Belly Of Pork With Garlic Lemon And Thyme Recipes

LEMON, GARLIC, AND THYME PORK ESCALOPES

Steps:

• 1. Mix together the breadcrumbs, lemon zest, garlic and thyme. Season and spread out on a large plate. 2. Sprinkle the flour on a separate plate and season. 3. Mix the eggs and milk in a shallow bowl. 4. Trim the fat from the steaks and one at a time place between two sheets of greaseproof paper, then use the base of a pan to flatten to 5mm (¼in) thick. Dip in the flour, then dip it in the egg wash, and then coat it in the breadcrumbs. Dip and coat the pork a second time, so that it's well coated with seasoned crumbs. 5. Repeat with the remaining pork steaks. 6. Heat a large frying pan over a medium heat and melt half the butter and add a drizzle of olive oil. When the butter is foaming, add the escalopes (you may need to do this is batches) and cook for about 4-5 minutes, or until golden brown, then turn them over and cook on the other side. They are cooked if the juices run clear when the pork is pierced with a skewer. Serve immediately with coleslaw and a crisp green salad.

SLOW-ROASTED CRISPY PORK BELLY

Steps:

• Dry skin overnight: Place pork belly on a plate. Pat skin dry with paper towels. Leave uncovered in fridge overnight to dry out the skin. (If you don't have time, pat the skin dry as best you can).
• Preheat oven to 140°C/285°F (120°C fan).
• Season flesh: Drizzle flesh (only) with 1 tsp oil. Sprinkle over 1/2 tsp salt, the pepper and fennel powder. Rub all over the flesh, including on the sides, being sure you get right into all the cracks and crevices.
• Wrap in foil: Place 2 pieces of foil on a work surface. Put the belly in middle of foil, skin side up. Fold the sides in to enclose the belly, forming an open box, pinching corners to seal tightly and make it as snug as possible. Place meat on a tray.
• Season skin: Pat skin dry with paper towels. Rub with 1/2 tsp oil then sprinkle remaining 1/2 tsp salt evenly all over the skin surface, from edge to edge.
• Slow roast 2 1/2 hours: Place in the oven and roast for 2 1/2 hours. After 1 1/2 hours, remove and tighten the foil (pork will have shrunk), and continue cooking. This keeps the pork fat level up as high as possible, and the flesh protected so it stays moist.
• Increase heat: Remove pork from oven, then increase heat to 240°C/465°F (all oven types).
• Level pork: Remove pork from foil and place on a rack set over a tray (using rack is best, but optional). Use scrunched up balls of foil stuffed under pork to prop up so the skin surface is as level and horizontal as possible (see photos in post).
• 30 minutes on high heat! Place the pork back in the oven for 30 minutes, rotating after 15 minutes as needed, until the crackling is deep golden, puffy and crispy all over. If some patches are browning faster, protect with foil patches.
• Rest 10 minutes: Remove pork from oven. Rest for 10 minutes before slicing.
• Serving: Slice into 2cm / ⅘"-thick slices using a serrated knife. Pictured in post with Apple Sauce and Vermouth Jus, with a side of Cauliflower Puree (Note 2)! See directions in post for how to plate it up as pictured (fine dining style!), as well as a list of more sauce options.

BELLY OF PORK WITH GARLIC, LEMON AND THYME

Steps:

• Pierce the skin of the pork all over with a skewer, going through the fat but not the flesh. Pour boiling water over the skin, drain and dry well.
• Mix the garlic, lemon zest, thyme, olive oil and salt and pepper together. Rub mixture well into the fleshy side of the pork and leave to marinade overnight.
• Preheat the oven to 200C/400Fgas mark 6. Place the pork on a wire rack skin-side up and place the rack over a roasting tin half filled with water. Sprinkle with skin with salt and roast for 15 minutes to start the crackle forming. Then reduce the temperature to 180C/350F/gas mark 4 and continue to cook for one and a half hours. Top up with water in the roasting tin as necessary.
• Meanwhile make the salsa verde. In a food processor, mix the herbs and garlic to a paste and gradually pour in the oil so that it becomes emulsified. Season to taste with salt and pepper and lemon juice.
• Increase the oven temperature to 230C/450F/gas mark 8 and roast the pork for a further 15 minutes.
• Remove from oven, slice and serve with salsa verde.

CRISP PORK BELLY

Steps:

• In a blender, pulse marinade ingredients until roughly chopped. Transfer to a 1-gallon freezer bag and add pork belly and 1 cup water. Squeeze to remove air, then seal and refrigerate at least 12 hours.
• When ready to cook, heat oven to 275 degrees. Place pork in a 13-by-9-inch baking dish with marinade, butter and water to cover. Cover with heavy-duty foil, crimping edges tightly. Braise in oven 5 1/2 hours; let rest in pan, covered, 2 hours.
• Meanwhile, simmer bourbon in a small pan over medium heat until alcohol aroma fades. Stir in sugar, parsley, vinegar and pepper flakes. Cover and set aside.
• Heat a grill. Carefully remove pork from pan and place in a grilling basket. Grill skin-side down over medium-low heat for 15 to 20 minutes, until skin is crisp and golden. Remove from heat and brush skin side with 1/4 of the bourbon glaze, then return to heat, skin-side up, for another 5 minutes. Remove pork from heat once more and brush meat side with 1/4 of the glaze, then return to heat, meat-side up, for another 5 minutes. Repeat with remaining glaze on both sides.
• Dress a cutting board with half the olive oil, lemon juice and chives, and salt and pepper. Place pork skin side up on cutting board and let rest for 10 minutes. Sprinkle with remaining olive oil, lemon juice and chives, and salt and pepper. Cut into 1-by-4-inch pieces and serve.