Maple Glazed Pork Belly with Crispy Crackling Recipe
Yield: 8servings
Prep Time: 10 minutesmins
Cook Time: 2 hourshrs15 minutesmins
Total Time: 2 hourshrs25 minutesmins
This maple glazed pork belly is flavorful and tender with the most irresistible crispy crackling. We serve it with sweet and smoky chipotle aioli for a delicious main that's perfect for entertaining. It's surprisingly easy to make, and most of the cooking time is hands-off!
Ingredients
Pork Belly
1 ½ lbboneless pork belly
2tablespoonsbrown miso
2tablespoonsmaple syrup
1teaspoonChinese five spice
1teaspoonsesame oil
1teaspoonflaky sea salt, Maldon salt works great
Chipotle Aioli
¼ cupmayonnaise
1teaspoonlime juice, fresh squeezed
1teaspoonmaple syrup
½teaspoonpureed chipotle peppers in adobo sauce
4drops liquid smoke
1smallgarlic clove, very finely minced
½teaspoondijon mustard
⅛teaspoonsea salt
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 275 degrees. Line a baking tray with parchment paper and place an ovenproof wire rack on top of it.
Dry the pork belly with paper towels. Make cuts in the pork belly skin 1 inch apart. When you finish one direction, make cuts in the other direction so that the top of the pork belly has been cut into little squares. This helps the fat render and makes it much easier to cut and eat once it's cooked. Make sure you cut all the way through the skin (into a little of the fat is ok) but do not cut through to the meat. Turn the pork belly over and stab the meat all over with the tip of your knife.
1 ½ lb boneless pork belly
In a small bowl mix together the miso, maple syrup, and Chinese five spice. Liberally coat the meat (not the skin!) side of the pork belly. Place the pork belly skin side up on top of the wire rack.
2 tablespoons brown miso, 2 tablespoons maple syrup, 1 teaspoon Chinese five spice
Pour the sesame oil over the top of the skin and massage it in. Sprinkle the top liberally with the flaky sea salt.
1 teaspoon sesame oil, 1 teaspoon flaky sea salt
Bake the pork belly for 2 hours in the center of your oven. Increase the oven temperature to a low broil - see notes! Move the pork belly to a rack in the top third of your oven. Broil it for 10-15 minutes, or until the pork skin is very crispy.
While the pork is in the oven, make the chipotle aioli. Whisk the ingredients in a small bowl. Cover and place it in the fridge until you are ready to serve it.
¼ cup mayonnaise, 1 teaspoon lime juice, 1 teaspoon maple syrup, ½ teaspoon pureed chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, 4 drops liquid smoke, 1 small garlic clove, ⅛ teaspoon sea salt, ½ teaspoon dijon mustard
Remove the pork belly from the oven and let it sit for 15 minutes, uncovered. Slice the pork belly and serve with the chipotle aioli on the side.