Honey Glazed Pork Belly Recipes

Steps:

• Set up a smoker or grill with a smoke box to 300 degrees F using cherry, apple or hickory wood.
• Cut the pork belly into 2-inch-wide strips, then into 2-inch cubes. Toss in a bowl with the BBQ rub and oil. Lay out the cubes fat-side down on a wire rack, with a bit of space between each cube.
• Place the rack in the smoker or on the grill over indirect heat and cook until the cubes are a deep mahogany and permeated with smoke, about 2 hours.
• Place the pork belly cubes into an aluminum pan. Sprinkle all over with the butter pieces and brown sugar. Cover the pan with aluminum foil, return to the smoker or the grill over indirect heat and cook until super tender, another 1 1/2 to 2 hours.
• In a medium bowl, combine the BBQ sauce, honey, apple cider vinegar and hot sauce. Remove the aluminum foil, pour the BBQ sauce mixture over the pork belly cubes and toss to coat. Place back in the smoker or on the grill and cook, uncovered, until caramelized, another 5 to 10 minutes.

Steps:

• Make the pork: Mix 2 teaspoons salt and the brown sugar in a bowl. Rub the pork with the brown sugar mixture. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 4 hours, or overnight.
• Make the sauce: Heat the vegetable oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Add the onion and cook until soft, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic, ginger and red pepper flakes and cook, stirring, 2 more minutes. Add the ketchup, apple juice, oyster sauce, vinegar, mustard powder and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Bring to a simmer and cook, stirring occasionally, until the sauce is thickened, about 20 minutes. Let cool 15 minutes, then transfer to a blender and puree until smooth. Set aside about one-quarter of the sauce for serving.
• Remove the pork belly from the refrigerator about 30 minutes before grilling. Preheat a grill to medium, then prepare for indirect heat: For gas, turn off the burners on one side. For charcoal, push the coals to one side. Place a drip pan under the grates on the cooler side of the grill.
• Brush the grill grates with vegetable oil. Place the pork on the cooler side of the grill (indirect heat) and cook, turning occasionally, until fork-tender but not falling apart, 2 hours, 30 minutes to 3 hours, brushing with the sauce occasionally during the last hour of cooking. Move the pork to the hotter side of the grill (direct heat) and cook, turning and brushing with more sauce, until glazed and lightly charred, about 5 more minutes. Transfer to a cutting board and let rest 20 minutes. Slice the pork belly and serve with the cornbread and reserved sauce.

Steps:

• DAY 1: Mix salt, sugar, peppercorns, 2 cloves garlic and 2 sprigs thyme together in a large bowl and add 1 cup of very hot water. Stir until sugar and salt dissolve. Mix in 2 litres of room temperature water. Place pork belly in a deep baking dish and pour this brine mixture over. Cover and refrigerate overnight.
• DAY 2: Preheat oven to 150°C Heat oil in a large heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium-high heat. Sweat carrots, celery, leek and 2 cloves of garlic for 5 minutes. Season lightly with salt and pepper. Lower heat to medium, add wine and cook for another 2 minutes. Add 1 1/4 litres of stock, tomatoes, bay leaves and 2 sprigs thyme and bring to a simmer.
• Remove pork belly from the brine, rinse with clean water and place in a deep casserole dish or Dutch oven. Pour over the hot stock and vegetables. Cover with a lid and cook in oven for 2½ hours or until tender (taking care not to overcook and dry out the pork).
• Meanwhile, bring a large pot of salted water to the boil and cook sprouts for 3-5 minutes or until just tender and bright green. Drain and cool in a large bowl of ice water. Dry on paper towels, cut in half and reserve.
• Once pork is ready, remove from oven. Carefully remove from the braising liquid onto a flat tray. Place another flat tray on top of the pork with 4 or 5 heavy tins on top to press the pork into a flat, even shape. Refrigerate in this position for at least 1 hour and completely cooled.
• To score the pork: Remove and use a large sharp knife to lightly trim the edges of the pork into straight sides. Cut into 4 equal pieces and score the top of each piece into a 1cm-wide diamond pattern.
• While the pork is cooling, make the polenta. Place remaining stock, bay leaf and thyme in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Bring to a simmer, then remove and discard herbs. Slowly pour in the polenta, whisking continuously. Reduce heat to medium and bring to a gentle simmer. Carefully whisk continuously for 7 - 10 minutes or until tender and thickened to the consistency of creamy mashed potatoes. Then add Parmesan and butter, mix well and season to taste. Remove from heat and cover.
• Cook honey, soy, ginger and star anise in a small saucepan over a low heat for 5 minutes. Strain, reserving liquid and star anise and discarding other solids.
• Preheat oven to 200°C.
• Heat a large nonstick frying pan over low heat and place pork into the pan, scored side down. Cook for 7-10 minutes or until the fat has rendered, skin is golden brown and starting to crisp. Transfer to a baking sheet, scored side up, and baste on top and sides with the glaze.
• Cook in oven for 15 minutes or until the glaze has caramelised and the pork is heated through.
• Return the same frying pan with leftover fat to a medium-high heat and cook apples and sprouts for 3-5 minutes until they start to brown. Add remaining glaze and cook for another 6-8 minutes until tender, well glazed and heated through.
• Heat the polenta over medium heat, with a little hot water if necessary, stirring until creamy.
• Arrange the polenta, pork belly, sprouts and apples on 4 plates and drizzle with remaining glaze from the pan. Garnish with star anise and serve. (Do not eat the star anise.).

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine 1 cup (240 ml) of the soy sauce with the sugar, garlic, and scallions, stirring until mixed.
• Score the skin of the pork by slicing a crosshatch pattern through the skin down to the meat. This will help excess fat render out and allow more of the marinade to soak in.
• Place the pork in the marinade and toss to coat evenly. Marinate for one hour.
• Preheat the oven to 275ºF (140°C).
• On a baking sheet, place the asparagus halves to the right and diced potatoes to the left. Toss the vegetables with the oil, salt, and pepper. Place the marinated pork in the middle of the baking sheet.
• Bake 1 to 1 ½ hours, depending on the weight of the pork.
• Raise the heat of the oven to 500ºF (260ºC).
• In a small bowl, combine the brown sugar, honey, and remaining soy sauce, stirring until smooth.
• Spoon the honey glaze over the top of the pork, making sure to fill the cracks and crevices on top.
• Bake for 20 minutes until sugar is dark brown and caramelized, and the top of the pork is crispy.
• Remove the vegetables and pork from the tray, making sure to save all the juices.
• Slice the pork into ½-inch (2 ½ cm) slices, and plate with the roasted vegetables. Spoon the reserved pan juices on top of the pork.
• Enjoy!