When temperatures in Phnom Penh push past 35 degrees, the last thing you want is a heavy, hot meal. This chilled pork salad, inspired by Japan's popular reishabu (cold shabu-shabu), is the answer. Thinly sliced pork is briefly boiled, chilled in ice water, and served over crisp vegetables with a creamy sesame BBQ dressing made from Bell Foods Sesame Dressing and Bell Foods Premium BBQ Sauce.

Why This Recipe Works

Boiling pork thinly renders out the fat, leaving tender, clean-tasting slices that are surprisingly light. The magic is in the dressing. Combining Bell Foods Sesame Dressing with a splash of BBQ Sauce creates a nutty, savoury, slightly sweet dressing that elevates simple salad greens into a complete meal. No oven, no heavy cooking, no sweat.

Ingredients (Serves 2)

For the Pork

• 250 g thinly sliced pork belly or pork shoulder
• 1 tbsp rice vinegar or lime juice (for the boiling water)

For the Salad

• 1 small head of lettuce, torn into pieces
• 1 small cucumber, thinly sliced
• 1 medium tomato, cut into wedges
• 1/4 red onion, thinly sliced and soaked in cold water
• A handful of fresh herbs (mint, coriander, or Thai basil)

For the Sesame BBQ Dressing

• 3 tbsp Bell Foods Sesame Dressing
• 1 tbsp Bell Foods Premium BBQ Sauce
• 1 tsp rice vinegar or lime juice
• 1 tsp water (to thin, if needed)

Instructions

1. Boil the pork. Bring a pot of water to a gentle boil. Add rice vinegar. Slide in pork slices one at a time. Do not dump them all at once or they will clump. Cook for 1 to 2 minutes until just cooked through and no longer pink.
2. Chill immediately. Transfer the pork to a bowl of ice water. This stops the cooking and gives the meat a clean, firm texture. Drain and pat dry after 2 minutes.
3. Make the dressing. Whisk together Bell Foods Sesame Dressing, Bell Foods Premium BBQ Sauce, and rice vinegar. Add water if the consistency is too thick. You want it pourable.
4. Assemble. Arrange lettuce, cucumber, tomato, and red onion on a serving plate. Lay the chilled pork slices on top. Scatter fresh herbs over everything.
5. Dress and serve. Drizzle the sesame BBQ dressing generously over the salad. Serve immediately while everything is cold.

Serving Suggestion

This salad works as a light lunch on its own or alongside a bowl of cold somen noodles for a fuller meal. Keep extra dressing on the side. Your guests will want more.

Pro Tip

Ask your butcher or supermarket for pre-sliced shabu-shabu pork. It is available at most Japanese and Korean shops in Phnom Penh (like Aeon or Lucky Supermarket). The paper-thin slices cook in seconds and have the perfect texture for this dish. If using regular pork, freeze it for 30 minutes and slice as thinly as you can.