Pork belly is a richly flavored cut of meat that lends itself to slow braising.
This sweet and savory recipe uses aromatic vegetables, apple cider, and spices for the braise and a cider-reduction glaze to coat the pork just before serving.
To complement the meat, we made a simple cauliflower purée, caramelized onions, and oven-roasted carrots (recipes follow).
Cider-Braised Pork Belly
This pork belly is braised in a spiced blend of aromatic vegetables and apple cider and served over cauliflower puree with caramelized onions.
Ingredients
- 3-1/2 lbs pork belly
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 3 cups apple cider
- 1 to 1-1/2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
- 1 stick cinnamon
- 12 whole allspice berries
- 4 whole cloves
- 2 carrots, peeled and cut into 1-inch pieces
- 2 stalks celery, cut into 1-inch pieces
- 1 medium onion, peeled and cut into eighths
- 2 cloves garlic, peeled and halved lengthwise
For the glaze:
- 2 cups apple cider
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
Instructions
- Preheat the broiler and position the rack about 8 inches below the heat.
- Score the fat side of the pork belly 1/4-inch deep in a cross-hatch pattern and season liberally with salt and pepper on both sides. Place on a foiled lined broiler pan and broil, fat side up until golden brown, about 10 to 12 minutes. Turn over and broil for an additional 8 to 10 minutes. Remove from the oven and reduce the temperature to 300°F.
- Heat the cider and 1 cup of the chicken broth to boiling in a dutch oven. Remove from the heat and add the cinnamon, allspice, cloves, carrots, celery, onion and garlic. Stir to combine and add the pork belly, fat side up. Add enough additional chicken broth to bring the liquid level just below the top of the pork belly.
- Cover and bake for 3-1/2 hours, removing to baste the top of the meat every hour. After 3-1/2 hours, uncover and continue cooking for 1 more hour.
- While the pork belly is braising for the last hour, bring the cider, sugar, cinnamon and ginger to a boil in a saucepan. Reduce the heat and simmer until the liquid has reduced and thickened to a syrupy consistency, about 20 minutes. Remove from the heat and set aside.
- Remove the pork belly from the oven, discard the aromatics and braising liquid and slice the meat into 1-1/2 inch wide pieces. Heat the cider glaze over medium heat and add the pork belly, two pieces at a time, turning with tongs to coat thoroughly with the glaze.
- To serve, plate a portion of cauliflower purée (see notes), top with a spoonful of caramelized onions and a piece of pork belly. Garnish with roasted carrots (see notes) and some chopped parsley.
Recipe Notes
How to Make the Cauliflower Puree
Steam or roast two 1-1/2 to 2-pound heads of cauliflower until very tender when pierced with a knife (you can also use two 16-ounce bags frozen). Transfer the florets to a large bowl and add 3 tablespoons of butter and 2 tablespoons of cream. Purée with an electric hand blender until smooth and silky (you can also use a food processor or blender). Season to taste with salt and pepper.How to Make the Roasted Carrots
Preheat the oven to 400°F. Peel 6 carrots, cut them into 1-inch pieces, and toss them with a little olive oil, salt, and pepper. Spread the carrots in a single layer on a baking sheet and roast until tender, about 25 to 30 minutes.Nutrition Information
Nutrition Facts
Cider-Braised Pork Belly
Amount per Serving
Calories
929
% Daily Value*
Fat
81
g
125
%
Saturated Fat
29
g
181
%
Polyunsaturated Fat
9
g
Monounsaturated Fat
37
g
Cholesterol
109
mg
36
%
Sodium
79
mg
3
%
Potassium
602
mg
17
%
Carbohydrates
36
g
12
%
Fiber
2
g
8
%
Sugar
29
g
32
%
Protein
15
g
30
%
Vitamin C
5
mg
6
%
Calcium
46
mg
5
%
Iron
1
mg
6
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Have you tried this recipe?Did you add your own special touch? We’d love to hear about it! Leave a comment and a rating to share your thoughts with others.
dinetonite says
I’m going to try this today, but it does not look easy.