Niratama Pork (Stir-Fried Pork Belly with Eggs and Garlic Chives)

Niratama (ニラ玉) is a simple yet comforting Japanese stir-fry made with nira (Garlic chives or Chinese chives) and tamago (eggs). In this version, I’m taking it up a notch by adding juicy slices of pork belly—making it a hearty, savory dish that pairs beautifully with a bowl of hot rice.

It’s quick to prepare, full of umami, and one of those dishes you’ll find yourself making again and again when you want something easy but satisfying.

RECIPE

Servings: 4-5

Time: 20 min

Ingredients:

1 lb pork belly
1 tbsp sake
1 tbsp potato starch
A pinch of salt
5–6 bunches nira (Chinese chives)
3 eggs
cooking oil
For the sauce:

1 tbsp soy sauce
1 tbsp sake
1/2 tbsp dashi powder

Instructions:

Prep the pork
Cut pork belly into bite-sized pieces.
Marinate with salt and sake, then coat with potato starch.
Let it sit while prepping other ingredients.
Prep the chives and eggs
Rinse the nira and cut into 2-inch pieces.
Crack the eggs into a bowl and beat them lightly.
Scramble the eggs
Heat a little oil in a pan over medium heat.
Pour in the beaten eggs and gently scramble them until just set but still soft.
Remove from the pan and set aside.
Cook the pork
In the same pan, add a bit more oil if needed.
Add the pork and cook until nicely browned and cooked through.
Bring it all together
Add the scrambled eggs, chopped nira, and sauce ingredients into the pan.
Stir-fry quickly over medium-high heat until everything is evenly coated (about 1 minute).

ingredients shopping

Tips

Pork belly adds great flavor, but you can substitute with thinly sliced pork shoulder or even ground pork.
Don’t overcook the nira—they should be just wilted to keep their vibrant color and aroma.
Serve immediately over freshly steamed rice for a comforting, protein-packed meal.

What is Niratama?

Niratama is a beloved homestyle dish in Japan. The name comes from “nira” (garlic chives) and “tamago” (eggs). While the classic version is meat-free or uses minimal meat, this pork belly variation adds richness and makes it a satisfying main dish.