Pork Belly Bites served with Jeow Som

Published June 18, 2026

When I want something easy yet with an extra punch, best believe I'm making this! It's a crispy, golden pork belly bites served with a punchy Lao-style jeow som dipping sauce, and when paired with warm fluffy rice it's the ultimate quick dinner meal.

ingredients

for the pork belly

  • 500g pork belly, cut into bite-sized pieces
  • ½ tsp black pepper
  • 1 tsp garlic, minced
  • ¼ tsp turmeric
  • ½ tbsp fish sauce

for the jeow som

  • 4 garlic cloves
  • 3–5 red chillies (adjust to your spice preference)
  • 1 shallot, roughly chopped
  • Handful of coriander
  • 3–4 tbsp fish sauce
  • 1 tbsp sugar
  • 1 tsp red chilli flakes (optional, for extra heat)
  • 1 tbsp water
  • 1–2 tbsp lime juice
  • ½ tsp chicken powder
  • Pinch of MSG

to serve

  • Steamed white jasmine rice
  • Tenderstem broccoli or greens of choice
  • Chilli oil (optional)

method

1: Marinate the Pork Belly

In a bowl, combine the pork belly bites, black pepper, garlic, turmeric, and fish sauce. Mix well until the pork is evenly coated.

Leave to marinate for at least 15 minutes.

2: Cook the Pork Belly

Place a large frying pan over medium-high heat.

Add the marinated pork belly pieces directly to the pan. There's no need to add oil as the pork belly will release its own fat while cooking.

Cook for 3–4 minutes per side, turning occasionally, until the pork is crispy, golden brown, and cooked through.

Remove from the pan and set aside.

3: Make the Jeow Som

Add the garlic, red chillies, and shallot to a food processor and blitz until finely minced. Alternatively, pound everything together using a mortar and pestle, or mince by hand.

Add the coriander and pulse briefly. Be careful not to over-process - you want the sauce to retain some texture.

Transfer the mixture to a bowl and stir through the fish sauce, sugar, chilli flakes (if using), water, lime juice, chicken powder, and MSG.

Taste and adjust the seasoning as needed. Add more lime juice for that extra tang, fish sauce for saltiness, or sugar to balance the flavours.

4: Serve

Serve the crispy pork belly over a bed of steamed white rice alongside tenderstem broccoli or your preferred greens.

Spoon the jeow som generously over the pork belly or serve it on the side as a dipping sauce, and top with some chilli oil too if you'd like.

Enjoy immediately while the pork is hot and crispy!

Pork Belly Bites served with Jeow Som