Fire Roasted Citrus Pork Belly - Perfect For Christmas
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Watch our Chef Preparing this Recipe
Let’s start with the Pork Belly
Ingredients
3kg pork belly
120g coarse salt
1 lemon (zest)
1 orange (zest)
2 limes (zest)
20g thyme
3 tbsp. black pepper
3 tbsp. coriander seeds
5 cloves garlic
4 bay leaves
Method
Score the skin and rub the pork belly with all the ingredients and rest for 24 hours in the fridge. (get most of the salt on the skin and leave to rest skin side up).
After 24 hours remove some of the excess leaves, undissolved salt and course spices, leaving most of the finer ones and citrus zest on.
Over low fire and medium to low embers, cook the belly for 3-4 hours standing at an angle and turning often making sure the meat cooks evenly and very slowly. (Do not rush it).
When the belly is cooked, we can puff the skin up by cooking it for about a minute or 2 over very hot coals.
For the Garnish
A Verjuice and herb marinated with Granny Smith apples and green peppers
Ingredients:
2 green peppers, deseeded and quartered
2 apples, cored and quartered
1 cup verjuice
1/4 cup honey
10g thyme
1 sprig rosemary
10g fennel
Zest of half a lemon
Method
In a mixing bowl add verjuice, honey, herbs and zest and mix until the honey has dissolved. Add to a zip lock bag, add apples, peppers and marinated overnight in the fridge.
5min before you crisp up your skin on the belly place fruit on the grill and cook for 1-2 min each side
Recommended Side Dishes
Bacon tossed Brussel sprouts
Traditional mash potato
Salad of tender stem broccoli, baby spinach and mustard vinaigrette
Roasted cabbage on the fire
The Winemakers’ Pick
Benguela Cove Catalina Semillon 2017, this wine is ethereal and commanding at the same time. It allures with complex aromas of sweet peas, lemongrass, quince, orange blossom, greenage, white lily and fynbos. All these nuances reveal a remarkable fruit purity that lingers on the palate, etched with an oyster shell minerality and integrated acidity.
Benguela Cove Syrah 2018, the wine entices with potpourri, cinnamon, pepper, hints of olive tapenade and a light perfume of sandalwood. Centre to that is a solid mid-palate with a rich yet fresh display of fruit set on tightly knit tannins to deliver a long, savoury finish. Nuances of rose petals and bitter-sweet liquorice linger to add that extra bit of character.
Joie de Vivre Bruit 2014, this MCC exhibits a vibrant intensity and revels in style and elegance. Aromas of nougat and brioche etch the delicious limy character. Lingering mineral tones complement the fine mousse, enhancing notes of red apple and nutty flavours on the palate.