Chinese Crispy Pork Belly

Step 1

Use an ice pick, sharp metal skewer or another tool to prick tons and tons of holes in the skin. Avoid piercing int o the fat as best you can, and really ensure you do not pierce the flesh (Note 5)

Step 2

Turn the pork belly upside down. Rub the flesh (not skin) with Chinese cooking wine, dribbling it on gradually. Sprinkle over five spice powder, salt and pepper. Rub all over flesh, including sides (not on skin).

Step 3

Turn skin side up and place in a container. Dab skin dry with paper towels. Refrigerate uncovered for 12 hours (max 24 hrs, min 3 hrs).

Step 4

Preheat oven to 180C/350F (all oven types).

Step 5

Remove pork from fridge. Place onto a large sheet of foil. Fold up sides of foil around the pork to enclose it snugly (see photos in post or video) with a 1.5cm / 2/5" rim above the pork skin (to hold salt in).

Step 6

Transfer pork to baking tray. Dab skin with paper towels.

Step 7

Brush skin with vinegar.

Step 8

Spread rock salt on the skin (the foil edges will stop it from falling down the sides).

Step 9

Roast for 60 minutes.

Step 10

Remove pork from oven and transfer onto work surface.

Step 11

Switch to grill/broiler on medium high. Move shelf so it is at least 25cm/10" from the heat source.

Step 12

Fold down foil and scrape all the salt off the top and sides. Return pork only (i.e. discard foil) to baking tray.

Step 13

Place under grill/broiler for 20 - 25 minutes, rotating tray once, until skin is golden, crispy and puffed. (Note 6)

Step 14

Remove pork onto cutting board. Slice into 1 - 1.5cm / 2/5 - 3/5" thick slices, then into smaller slices like pictured in post.

Step 15

Serve with ordinary yellow mustard - or Hot English Mustard if you like spicy like me! Not Dijon, just ordinary American or other yellow mustard (yes really!). Sometimes it is served with white sugar on the side too. Add some fresh raw vegetables (I use cucumber and radish).

Step 16

Cover skin with rock salt per recipe, OR use 1 cup kosher/cooking/table salt (enough to cover skin about 3 - 5 mm / 1/8 - 1/5" thick). If you use fine grain salt, make sure the foil is VERY snug around the edges - if salt falls down the sides, it will make the flesh salty.

Step 17

Roast per recipe and scrape off salt.

Step 18

Instead of flicking to grill/broiler, turn the oven up to 240C/465F. For this method, oven works better to make skin crispy.

Step 19

Place pork on a rack and return to baking tray, roast for a further 30 minutes or until crackling is golden and crispy.