Crispy Roasted Pork Belly 烧肉

Hi

I had a big success at the first attempt on this recipe!  

Thanks to brother Simon for his dedicated teaching.  He is one of the great cook in my church (Hope Church Singapore).  It was a wonderful afternoon learning how to make this roasted pork belly from him.  

My hubby and children are big fans of crispy roast pork belly.  I attempted making previously from other recipe but failed miserably.  I’m so happy that I have finally made it.  

As this is my first success and may not be my best work per se, but I’m there and it is all that counts.

HAPPY ROASTING!

INGREDIENTS

1 kg                      Pork belly

6-8 cloves           Garlic

Marinade

2 tsp                    Five spice powder

1 tsp                    Black pepper

1 tbsp                  Five spice salt

1 tsp                    cinnamon powder

3 (or more)       Sage leaves (fresh or dried)

Baking

200g-300g        Sea salt

4-6                      Large yellow onions

1 (or few)           Fresh or dried thyme

1 (or few)           Fresh or dried rosemary (I skipped as I couldn’t get it at the small neighborhood supermarket near my house)

STEPS

(1)Wash and dry the port belly.

(2)Prick the skin laboriously [but not prickling through the skin] until the skin is completely punctured with holes.  This is crucial in order to create a crispy skin on top of the pork belly.  [I was too engrossed with the prickling and have missed out taking pic]

(3)Make deep horizontal stabs in the sides of the belly, insert garlic cloves into each cavity and push them in deep. [I was trying hard to insert the garlic into the meat and simply to extra hands to take pic]

(4)Rub the meat sides with the five spice power, five spice salt, cinnamon powder and sage (finely chopped or pressed on whole).

(5)Marinade overnight, leave cling-wrapped in fridge or in food bag – keep chilled.

(6)Preheat oven to 180°C, line bottom of pan with thick-sliced onions and a cup of water.  Line pork belly skin side up on a rack over the onions.

(7)Pat dry pork belly skin, then layer the top with the salt evenly to form a coat.

(8)Bake at 180°C for 40 minutes, grill mode. 

(9)When salt crust forms, the skin should be dry.

(10)Remove the pork belly from the oven, raise oven to 240°C.

While oven is heating up, pull off the salt crust and discard.  

(11)Add rosemary and thyme to onions, check water level, it should be about 5mm high (to prevent drying out).  Place the pork belly back in the oven immediately, roast for another 10-15 minutes. 

(12)Remove from oven and let rest for 10 minutes on a cutting/serving board. 

(13)Cut and serve immediately.