Best Friends with seared scallops and cured pork belly

Ingredients

• 12 fresh 10/20 scallops, abductor muscle removed*
• 12 each 2-inch by 2-inch by 1-inch thick slices of braised pork belly, recipe follows
• 2 tbsp canola oil, divided
• 3 tbsp chile garlic oil, garnish, recipe follows
• 1 tbsp pomegranate molasses, garnish
• micro greens/herbs, garnish
• salt and pepper, as needed
• *The abductor muscle is also called the foot. It is a small rectangular tab of fibrous muscle attached to the side of some scallops.
• Braised Pork Belly
• 1 lb uncut bacon slab
• 1 cup water
• 1 cup soy sauce
• ¼ cup aji mirin
• 2 tbsp rice wine vinegar
• 2 tbsp brown sugar
• 2 each star anise
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 tsp whole peppercorns
• Chile Garlic Drizzle
• 1 stalk lemongrass
• ½ cup canola oil
• 1 tbsp sesame oil
• 3 garlic cloves, finely chopped
• 2 tbsp green onions, minced
• 1 tbsp fish sauce
• 5 red Fresno chilies, stems removed and coarsely pureed in a food processor