Crackling pork belly
This is a summery roast pork belly scented with Chinese spices, served with a fresh and zingy peach salsa.
Ingredients
For the roast pork belly
- 1-1.5kg/2¼lb-3lb 5oz boneless pork belly, skin finely scored
- 3 garlic cloves
- half a teaspoon dried chilli flakes
- 2 tablespoons light soy sauce
- a tablespoon groundnut oil
- 2 teaspoons salt
- a lightly heaped teaspoon Chinese five-spice powder
For the peach salsa
- 2 spring onions
- a small red chilli
- 3 peaches
- 8 cherry tomatoes
- a small bunch coriander
- juice of 2 limes
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
Method
Put the pork belly in a china or glass dish. Peel and crush the garlic to a paste, stirring in the soy, dried chilli flakes, groundnut oil, salt and five-spice powder. Spread this paste over the skin and underside of the pork belly. Leave it to marinate for a good 4 hours, if not overnight.
When the pork has marinated, preheat the oven at 220C/425F/Gas 8. Place the pork in a roasting tin then cook, skin-side up, for about 20 minutes. Lower the heat to 200C/400F/Gas 6 and continue cooking for a further 40-50 minutes, or until the skin is dark and crisp. Leave for 10 minutes to rest, then carve.
Meanwhile, to make the peach salsa, trim and finely chop the spring onions, finely chop the chilli, peel, stone and finely chop the peach and halve the tomatoes. Mix gently then dress with the lime juice and the olive oil.
Serve the ribs with the peach salsa on the side.
Recipe Tips
Ask your butcher to score the skin finely for this as the crackling is essential.The first brief roasting at the higher temperature is essential to set the skin on the route to crispness.