20-Min Pork Belly Fried Rice

This is my easy recipe for pork belly fried rice made with crispy pork belly pieces, eggs, and lemongrass coconut fried rice - ready in 20 minutes. It's so simple to make and only uses a handful of ingredients. It's one of my go-to weeknight dinners, I hope you enjoy it!

This is a great recipe if you have leftover rice, an air fryer, and only 20 minutes. Simply stir-fry your rice with some eggs, greens, pork belly, and lemongrass coconut-infused rice to make this gorgeous belly pork fried rice. If you fancy some more rice recipes, why not check out my Vegan Rice Balls, One Pot Biryani, Vegan Onigiri.

A couple of pork belly recipes I adore are my pork belly udon carbonara or my Butadon aka Japanese pork bowl recipe, so check them out if you fancy. If you're looking for easy air fryer recipes, check out my Greek Yogurt Air Fryer Chicken.

Why You'll Love This Recipe

• Super quick - this recipe takes no more than 20 minutes to make! It's absolutely perfect for when you just don't have a lot of time.
• Uses leftover rice - if you've got some day-old rice, then this recipe is ideal for you. You could also use a packet of rice if you don't have any leftover rice.

Ingredients

• Pork belly - you want to choose pork belly slices when you go shopping. Try and choose the slices with no skin, and the least amount of fat (unless you really like the fatty bits!). It's such a gorgeous cut of meat and adds so much flavour to the fried rice. Another great pork belly recipe is my air fryer crispy belly pork that is cooked to perfection every time.
• Garlic granules - as this is for the marination of the pork belly, I've chosen to use garlic granules as they can stick to the pork better. But, feel free to use fresh garlic cloves, just make sure to mince them or chop them really finely. It adds a wonderful aroma and taste.
• Light soy sauce - this adds a bit of seasoning to the pork belly. Feel free to also use a bit of dark soy sauce (higher in sodium and darker in colour), to add a darker colour to the pork belly.
• Sesame oil - I love adding some nuttiness to this dish. The sesame oil does just that. If you don't have sesame oil, feel free to change it out for olive oil. It won't have the same taste, but will add that bit of coating necessary for air frying.
• Lemongrass - a wonderful plant that has hints of lemon, lime, and ginger all in one. I've used fresh lemongrass stalk and bashed it with the back of my knife to release the flavours...but feel free to use lemongrass paste. I then finely chop it and add it into my rice to create the most flavour-packed fried rice ever!
• Coconut milk - the rich taste of coconut is a gorgeous addition to the fried rice. You'll need a can of coconut milk (full-fat).
• Eggs - two eggs, cracked and whisked.
• Leftover rice - if you're planning on making this dish tomorrow, then cook your rice today so that it's a day old. I use basmati or long-grain rice for stir fried rice dishes. You could also use a packet of cooked rice. You need the rice to be dry and not stick together (hence why it needs to be a day old or out of a packet).
• Sugar - to add sweetness! You could also add honey if you'd like.
• Spring onion - chop up your scallions into small pieces to add a bit of greenery and flavour.

How to make pork belly fried rice in under 20 minutes: step by step

Step 1: Slice & Cook Your Pork Belly

• Slice your pork belly into small strips, around half an inch wide.
• Place your belly pork into a bowl and add in your garlic granules, soy sauce, and sesame oil. Give everything a good toss and then add it into your air fryer drawer.

• Air fry at 160C for 10 minutes. After that, air fry at 190C for 5 minutes. Make sure to keep an eye on your pork belly because every air fryer is different. Give it a good shake every 5 minutes.

• If you don't have an air fryer, simply place a frying pan on your hob, add in your pork belly with a lid, and fry for 15 minutes on medium heat, stirring occassionally.

Step 2: Make Your Fried Rice Mixture

• Into a large frying pan or wok, add a tablespoon of oil followed by your finely chopped lemongrass and coconut milk. Fry for 3 minutes.
• Add in your 2 eggs and stir until the eggs are scrambled.

• Gently pour in your leftover or packet of rice and combine.
• Pour in soy sauce, sprinkle in sugar, and top with your spring onions. Give everything a good stir and fry for a further few minutes.
• Turn the heat down and wait until your pork belly is ready.

Step 3: Combine Your Pork Belly and Enjoy!

• Once your pork belly is crispy and delicious, add it into your fried rice, combine, and enjoy!

Cooking Tips

• Use old rice for this stir fry or a packet of cooked rice. This is because you want dry rice. If you use recently cooked rice, it will still be moist and become stodgy once you cook it again.
• Begin by air frying your pork belly on a lower heat for 10 minutes (at around 160C). This ensures that the pork belly is cooked all the way through without burning. Then, for the last 5 minutes, increase the temperature to 190C to get that crispy texture.

Variations & Substitutions

• If you want to turn this dish into a noodle stir fry instead, then make sure to prepare some egg noodles ahead of making this dish. Then, simply add them in at the same time that you'd add in your rice.
• Add in veggies. This dish only uses spring onions, but feel free to add in any kind of vegetable you like e.g. carrots, pak choi, cabbage, broccoli.
• If you would like to keep your rice plain, then don't add in the lemongrass and coconut milk. Simply add a tablespoon of oil and continue the recipe.
• If you don't like pork belly and fancy a different type of meat, go for it! This recipe would go really well with chicken, beef, or salmon. Just make sure to cook the meat in advance of stir frying everything up together.
• Don't have an air fryer? Don't worry! Simply pan-fry your chunks of pork belly for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until crispy and dark golden brown.

FAQ about this Pork Belly Fried Rice recipe

What If I Don't Have An Air Fryer?

Don't worry! Simply pan-fry your chunks of pork belly for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, on medium heat, until the belly pork is crispy and dark golden brown.

How Can I Store This Recipe?

• Place your leftover pork belly fried rice in an airtight container - make sure it's cool before placing it in the fridge. Keep it in the fridge for no more than 3 days.
• If you'd like to freeze this recipe, place it into an airtight container and into the freezer for up to 3 months. Defrost and reheat before serving.
• If you want to reheat the recipe, place it in the microwave, or place it into a frying pan on medium heat for 5-10 minutes.

Other quick and easy dinner ideas you might enjoy:

• Sticky Ginger Aubergine - this is one of my favourite ways to cook aubergine!
• Lemongrass & Coconut Tofu Curry - If you fancy a warming bowl of curry, then this Lemongrass & Coconut Tofu Curry served with noodles or rice is for you!
• Aubergine Moilee - this is a gorgeously mild aubergine curry spiced with mustard seeds and turmeric.
• Spam Ramen - one of my go-to easy weeknight dinners!