Instant Pot: Tau Yew Bak

Instant Pot Tau Yew Bak (Soy Sauce Braised Pork) is a beloved Chinese dish made with tender pork belly simmered in a rich, savoury soy-based sauce. Using the Instant Pot cuts down the cooking time while keeping all the depth of flavour. Perfect with steamed rice and hard-boiled eggs.

Ingredients (Serves 4-6)

1kg pork belly, cut into chunky pieces

For the braising sauce:

4 tbsp caramel sauce

3 tbsp light soy sauce

1 cup water

For spice pack

15 cloves garlic

1 star anise

1/2 cinnamon stick

1 tbsp clove

Toppings

Hard-boiled eggs, peeled

Tofu puffs

Method

1. Sear the Pork

• Set the Instant Pot to Sauté mode and heat the oil.

• Add pork belly and sear for 3–4 minutes until lightly browned.

2. Add the Sauce

• Add caramel sauce, light soy sauce and spice pack. Stir well.

• Pour in the water and mix everything evenly.

3. Pressure Cook

• Cancel Sauté. Close the lid, set the valve to Sealing, and cook on High Pressure for 15 minutes.

• Let the pressure naturally release for 10 minutes, then release any remaining pressure manually.

4. Add Eggs, Tofu Puffs & Simmer

• Open the lid. Add the boiled eggs and tofu puffs.

• Set back to Sauté and simmer for another 10–15 minutes to reduce the sauce and allow the eggs and tofu puffs to absorb the flavour.

5. Serve

• Serve hot with steamed rice, and spoon plenty of the savoury sauce over the top.

• Garnish with chopped spring onions or fresh chilli if desired.

Instant Pot Tau Yew Bak delivers deep, umami-rich flavour with beautifully tender pork belly in a fraction of the time. It’s a homely, satisfying dish that brings comfort to any table.