I’ve been so exciting about trying these Korean style burnt ends ever since I smoked those Korean style short ribs. I’ve just been a bit busy as of late to get it done, but when I was asked to join the Lang’s Chocolate Keystone Pantry Allulose blogger recipe challenge…
To be frank, it put a deadline on me which forced me to move on these burnt ends. Which is good, sometimes one needs a deadline.
I didn’t have a total game plan yet though. I did know I would throw these babies in my Pit Barrel smoker but pork belly or brisket burnt ends? That was the question. I decided to go with pork belly because, well, pork belly.
You may be wondering what the heck allulose is. And no eye rolling when I spout this off. It’s a rare sugar, meaning it’s present in small amounts of figs, wheat and raisins. It’s does not, let me repeat – it does not raise blood sugar. It is low in calories, only 1/10 the calories of table sugar. And it fits in the keto diet. One more time if you missed it, it fits into the keto diet.
The last thing: It’s delicious. No, I’m serious. You see why I mentioned the eye rolling thing. When I heard all these things about allulose at the start, before I had tasted it, I rolled the eyes. I thought, ugh, another gross sugar substitute tasting thing. No, for real. It’s delicious. It looks just like sugar. Feels just like sugar.
But Jaxx, does it taste just like sugar? The short answer, no. And weirdly enough, yes. It does taste exactly like sugar but not near as sweet. Sugar taken down a notch. Sugar on sedatives. If you want something super sweet, you’ll have to use more of it. But for me and the wife, the sweetness was just perfect. There is no funny taste or freaky stuff going on with this. Honest!
Coming back to the Korean style burnt ends, when they sent me the tub of allulose, it was the perfect time to try out my Korean style burnt ends….so let’s get to it!
Korean Style Pork Belly Burnt Ends
Decadent pork belly smoked with a delicious Korean sauce! Yes please!
Ingredients
- 4-5 pounds pork belly, skin removed, cut into 2″ chunks
- favorite meat rub I used Smokehouse Bayou
- 1 cup brown sugar, separated or 1.2 cups allulose
- molasses
- 1 stick butter
- honey
- 1 cup soy sauce
- 4 tablespoons sesame oil
- 4 tablespoons rice wine vinegar
- 4 tablespoons ginger minced or grated
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- green onions for garnish optional
- sesame seeds for garnish optional
Instructions
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Get your smoker hot, ideally to 275°. If it runs a little hot, fine, just try to keep it under 300°.
While that’s heating up you can make your Korean style sauce. Add 1 cup Keystone Pantry Allulose with some molasses in a large bowl, to make brown sugar. Put a bit, mix up. You’re mixing for color here. If you add more molasses, you’ll get dark brown sugar. Less will be light brown sugar.
If you’re not using allulose, just use 1 cup brown sugar.
So the sauce: mix together your brown sugar, soy sauce, sesame oil, rice wine vinegar, ginger, garlic, and red pepper flakes. Mix and let it hang out while you’re doing all the other stuff.
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Place a cookie cooling rack over an aluminum pan to prevent a huge mess. Lay the pork belly chunks out on a cookie cooking rack. Sprinkle generously with your favorite rub, both sides.
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Put the pork belly in the smoker, uncovered, and without the aluminum pan. Cook for 2-2.5 hours. You’re basically looking for color here. If at 2 hours you don’t like the color you’re seeing, leave it on for a bit longer.
While your pork belly is hanging out in there, in a small bowl, mix 1/2 cup of Keystone Pantry allulose with some molasses. If not using allulose, use 1/2 cup brown sugar.
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When you’re happy with the color, remove them. Add them to the aluminum pan you used earlier. Sprinkle the pork belly chunks with the 1/2 cup brown sugar you made. Slice the butter in to 1 tablespoon slices and randomly toss around and on the pork belly. Squeeze a generous amount of honey all over them – no science here, just do what feels right because you can’t go wrong.
Cover the pan with aluminum foil. Put it back in the smoker for another 2 hours. At the 2 hour mark remove. What you’re looking for, when probed, is extreme tenderness. If you probe a large piece and it doesn’t feel like probing butter, put it in for another 30 minutes, until you achieve that tenderness.
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Once you have your tenderness, remove the pork belly and uncover. Whisk your Korean sauce to remove clumps. Pour over the pork belly. Cook uncovered in your smoker for another 20 uncovered.
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After 20 minutes, remove the burnt ends from the pan. Sprinkle with sesame seeds and green onions. You’re done! Get ready to get rocked!
Recipe Notes
The instruction list looks long and complicated at first glance. It’s not. It’s 95% passive time and the reward is well worth it.
If you want to see me do it, I’ve included a video for your viewing pleasure.
If you’re interested in the rub I used, Smokehouse Bayou, check them out here: https://smokehousebayou.com/
Hi, i only have an oven. can i apply the same temperature and duration settings of the smoker to my oven? thanks.
So frickin’ good!!! Thank you so much for this recipe! It’s a definite “make again”!
Laura, this recipe is my absolute favorite for burnt ends!!!! I’m so glad you like it too!
These look seriously amazing!
Congratulations!
Your Post is on The Top Ten at Full Plate Thursday this week! Thanks so much for sharing with us and have a great weekend!
Miz Helen
Wow thanks Miz Helen! Headed over there now!
Thanks for sharing at Home Sweet Home! Looks delicious!
Alright, Jaxx, now i’m back in official capacity as the FF co-host this week…make sure to link back to ff, just in case someone wants to feature you!! 🙂
Yes ma’am!
lol!!
I grew up where burnt ends were made at Kansas City BBQs and on every menu…imagine my disappointment when I discovered Florida BBQ’s have never heard of burnt ends……Say What???? That being said I am anxious to try your recipe using pork belly. Thank you for sharing at our Celebrate Your Party Link party.
Kari@meandmyCaptain
Kari…I’m so jealous. You literally grew up in a fairy tale land! The pork belly brings it to another level with all that lux fatty goodness.
I have had burnt ends before and they are so yummy! These look delicious!! Thanks for sharing with SYC.
hugs,
Jann
Thanks for checking it out Jann! Burnt ends are so powerful they could end wars.
I almost can feel the smell, but honestly speaking I have never cooked it and usually eat it somewhere outside
Hope you are having fun at FF party!
Cheers
Mila if you can get burnt ends cooked for you by someone else, take advantage of that! Thanks for stopping in!
This sounds so good and tasty, and I have two or three packs of pork belly from a local meat share in my freezer. I will have to look into this Allulose, as it’s a new ingredient on me.
Three packs of pork belly?! What are you waiting for? lol
I had to search and search for that pork belly. But it was well worth it.
Interesting, definitely something I would love to try.
Thank you for sharing the recipe and the instructions at The Really crafty Link Party. Pinned!
I found this recipe to do it in your oven. Haven’t tried it though, but I do know it’s possible. https://www.sweetbabyrays.com/Recipes/Kansas-City-Style-Pork-Burnt-Ends
These look delicious. I had some Korean style steak this past week while I was traveling and it was so good. I’m hungry for more of that delicious flavor! LOL
You can use that sauce on chicken, steak, country style ribs, whatever. So, so good.
this sounds amazing, a must try!
This looks amazing and I really appreciate the detailed instructions.
Those look so yummy and good. #Alittlebitofeverything
Your Korean Style Pork Belly looks delicious, Jaxx! I was very interested to learn about Allulose. I had never heard of it before. Thank you so much for sharing this recipe, and for being a part of the Hearth and Soul Link Party!
Thanks April, they were ridiculous! So was the Allulose, to be honest. I hadn’t heard of it either, but I was really surprised.
I would have to make a double batch of these for my family. Found you on Grandma’s Briefs Link Party.
Thanks for checking it out! They were the bombdiggity for sure! A double batch would have been welcome.
I love burnt ends and these sound incredible! Thanks for sharing at the What’s for Dinner party – hope to see you next week too. In the mean time, have a fabulous week ahead!
I wow, I have no words, Jaxx! Well, other than AMAZING!! I might have to check out Allulouse!!
I have words…get your smoker going! Get that pork belly in ya! Thanks for checking it out Mollie, it was off the charts. I brought some over to my neighbor and he didn’t even share it with his wife, he ate it all and asked for the recipe. Crazy good, but not too good for the health – Everything in moderation.
I’ve been trying to eat healthier but man does this sound good! I have never done anything with pork belly. Maybe it’s time!
I know me too, but obviously I fell off the wagon. I’ll have to eat tofu and veggies for the next three weeks to make up for that pork belly.
lol!!!