Delicious Pork Belly Slices Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Does pork belly get more tender the longer you cook it? ›

Slow roast 1 1/2 hours – Roast the pork in a 140°C/285°F oven (120°C fan) for a total of 2 1/2 hours. Keeping the temperature this low allows the meat to become tender, for the fat to render (melt) so we get the “confit” cooking effect, and also to dry out the pork skin yet keep it supple.

A: The pork belly may be tough if the slices are cut too thick, resulting in insufficient cooking time to tenderize the meat. Alternatively, the pork may have been overcooked, causing it to become tough.

For pork aficionados, pork belly is IT. Here's a look at three easy ways to cook it: stovetop, grilling and oven roasted. It's a triple threat on the delicious front.

We soak the pork in water for about 20 to 25 minutes to wash away excess fat. Then we steam it for about 15 to 20 minutes until it's about 70% done. After that, we take it out of the water and poke holes in the pork with a needle and then rub it all over with salt and spices. Then we air dry it with a fan for 12 hours.

The skin wasn't dry enough. Make sure to pat the pork completely dry before rubbing in the salt and oil as excess moisture will stop it from crisping up. It's important to score the skin if you want it really crisp. You'll need a sharp knife for this, or ask your butcher to do it for you.

Prick and Parboil the Meat

This step helps tenderize the liempo and causes the fat to render once cooked. Your next crucial task is to parboil the meat. This process softens the pork, infuses it with flavor, and speeds up the overall cooking time. Some prefer to boil their belly in plain water.

Pork belly lends itself beautifully to slow cooking. At Le Manoir, we marinate the pork in the spice combination before cooking by sous-vide (a plastic pouch in a water bath), but I will give you the traditional slow-cooking option here too. You can make this recipe your own by varying the herbs and spices you use.

Pork belly is high in calories, total fat, and saturated fat but lower in protein than other pork cuts. Therefore, it may not be the best cut of pork if you're watching your weight or looking to reduce your fat intake.

You can slow cook it in a slow cooker or oven at a low temperature for several hours until it's fully cooked and tender. This will help break down the tough connective tissues and collagen in the meat, resulting in a succulent and tender pork belly. Braising: Braising is another method that works well for pork belly.

Can you fry pork belly like bacon? ›

Thaw sliced pork belly. Heat dry cast iron skillet over med/medium low heat (about 4 out of 10). Fry bacon to desired crispness, turning at least once. Immediately after removing bacon from skillet, salt to taste with sea salt.

Washing beef, pork, lamb, or veal before cooking it is not recommended. Bacteria in raw meat and poultry juices can be spread to other foods, utensils, and surfaces. We call this cross-contamination. Some consumers think they are removing bacteria and making their meat or poultry safe.

The tender pork belly is most often used to make bacon, but there are other ways to appreciate this cut. Braise or roast it and enjoy the unique milky flavor – so different from cured bacon or conventional pork.

Because of the different ways they are prepared, they taste very different. Pork belly isn't salty or smoky and doesn't have that cured bacon flavor. It's rarely seasoned when you buy it and tastes like a very fatty piece of pork.

Pork belly needs a combination of slow, gentle heat to tenderise the meat, plus a shorter blast at a higher heat to crisp up the skin. Cook at 180C/160C fan/gas 4 for 2 hrs 15 mins, then turn up the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6 for a further 35 minutes to crisp the crackling.

Place the pork on the rack, skin-side up. Roast for 2 to 2 1/2 hours or until the meat is very tender and falling apart. Increase the heat to 425 F and roast for 20 to 25 minutes longer to crisp the skin even more. Remove the pork from the oven and let rest for 10 minutes before slicing.