Pomegranate Braised Pork Belly Food

POMEGRANATE GLAZED PORK

Steps:

• Remove the pork roast from the refrigerator 30 minutes before cooking.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Place the rack on the lower middle section of the oven.
• Place the carrot halves on the bottom of a small roasting pan and set aside.
• Trim off any thick areas of fat from the roast. Make shallow slits about 1 inch apart in a crosshatch on the meat of the roast. Mix together the cinnamon, cloves and 1 tablespoon salt in a small bowl. Sprinkle the seasoning mixture evenly over the roast and rub to coat. Place the roast on the carrots and add 1/2 cup water to the pan. Roast for 1 hour, adding another 1/2 cup water if the pan gets dry.
• Meanwhile, combine the pomegranate juice and thyme in a small saucepan. Place over medium heat and reduce by half, about 15 minutes. Stir in the maple syrup and mustard and continue to reduce until slightly thickened, another 3 to 4 minutes. Season with the remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt and remove and discard the thyme.
• Baste the meat with the pomegranate mixture and roast until the internal temperature reaches 120 degrees F, another 30 minutes. Remove the roast from the oven and turn the oven up to 450 degrees F.
• Baste the roast again with the pomegranate mixture. Return the roast to the hot oven for an additional 20 minutes, basting with the pomegranate sauce every 5 to 10 minutes until the internal temperature reaches 135 degrees F and the roast is evenly glazed. Remove the roast to a platter to rest for 10 minutes. Add any juices from the pan to the sauce and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Stir to combine. Slice the roast and serve with the sauce on the side.

CRISPY PORK BELLY

Steps:

• For the pork belly: Line a baking sheet with foil and fit with a wire rack.
• Mix together the olive oil, thyme, mustard powder, coriander, red pepper flakes, garlic, 2 teaspoons salt and a generous amount of pepper in a small bowl until combined. Mix the baking powder with 2 teaspoons salt in a separate small bowl.
• Pat the skin of the pork belly completely dry. Use a sharp skewer, fork or paring knife to poke lots of holes all over the skin, making sure not to hit the meat. This will help the skin crisp up. Flip the pork over and rub the spice mixture all over the meat (not the skin). Transfer to the prepared baking sheet skin-side up. Sprinkle half of the baking powder mixture over the skin. Refrigerate, uncovered, for at least 1 hour and up to 6 hours.
• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
• Wipe off the baking powder mixture from the pork with a paper towel. Pat the skin completely dry and sprinkle with the remaining baking powder mixture.
• Bake until the pork is cooked through and tender, about 2 hours. Raise the temperature to 500 degrees F and continue cooking until the skin is golden brown, bubbling and crispy, about 20 minutes more. Let rest for 10 minutes.
• For the sauce: Meanwhile, whisk together the cilantro, olive oil, honey, scallions, garlic, lemon juice, 1/2 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper in a medium bowl.
• Slice the pork belly into 1/2-inch-thick slices and transfer to a serving platter. Spoon the sauce down the middle before serving.

BRAISED PORK BELLY

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Heat 3 tablespoons of the oil in a large saute pan over medium-high heat. When the oil begins to smoke, carefully place one piece of pork in the saute pan and sear, turning once, until golden. Remove to a plate and repeat with the remaining pieces of pork. Set aside.
• Carefully add the beer to the drippings in the pan and cook, scraping up the cooked bits with a wooden spoon, until reduced.
• Heat the remaining 5 tablespoons of oil in a large flame-proof roasting pan over medium heat. Add the celery, onions, carrots, garlic and cook, stirring occasionally, until caramelized, 8 to 10 minutes.
• Add the pork to the roasting pan. Add the deglazed pan juices and enough chicken stock to cover the pork and vegetables. Add the peppercorns, thyme, bay leaves and 2 generous pinches of salt. Cover the pan with foil and braise for 3 hours. Remove the foil and roast 30 minutes more. This will allow the pork to gain a beautiful color and for the braising liquid to reduce.
• Let the pork cool in the braising liquid for 30 minutes to increase tenderness. Remove the pork from the roasting pan and strain the braising liquid. Refrigerate separately until ready to use. The pork can be served sliced or shredded.

POMEGRANATE BALSAMIC PORK ROAST

Steps:

• In a wide skillet, cook bacon in olive oil until crisp, crumble bacon and set aside.
• Salt and pepper pork loin to taste, and brown on all sides.
• Place potatoes in bottom of crock pot, place pork loin on top.
• Cook leeks, carrots, and celery in remaining bacon fat and olive oil, add to crock pot.
• Deglaze pan with stock and 1 cup pomegranate juice, bring to a boil, and add to crock pot.
• Sprinkle herbs and bacon on top of pork loins, cook on low about 6 hours.
• Remove pork loins and potatoes from crock pot, set aside and keep warm.
• Move 2 cups of cooking liquid to a wide skillet, add remaining pomegranate juice, balsamic vinegar, and marmalade. Reduce liquid to about 1 cup.
• Slice pork loin, drizzle with pan sauce, serve with potatoes and maybe a nice spinach salad. Enjoy!

BRAISED PORK BELLY WITH BORLOTTI BEANS

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 160C/140C fan/gas 3. Toss the pork in the flour with some seasoning. Heat the oil in an ovenproof casserole dish and fry the pork for 10 mins until golden, then transfer to a plate. Tip all the veg into the pan with the rosemary, bay leaves and garlic, and cook on a low heat for 10 mins until softened. Stir in the tomato purée and cook for a minute, then add the wine. Pour over the stock, then bring to a simmer and stir in the fried pork.
• Cover, then cook in the oven for 1 hr. Remove from the oven, stir through the beans, cover again and return to the oven for 30 mins, or until the pork is very tender. Leave to cool a little, then scatter over the parsley, lemon zest and reserved celery leaves.

PORK WITH POMEGRANATE-BRAISED CABBAGE

Steps:

• Slice a pork tenderloin into rounds, press gently to flatten, season with salt and pepper, and cook in an oiled pan over medium-high until browned. Transfer to a plate and cover. Cook cabbage until wilted. Add pomegranate juice and reduce until syrupy, then add butter and a splash of vinegar. Season with salt and pepper and serve alongside pork.