Pork belly, a cut of meat from the underside of a pig, is known for its rich flavor and tender texture. It can be cooked in a variety of ways, but it is especially delicious when roasted or braised. The key to cooking pork belly is to render the fat slowly, which allows it to become soft and flavorful. Once the fat is rendered, the pork belly can be seasoned and cooked to your liking. Whether you prefer it crispy or fall-apart tender, there is a recipe out there that will produce the perfect pork belly for you.
Here are our top 6 tried and tested recipes!
PERFECT PORK BELLY
This is a beautiful basic recipe that gives you melt-in-your mouth juicy pork belly with incredible crackling - and it works every time. Carve it up for a mighty roast, or continue slow-cooking until it's soft enough to pull with two forks. Massive smiles guaranteed.
Provided by Jamie Oliver
Categories Pork Recipes Pork Sunday lunch Pork belly
Time 3h
Yield 8 to 10, with leftovers
Number Of Ingredients 16
Steps:
- Leave the pork uncovered in the fridge overnight to dry out the skin.
- Preheat the oven to full whack (240°C/475°F/gas 9).
- Carefully score the pork skin with a sharp knife or scalpel.
- Place the bay leaves in a pestle and mortar with the sea salt and give it a good bashing. Add the coriander seeds, fennel seeds and peppercorns, then bash again until fine.
- Rub 2 tablespoons of the flavoured salt all over the pork, massaging it into all the nooks and crannies, saving the rest for another day. Brush away any excess.
- Clank up the onions into wedges and arrange them skin-side up in rows. Lay the pork directly over the onions, then roast for 40 to 50 minutes, or until the crackling is golden and super crunchy.
- Meanwhile, prepare the veg. Scrub the carrots and potatoes, trim the celery and fennel, then clank up into 2½cm chunks and place on a large baking tray. Pick over the rosemary leaves, then break up the garlic bulb and scatter over the cloves, leaving the skin on. Season with salt and pepper, then give it a good mix.
- Remove the pork from the oven and reduce the temperature to 150°C/300°F/gas 2.
- Using tongs, carefully lift the pork off the onions and place it directly on the top bars of the oven. Position the tray of veg exactly underneath to catch the tasty juices. Cook the pork for a further 2 to 4 hours - after 2 hours, the meat will be soft and easy to carve, after 4 hours, the meat will be soft enough to 'pull'. Toss the veg occasionally, turning to coat in the pork juices until caramelised and cooked to your liking, then remove. (Pop an empty tray under the pork to prevent the juices from making a mess in your oven.)
- To make the gravy, carefully drain the fat from the onions and reserve for another day. Place the tray on the hob over a medium heat, then pour in the cider and let it bubble away for a few minutes, scraping up all the sticky goodness from the base of the tray.
- Gradually stir in the flour, then pour in 1.5 litres of boiling water and stir on the heat for 15 minutes, or until thickened and reduced.
- When it's time to dish up, arrange the veg on a serving platter with the pork and strain the gravy into a jug. Carve or pull the pork and plate it up with a little bit of everything. Delicious served with a simple watercress and apple salad, and a dollop of English mustard.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 508 calories, Fat 27.8 g fat, SaturatedFat 9.3 g saturated fat, Protein 36.1 g protein, Carbohydrate 28.3 g carbohydrate, Sugar 6.4 g sugar, Sodium 2.2 g salt, Fiber 6.5 g fibre
CRISPY PORK BELLY
Thanks to social media, food bloggers, and celebrity chefs with too much time on their hands, pork belly was/is all the rage. It's a common sight on menus across the land, and you can't channel-surf past a food show without seeing it. It also helps that people are no longer terrified to eat a little fat.
Provided by Chef John
Categories Appetizers and Snacks Meat and Poultry Pork
Time 14h15m
Yield 6
Number Of Ingredients 4
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 200 degrees F (95 degrees C).
- Season pork belly all over with smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper. Wrap pork in parchment paper; wrap a second time in aluminum foil, and a third time in another sheet of aluminum foil. Place pork packet in a baking dish.
- Roast in the preheated oven until tender for 6 hours. Let cool in wrappings to room temperature; place cooled packet in refrigerator and chill for 8 hours or overnight.
- Unwrap chilled meat. Save any rendered fat that falls away when unwrapping pork.
- Cut meat into 6 equal-size portions. Cut 1/8-inch by 1/8-inch slashes in the fat-side of the pork. Season with salt.
- Heat 2 tablespoons reserved pork fat in a skillet over medium heat. Place pork belly, fat side down, in hot fat; cook until well-browned on all sides and heated through, 5 to 10 minutes. Transfer pork belly to a plate, drizzle with olive oil and season with pepper.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 87.1 calories, Carbohydrate 0.3 g, Cholesterol 13.6 mg, Fat 7.4 g, Protein 4.6 g, SaturatedFat 2 g, Sodium 351.7 mg
CRISPY PORK BELLY
The secret to delicious pork belly? Poking holes all over the skin, then seasoning with a baking powder mixture. Two easy steps that deliver super crispy skin and extra tender meat.
Provided by Food Network Kitchen
Time 4h
Yield 6 to 8 servings
Number Of Ingredients 16
Steps:
- For the pork belly: Line a baking sheet with foil and fit with a wire rack.
- Mix together the olive oil, thyme, mustard powder, coriander, red pepper flakes, garlic, 2 teaspoons salt and a generous amount of pepper in a small bowl until combined. Mix the baking powder with 2 teaspoons salt in a separate small bowl.
- Pat the skin of the pork belly completely dry. Use a sharp skewer, fork or paring knife to poke lots of holes all over the skin, making sure not to hit the meat. This will help the skin crisp up. Flip the pork over and rub the spice mixture all over the meat (not the skin). Transfer to the prepared baking sheet skin-side up. Sprinkle half of the baking powder mixture over the skin. Refrigerate, uncovered, for at least 1 hour and up to 6 hours.
- Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
- Wipe off the baking powder mixture from the pork with a paper towel. Pat the skin completely dry and sprinkle with the remaining baking powder mixture.
- Bake until the pork is cooked through and tender, about 2 hours. Raise the temperature to 500 degrees F and continue cooking until the skin is golden brown, bubbling and crispy, about 20 minutes more. Let rest for 10 minutes.
- For the sauce: Meanwhile, whisk together the cilantro, olive oil, honey, scallions, garlic, lemon juice, 1/2 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper in a medium bowl.
- Slice the pork belly into 1/2-inch-thick slices and transfer to a serving platter. Spoon the sauce down the middle before serving.
CHINESE-STYLE GLAZED PORK BELLY RECIPE BY TASTY
This Chinese-style pork belly is sweet, salty, and perfectly tender. Slowly cooking the pork in a flavorful mixture of garlic, ginger, and brown sugar gives it that signature sticky-sweet glaze that pairs perfectly with salty soy sauce. Serve it over rice for the ultimate dinner and forget you ever wanted to order take-out.
Provided by Alvin Zhou
Categories Dinner
Time 1h
Yield 2 servings
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- Cut the pork belly into roughly 1-inch (2 ½ cm) cubes.
- Bring 1 liter of water to a boil in a pot, then add the pork, ginger, onion, and garlic, and cook for 3-4 minutes.
- Remove the pork from the water using a slotted spoon and drain on a plate lined with a paper towel. Discard the remaining water and vegetables.
- Clean and dry the pot, then return it to high heat and add the olive oil. Return the pork to the pan and cook until browned. The oil may pop and splatter, so be careful.
- Add the brown sugar, then reduce the heat to low. Stir continuously until the sugar has melted, caramelized, and coated the pork evenly.
- Immediately add the soy sauces and rice wine, stirring continuously for 5-6 minutes more, or until the liquid has reduced to a thick glaze.
- Add the remaining 250 milliliters of water. Stir, cover, and simmer for about 45 minutes. Make sure the mixture is at a low simmer, not boiling. Stir every 10 minutes or so, adding more water if the pot is getting dry.
- Remove the lid. The sauce should coat the pork in a very thick glaze. If it is too runny, continue to stir, uncovered, until the liquid has reduced.
- Serve immediately over a bowl of rice and sprinkle with sliced green onions.
- Nutrition Calories: 1704 Fat: 162 grams Carbs: 27 grams Fiber: 1 gram Sugars: 9 grams Protein: 30 grams
- Enjoy!
21 BEST WAYS TO COOK PORK BELLY
Looking for the best pork belly recipes? From sandwiches to salads to sliders, these recipes are easy to make and so tasty!
Provided by insanelygood
Categories Recipe Roundup
Number Of Ingredients 21
Steps:
- Select your favorite recipe.
- Organize all the required ingredients.
- Prep a pork belly recipe in 30 minutes or less!
Nutrition Facts :
BRAISED PORK BELLY
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Heat 3 tablespoons of the oil in a large saute pan over medium-high heat. When the oil begins to smoke, carefully place one piece of pork in the saute pan and sear, turning once, until golden. Remove to a plate and repeat with the remaining pieces of pork. Set aside.
- Carefully add the beer to the drippings in the pan and cook, scraping up the cooked bits with a wooden spoon, until reduced.
- Heat the remaining 5 tablespoons of oil in a large flame-proof roasting pan over medium heat. Add the celery, onions, carrots, garlic and cook, stirring occasionally, until caramelized, 8 to 10 minutes.
- Add the pork to the roasting pan. Add the deglazed pan juices and enough chicken stock to cover the pork and vegetables. Add the peppercorns, thyme, bay leaves and 2 generous pinches of salt. Cover the pan with foil and braise for 3 hours. Remove the foil and roast 30 minutes more. This will allow the pork to gain a beautiful color and for the braising liquid to reduce.
- Let the pork cool in the braising liquid for 30 minutes to increase tenderness. Remove the pork from the roasting pan and strain the braising liquid. Refrigerate separately until ready to use. The pork can be served sliced or shredded.
Tips:
- Choose the right pork belly: Look for pork belly with a good amount of marbling, as this will help keep the meat moist and flavorful during cooking.
- Score the pork belly: This will help the fat render and the seasonings penetrate the meat.
- Season the pork belly generously: Use a variety of spices and herbs to create a flavorful crust.
- Cook the pork belly slowly and low: This will help the meat become tender and fall apart easily.
- Let the pork belly rest before slicing: This will help the juices redistribute throughout the meat, resulting in a more tender and flavorful dish.
Conclusion:
Pork belly is a delicious and versatile cut of meat that can be cooked in a variety of ways. Whether you're braising it, roasting it, or frying it, pork belly is sure to please. With its rich flavor and melt-in-your-mouth texture, pork belly is a dish that everyone will enjoy. So next time you're looking for a special meal, give pork belly a try. You won't be disappointed.
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