"Crispy Pork Belly is a succulent dish featuring rich, tender meat crowned with a golden, crackling crust, offering a symphony of textures and deep flavors."
Crispy Pork Belly
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Recipe Description
Crispy Pork Belly is a culinary masterpiece, loved for its combination of textures and rich flavors. Despite its simplicity, this dish turns an ordinary piece of pork into a delightful centerpiece, blending the sweet taste of brown sugar with the meat’s inherent salty flavor.
The preparation process starts the day before when the pork belly is rubbed with salt and brown sugar. This step is essential for seasoning drawing out moisture and setting the stage for the skin to crisp up beautifully.
As the pork rests uncovered in the refrigerator overnight, the skin dries out, which is crucial for achieving the sought-after crispy crust. The following day, the cooking process involves balancing temperatures for optimal results.
The pork belly is initially roasted at a high temperature of 450°F, which creates a golden and crispy outer layer. The oven’s temperature is then lowered to 275°F for a slow roasting phase that cooks the meat perfectly, resulting in a deliciously tender and succulent interior.
After this meticulous cooking process, the pork belly emerges as a work of art. Its crispy shell gives way to flavorful and tender meat infused with a sweet and salty marinade. Every bite showcases the harmonious blend of crispy and soft textures and savory and sweet flavors.
Crispy Pork Belly celebrates the beauty of simplicity in cooking. With just a few ingredients and careful preparation, it transforms an ordinary cut of meat into an extraordinary dining experience. This dish is a true testament to the wonders of taste and texture, leaving a lasting impression that makes it a memorable culinary journey.
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Prep time: 24hrs
Cook time: 2hrs 30mins
Serves or Makes: 4
Recipe Card
ingredients
- 2-3 pound pork belly
- 1/4 cup salt
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
Method
Step 1
Marinate the Pork Belly: Thoroughly combine salt and brown sugar in a small bowl. Rub this mixture all over the pork belly, ensuring it’s evenly coated, especially on the skin. The salt will draw moisture to the surface, aiding in the crisping of the skin, while the sugar will caramelize under high heat, contributing to the flavor and texture of the crust. Place the pork belly on a rack in a tray to catch any drips and refrigerate uncovered overnight. This exposure to air helps dry out the skin, which is crucial for achieving that desired crispy texture.
Step 2
Roast the Pork Belly: Preheat your oven to 450°F (230°C). This high initial temperature is key to starting the crisping process of the pork belly’s skin. Place the pork belly, skin side up, on a rack in a roasting pan. This setup allows air to circulate around the pork, ensuring even cooking and crisping. Roast at this high temperature for 45 minutes. During this phase, the skin starts to blister and crisp up, forming the deliciously crunchy crust that makes pork belly so irresistible.
Step 3
Slow Cook: After the initial roasting, reduce the oven temperature to 275°F (135°C). This lower temperature gently cooks the meat, ensuring it’s tender and juicy without drying out. Continue cooking the pork belly for an additional 90 minutes. This slow-cooking phase allows the fat to render correctly and the meat fibers soft and succulent.
Step 4
Rest and Serve: Once cooked to your liking, remove the pork belly from the oven and let it rest for a 10 minutes. Resting is an essential step that allows the juices to redistribute throughout the meat, ensuring that each slice is moist and flavorful. Slice the pork belly as desired and serve. Whether enjoyed on its own or as part of a larger dish, this crispy pork belly is sure to be a hit.