Step 1

Score the skin of the pork belly with a very sharp knife.

Step 2

Rub oil over pork belly.

Step 3

Rub sea salt into the pork skin and set aside for a few minutes.

Step 4

Preheat oven to 250C.

Step 5

In a deep roasting pan, place the onion, star anise and approximately 1 cup of water.

Step 6

Place pork belly onto a wire rack which fits into the roasting pan and place over onion and star anise mixture.

Step 7

Cook for 30 minutes.

Step 8

Reduce the oven temperature to 150C and slow cook for 2 hours. Remove from oven. Do not baste the pork during cooking.

Step 9

Reserve pan juices, fat skimmed off. Set onions aside for serving. Reserve star anise.

Step 10

When ready to serve, place into oven at 160C and cook for 1 hour.

Step 11

During the last 10 minutes, increase temperature to 220C and place pork near the top of the oven, so that the skin browns and crisps. Do not allow to burn.

Step 12

Sauce: In a small saucepan, place sugar, vinegar, reserved star anise, cinnamon and pan juices.

Step 13

Cook, stirring over medium heat, until the sugar has dissolved. Bring to the boil and simmer for 5 minutes or until syrupy.

Step 14

Stir in chicken stock and simmer for another 5 minutes or until slightly reduced.

Step 15

Add the orange juice and peel, reduce the heat to low and simmer gently until syrupy.

Step 16

Season to taste.