Slow-Roasted Pork Belly with Sloe Gin
An incredible main course recipe with melt-in-the-mouth pork and sweet sloe gin and redcurrants. Perfect for entertaining friends or for an extra-special Sunday roast.
Introduction
Slow-cooked pork belly has to be one of the most tender cuts, thanks to the rich layers of fat that sandwich the flesh. I like to offset the fattiness of the meat with something fresh and crunchy, which is where the iceberg wedge comes into play. Try this dish as a lighter and more summery take on the traditional roast belly of pork.
Ingredients
| 1kg | piece boneless pork belly, skin scored and patted dry |
| 1 tbsp | sea salt flakes |
| 4 | red onions |
| 1 | head of iceberg lettuce |
| 1 | unwaxed lemon |
| 200g | thick Greek yoghurt |
| a pinch each of sugar and sea salt | |
| FOR THE MARINADE: | |
| 150ml | sloe gin |
| 80g | runny honey |
| 2 tsp | white pepper |
| 1 tbsp | red wine vinegar |
| 200g | redcurrants or mixed berries (frozen is fine), plus a handful to garnish |
Essential kit
You will need a blow-dryer.
Method
Mix the marinade ingredients in a shallow glass or ceramic dish. Place the pork in it carefully, making sure that the marinade doesn’t touch the skin. Leave uncovered and place in the fridge for 4 hours or overnight. When the marinating time is up, preheat the oven to 220°C (fan).
Pat the skin of the pork dry with kitchen towel. Place on a tray,setting the marinade to one side, and use a blow-dryer for 2– 3 minutes to remove all the excess moisture from the skin. Rub the skin thoroughly with salt flakes, getting into the scoring.
Peel the red onions, cut into quarters and place at the bottom of a roasting tin, then pour over the marinade and lay the pork belly skin side up on top. Roast for 30 minutes, then turn the heat down to 150°C and roast for 2½ –3 hours, or until very tender.
Remove the pork from the oven. Take the onions out and set aside. Crank up the heat again to 220°C and place the pork back in the oven for about 10 minutes, or until the skin is crispy.
Remove the pork from the oven. When cool enough to handle, separate the skin from the flesh. Slice the pork belly into slivers and chop the skin into small crouton-sized pieces. Cut the lettuce into thick slices, then wash and dry (keeping them whole).
Finely zest the lemon and mix into the Greek yoghurt with the sugar and salt. Add a squeeze of lemon juice.
To serve, place a large wedge of iceberg on a plate and top with the pork, onions, skin and berries. Drizzle with the yoghurt dressing.
Tip
If you can't get hold of sloe gin, use cassis or a light fruity red wine like Grenache.
Get ahead
Marinate the pork belly up to 2 days in advance.
Reviews
1 Ratings
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