Roast Pork Belly Fondant Potatoes Pickled Onions Recipes

ROAST PORK BELLY, FONDANT POTATOES & PICKLED ONIONS

Steps:

• Mix the thyme, mace, star anise and sea salt flakes together in a small bowl. Rub all over the pork belly. If you have time, transfer the pork to a tray and marinate in the fridge for up to 24 hrs, but this is not essential.
• Heat the oven to 220C/200C fan/gas 7 and butter a large roasting tin. Cut a thin slice lengthways from both sides of each potato, then sit them flat in the prepared tin in one even layer. Scatter over the thyme and onions, then pour over the chicken stock.
• Sit the pork on top of the potatoes, skin-side up and roast for 30 mins. Reduce the oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4 for 1 hr 30 mins, until the skin is crisp. Transfer the pork to a board, then cover loosely with foil and leave to rest for 20 mins.
• Return the tin with the potatoes to the oven and increase the oven temperature to 200C/180C fan/gas 6 for 25-30 mins until crisp. Carve the pork into generous squares (you can use a bread knife to do this more easily) and serve alongside the fondant potatoes and caramelised pickled onions.

ROASTED PORK BELLY

Steps:

• Combine paprika, oregano, cumin, salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, turmeric, and cayenne pepper in a bowl; rub onto the non-fat side of pork belly. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate, at least 2 hours and up to overnight.
• Preheat oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C). Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Remove plastic wrap from pork belly and place pork belly, fat-side up, on the prepared baking sheet. Make shallow cuts into the fat of the pork belly in a checkered pattern. Rub lemon juice into the fat.
• Roast in the preheated oven until fat begins to brown, 30 to 40 minutes. Reduce oven heat to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) and continue cooking until fat is crispy, about 1 hour more. Remove from oven and let rest 10 to 15 minutes before slicing.

ROAST PORK AND POTATOES

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine the first six ingredients. Stir in 1/2 cup water; let stand for 3 minutes. , Place roast, fat side up, on a greased rack in a roasting pan. Pour remaining water into the pan. Combine potatoes and onions; spoon around the roast. Brush vegetables and roast with seasoning mixture. , Bake, uncovered, at 325° for 2-1/2 to 3 hours or until a thermometer reads 160° and potatoes are tender. Baste and stir potatoes occasionally. Tent with foil if browning too fast. Thicken juices for gravy if desired. Let stand 10 minutes before slicing.

PORK BELLY ROAST

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to its highest temperature.
• Using a Stanley knife, score the skin down to the meat (try not to cut the meat), making the cuts very close together.
• Bash the fennel seeds and a good pinch of sea salt in a pestle and mortar to a powder.
• Tip the oil over the top of the scored skin, then sprinkle over the fennel mixture, and rub all over so that everything gets into the scores and down into the meat.
• Roughly chop the carrots and celery, then throw these into a roasting tray. Break the garlic bulb up into unpeeled cloves, peel and chop the onions into large wedges, then toss into the tray with the thyme sprigs.
• Put the seasoned pork belly on top of the vegetables in the tray, then roast for 10 to 15 minutes, or until the skin starts to bubble and turn golden brown.
• Reduce the oven temperature to 170°C/325°F/gas 3, and roast for 1 hour 30 minutes. When the time's up, carefully open the oven door and pour in three-quarters of the wine. Cook for 1 further hour.
• Remove the meat carefully from the oven and test to see if it pulls apart easily. If not, cook for a little longer. Allow the meat to rest while you make the gravy.
• Put the tray of roasted vegetables directly onto your hob over a medium heat add, add the flour, then stir together until thick. Cook for 1 minute then add in the remaining wine - if you sauce is too thick add a splash more wine or water.
• Using a potato masher, mash up the vegetables until you have a delicious thick-looking sauce. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes on a low heat, season to taste, then strain through a sieve into a jug.
• Remove the crackling from the top of the belly and break up into pieces, pull the pork belly apart, and serve with the jug of gravy on the side, and a selection of seasonal vegetables.

PERFECT PORK BELLY

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.

ROASTED PICKLED PORK

Steps:

• Preheat your fan forced oven to 180 degrees celsius.
• Cover the top of the pork with the olive oil and massage in well.
• Place the pork into your oven and bake for 1 hour and 15 minutes. I baked it for the first hour at 180 degrees celsius and then the last 15 minutes at 200 degrees celsius to obtain a crust on the roast.