Japanese Buta Kakuni

Japanese Buta Kakuni is a classic Nagasaki dish featuring pork belly that is slowly simmered until meltingly tender in a savory-sweet broth. The key ingredients are pork belly, soy sauce, mirin, sake, and sugar, often with ginger and green onions. It's a beloved comfort food, especially in the Kyushu region.

🍳 View the full Japanese Buta Kakuni recipe →

🍽️ Nutrition at a glance

This dish is high in protein and fat due to the pork belly, with minimal carbohydrates from the simmering liquids. A typical serving provides a good amount of B vitamins and minerals like zinc, with a calorie range of approximately 400-600 depending on portion size and fat content.

Nutrition breakdown

Calories	450 kcal
Protein	28 g
Carbs	12 g
Fat	32 g
Fiber	0.5 g
Sugar	8 g
Sodium	850 mg
Iron	2.5 mg
Zinc	4.5 mg
Vitamin B1 (Thiamine)	0.8 mg
Vitamin B6	0.5 mg
Vitamin B12	1.2 mcg
Phosphorus	220 mg
Selenium	35 mcg
Niacin (B3)	8 mg

Per 1 serving (200 g) · estimated, varies by recipe

💡 What's interesting

Culturally, Buta Kakuni is a symbol of Nagasaki's unique culinary history, reflecting Chinese influence on Japanese cuisine. Nutritionally, the long simmering process breaks down collagen into gelatin, which is beneficial for gut and skin health.