21 Delicious Side Dishes to Serve with Pork Belly

You’ve come to the correct spot if you’re wondering what to serve with your pork belly.

In this essay, I’ll discuss 21 of the most popular pork belly side dishes.

In a rush? Heres the short answer.

Light and acidic meals like German red cabbage, broccoli slaw, or apple and fennel salad pair well with pork belly. Richer possibilities for side dishes include handmade ramen, butternut squash risotto, and celeriac puree. Try bao buns or fruit kabobs as entertaining side dishes.

Ready?Lets jump right in.

Quick homemade ramen 

By omitting the spice package and substituting fresh ingredients, this dish improves the ordinary instant ramen.

Adding fresh ginger, garlic, and dried mushrooms to your chicken broth will result in a flavor-packed stock.

Top your ramen with slices of pig belly for the ultimate comfort food.

Dont forget the soft-boiled egg!

This fast homemade ramen takes about 25 minutes from the kitchen to the table.

Bao buns

If you’re preparing Chinese-style char siu (barbecued pork belly), some bao buns on the side are a must.

They go great with crispy pork belly too.

Stuff the buns with pork belly with carrot, cucumber, and cilantro slivers. Plus a sauce of your choice (siracha mayo is delicious).

Even if you’re not a baker, you can create these simple steamed bao buns at home.

Broccoli honeycrisp slaw

With a serving of this particular slaw, you may add a new dimension to any pork belly recipe.

Don’t worry if you don’t see any cabbages or carrots in this.

With a tangy dressing and some sweetness from apples and dried currants, it’s still crisp and refreshing.

This broccoli honeycrisp slaw freezes wonderfully, but I doubt you’ll have any leftovers!

A creamy coleslaw would also be delicious.

Mashed cauliflower

Pork belly goes well with mashed potatoes, but if you want to cut down on calories, use mashed cauliflower instead.

It still has the beautiful creaminess that complements the meat.

A smart way to prevent watery mash is to cook the cauliflowers while you mash them.

This will enable any remaining water to evaporate.

This mashed cauliflower is sure to satisfy your carb needs.

Warm German potato salad

Getting bored with creamy potato salads?

Try this warm potato salad instead of the standard.

Its dressing is tasty since it is created with bacon fat, vinegar, and mustard.

The smoky bacon unites the dish with its pork belly relative.

This delicious German potato salad will liven up your next gathering.

Baby arugula and strawberry salad

Who can resist strawberries?!

Salad goes well with fatty dishes like crackling pig belly in the summer.

And the bitter, sweet, and sour elements of this salad, along with the juicy pork belly, will create a delicious symphony in every mouthful.

This baby arugula and strawberry salad with feta is a great delight.

Mushroom and scallion rice noodles

You can’t go wrong with putting pieces of crispy pig belly over these delectable noodles.

It’s a one-pan marvel that takes just 20 minutes to prepare.

And the mushrooms and the sweet-but-spicy Asian sauce add umami richness to the noodles.

These mushroom and scallion rice noodles are perfect for a quick evening meal.

If you want more vegetables, add some bok choy or baby corn.

Kimchi-jeon

Whether you make Korean-style pork belly or the traditional fried form, it goes well with kimchi-jeon.

This meal has everything you love about kimchi, but in the shape of a crispy pancake.

Fill your kimchi pancake with chunks of pork belly for a filling supper.

Make a gochujang mayo for dipping if you want to go the additional mile.

Kimchijeon is incredibly addicting, fortunately it is simple to prepare!

Spinach mac and cheese

This traditional pasta recipe is rich and creamy, with a nutritious boost from the addition of spinach.

Add some pork belly and you have a hearty lunch that will make everyone happy.

The crispy pork belly skin adds a great texture to the dish.

But be warned: this spinach mac and cheese is rather rich, so plan on taking a nap afterward.

Apple and fennel salad

Theres no greater pair than apple and pork belly the acidity of the apple cuts through the rich pork brilliantly.

The apple is usually served in the form of apple sauce.

This apple salad, on the other hand, is a lighter, healthier option.

You can serve it on the side, or mix the pork belly into the salad its up to you.

Chelsea tops her salad with some nuts for crunch, and some salty parmesan.

Egg fried rice

This egg fried rice is a tasty alternative to regular steamed rice.

It will whisk you away to your favorite Chinese restaurant!

Although this takeaway-style egg fried rice dish has no veggies, I prefer to add peas and sweetcorn for color.

To round up the dinner, whip together a quick soy vinegar dipping sauce.

Stir-fried pea shoots

Make these stir-fried pea shoots to pair with your pork belly for a complete supper.

Pea shoots have a naturally sweet flavor that complements savory foods well.

The shoots are flash-fried in garlic oil at high heat, so keep an eye on them to avoid overcooking.

These Chinese stir-fried pea shoots are both easy and delicious. If you can’t get pea shoots, young spinach will suffice.

Thai green papaya salad

With this salad, draw culinary inspiration from Thailand.

It’s the ideal balance of sweet, sour, and spicy. Your visitors’ mouths will moisten just by gazing at it.

Serve the Whisk Affairs salad with pork belly for an instagrammable dinner!

Green papaya should be available at your local Asian grocery, but if you can’t find it, try mango, apple, or carrot instead.

Pineapple and watermelon skewers

Looking for a fun side dish for your pork belly?

These kabobs of pineapple and watermelon are ideal.

They’re one-of-a-kind and add a lot of color to the mix. They are also not lacking in taste.

The fruit’s sweet, lemony undertones will complement the deep, salty tastes of the pork without weighting it down.

You may also use pig belly on the skewers.

Pan-seared cod in tomato sauce

Are you a fan of surf and turf?

Pan-seared fish and pig belly may seem to be an unusual match, but the fattiness of the pork belly complements the lean flesh of the cod.

The white wine tomato sauce completes this meal excellently.

This pan-seared fish in tomato and white wine sauce will become a weekly staple on your menu.

Spaghetti aglio e olio

Aglio e olio is the simplest pasta meal to prepare, but that doesn’t mean it’s dull.

Far from it.

The spaghetti is tossed in a garlicky sauce with a kick from chili flakes.

Add some pork belly and you have an incredible meal that I wouldn’t be shocked to see on a restaurant menu!

This pasta aglio e olio may seem simple, but appearances may be misleading.

Goose fat roast potatoes

Want to turn your pork belly into a roast?

Serve with a side of delicious roast potatoes.

Goose fat gives your potatoes a crispy outside while keeping the interior fluffy.It will also go well with the equally fatty pig belly.

Serve the entire dish with a tangy apple sauce or pickles to keep it from becoming too rich.

Bok choy and shiitake stir fry 

Serve this stir fry with your pork belly to let it shine.

The mild Asian and earthy tastes will complement the pork belly without overpowering it.

If you cook this bok choy and shiitake mushroom stir fry for too long, the crispness will be lost. Nobody wants wilting veggies.

Quick-pickled radish

With this pickled radish, you can add a pleasant dash of colour to your pork belly.

It’s a no-cook meal that only takes 10 minutes to prepare by hand. However, the radish must be left in the pickling liquid for an hour to create its distinctive sour taste.

These quick-pickled radishes will give your dinner a lip-smacking taste while clearing your palete of the fatty pig belly.

Butternut squash risotto

This butternut squash risotto is the perfect way to welcome Autumn.

Because pork belly is a rich meat, it should be paired with something light and acidic. Or anything that can compete with its decadent tastes.

The latter is butternut squash risotto. It’s warm and comfortable, and it’ll satisfy everyone at the table.

Go to delicious for the best butternut squash risotto you’ve ever had.

Celeriac puree 

Celeriac is one of my favorite veggies, although I don’t cook with it nearly enough.

It has a unique, nutty flavor that complements the savory aromas of the pork belly.

This silky celeriac puree is velvety smooth and sophisticated enough for a dinner party.

Stir in some horseradish if you want to give the puree a bit of a kick.

The best side dishes for pork belly

• Quick homemade ramen
• Bao buns
• Broccoli honeycrisp slaw
• Mashed cauliflower
• Warm German potato salad
• Baby arugula and strawberry salad
• Mushroom and scallion rice noodles
• Kimchi-jeon
• Spinach mac and cheese
• Apple and fennel salad
• Egg fried rice
• Stir-fried pea shoots
• Thai green papaya salad
• Pineapple and watermelon skewers
• Pan-seared cod in tomato sauce
• Spaghetti aglio e olio
• Goose fat roast potatoes
• Bok choy and shiitake stir fry
• Quick-pickled radish
• Butternut squash risotto
• Celeriac puree