great food without the highs and lows of diabetes.

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