Description
Delightful ground almond cake whisks Mediterranean charm into each delectable slice, promising a nutty, sweet experience. Elegant simplicity and rich flavors make this dessert a perfect companion for afternoon coffee or elegant gatherings you’ll savor.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 175 g (6 oz) ground almonds
- 225 g (8 oz) butter or margarine
- 225 g (8 oz) caster sugar
- 3 large eggs
- 125 g (4 oz) self-raising flour
Flavoring Ingredients:
- 1 teaspoon vanilla essence
- 1/4 teaspoon almond essence
Garnish/Optional Ingredients:
- 50 g (2 oz) whole almonds, blanched
- 25 g (1 oz) plain dark chocolate
Instructions
- Prepare pork belly by uncovering and allowing skin to dry completely in refrigerator overnight.
- Set oven temperature to 140C (285F) for initial slow roasting phase.
- Season meat side of pork belly with olive oil, salt, pepper, and fennel seeds using gentle massage technique.
- Create aluminum foil container on baking tray, positioning pork belly skin-side upward.
- Thoroughly pat skin surface until completely dry, then apply additional olive oil and salt coating.
- Roast pork belly for approximately 212 hours, adjusting foil edges at 90-minute interval to maintain moisture.
- Increase oven temperature to 240C (465F) for crispy skin development.
- Remove protective foil and transfer pork onto roasting rack, stabilizing with aluminum foil balls if necessary.
- Finish roasting for 30 minutes, rotating tray every 15 minutes and protecting darker skin regions with loose foil coverage.
- Allow meat to rest for 10 minutes before slicing into precise 2cm portions and serving immediately.
Notes
- Ensure the pork skin is completely dry before roasting to achieve the ultimate crispy crackling.
- Minimal seasoning on the meat side allows the natural pork flavor to shine through.
- Use a meat thermometer to check internal temperature for perfect doneness without overcooking.
- Rotating the tray during the high-heat stage helps create an even, golden-brown crackling across the entire surface.
- Prep Time: Overnight (approximately 12 hours)
- Cook Time: 2 hours 30 minutes
- Category: Desserts
- Method: Roasting
- Cuisine: French
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 429 kcal
- Sugar: 30 g
- Sodium: 35 mg
- Fat: 34 g
- Saturated Fat: 14 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 22 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 8 g
- Cholesterol: 85 mg