Sizzling Crispy Pork Belly Recipe: A Flavor-Packed Delight

Succulent pork belly promises a culinary adventure that melts in your mouth with incredible depth of flavor.

Layers of rich, tender meat paired with crispy skin create a sensation beyond ordinary cooking.

Chefs worldwide cherish this delectable cut for its incredible versatility and mouthwatering potential.

Every bite reveals complex textures that dance between crisp and meltingly soft.

Small details like careful seasoning and precise cooking techniques make all the difference in transforming simple ingredients into something extraordinary.

Home cooks can master this technique with patience and passion.

Prepare to wow everyone at your table with this irresistible dish that turns an ordinary meal into a memorable feast.

Why Mary Berry Pork Belly Is A Flavor Bomb

• Crisp to Perfection: This pork belly recipe delivers an incredible crackling skin that provides a satisfying crunch with every bite, making it a standout dish for meat lovers.
• Minimal Ingredient Magic: Using just a few simple ingredients like olive oil, salt, pepper, and fennel, this recipe transforms an ordinary cut of meat into an extraordinary meal without complicated techniques.
• Crowd-Pleasing Centerpiece: Perfect for dinner parties or family gatherings, this pork belly impresses guests with its golden-brown exterior and tender, juicy meat that melts in your mouth.
• Low-Maintenance Cooking: The step-by-step process requires minimal active preparation, allowing you to achieve restaurant-quality results with straightforward oven roasting techniques.

Mary Berry Pork Belly Full Ingredient List

• Pork Belly: A succulent cut of meat with layers of fat that creates a rich and tender dish.

• Salt, Black Pepper, Fennel: A classic blend of spices that enhances the natural flavor of the pork belly.
• Olive Oil: Helps to create a crispy skin and aids in seasoning distribution.

• Aluminum Foil: Assists in creating a controlled cooking environment and helps manage moisture during roasting.

How To Cook Mary Berry Pork Belly Easily

Step 1: Prepare Pork Belly for Drying

Place pork belly uncovered on a wire rack inside the refrigerator overnight. This crucial step helps dry out the skin, ensuring maximum crispiness when roasted.

Step 2: Preheat Cooking Environment

Warm the oven to 140 degrees Celsius (285 degrees Fahrenheit), creating the perfect low-temperature environment for tender meat.

Step 3: Season the Meat Side

• Olive oil
• Salt
• Black pepper
• Ground fennel seeds

Ensure the spices are evenly distributed across the surface for balanced flavor.

Step 4: Position Pork in Protective Foil

Create a foil container on a baking tray. Carefully place the pork belly inside with skin facing upward, maintaining its structural integrity.

Step 5: Final Skin Preparation

Gently pat the skin completely dry with paper towels. Rub additional olive oil and sprinkle remaining salt across the skin surface.

Step 6: Slow Roast for Tenderness

Roast the pork belly for two and a half hours. Adjust foil edges around the 90-minute mark to prevent excessive moisture.

Step 7: Crank Up the Heat

Increase oven temperature to 240 degrees Celsius (465 degrees Fahrenheit), preparing for the crispy skin stage.

Step 8: Expose and Level

Remove foil completely. Transfer pork to a roasting rack. Use foil balls underneath to ensure even elevation if needed.

Step 9: Create Crispy Skin

Roast for 30 minutes, rotating the tray every 15 minutes. Cover any overly dark areas with small foil patches to prevent burning.

Step 10: Rest and Serve

Allow the pork belly to rest for 10 minutes. Slice into generous chunks and serve immediately while skin remains wonderfully crisp.

Kitchen Tips For Mary Berry Pork Belly

• Dry Overnight for Crispy Skin: Leave pork belly uncovered in the fridge to remove moisture, ensuring a perfectly crisp crackling.
• Protect Skin from Burning: Cover darker patches with foil during high-heat roasting to prevent excessive charring.
• Level Carefully for Even Cooking: Use foil balls under the rack to create a stable, even surface for uniform roasting.
• Season Only Meat Side: Apply salt, pepper, and fennel exclusively to the meat side for balanced flavor penetration.
• Rest Before Slicing: Allow pork belly to rest 10 minutes after cooking to help juices redistribute, ensuring moist and tender meat.

Tasty Variations For Mary Berry Pork Belly

• Herb-Crusted Pork Belly: Replace fennel with rosemary, thyme, and garlic powder for an aromatic Mediterranean-style version.
• Low-Sodium Alternative: Reduce salt to 1 tsp total and use herbs like sage and black pepper to enhance flavor without excess sodium.
• Spicy Asian Variation: Swap olive oil with sesame oil and add Chinese five-spice powder, ginger, and red chili flakes for a bold, zesty profile.
• Keto-Friendly Option: Keep original recipe intact, ensuring high fat content matches ketogenic diet requirements, focusing on crispy skin and minimal carbohydrates.

Side Ideas For Mary Berry Pork Belly

• Elevate Crispy Pork Belly with Perfect Pairings
• Complement Rich Flavors: A bright and acidic white Riesling cuts through the pork's richness, balancing its fatty texture with crisp, citrusy notes.
• Match Herbal Undertones: Roasted root vegetables like parsnips and carrots highlight the fennel seasoning, creating an earthy and complementary side dish.
• Create Textural Contrast: Fresh apple slaw with fennel and celery provides a crunchy, tangy counterpoint to the tender, crispy pork belly, adding refreshing lightness to the meal.
• Enhance Dining Experience: Serve with a small ramekin of sharp Dijon mustard for dipping, which adds zesty complexity and helps cleanse the palate between bites.

How To Store Mary Berry Pork Belly Safely

• Wrap cooled pork belly tightly in plastic wrap or aluminum foil, keeping it in an airtight container. Consume within 3-4 days for best quality and flavor.
• Slice pork belly into portions, wrap individually in freezer-safe paper, and store in sealed freezer bags. Frozen pork belly stays fresh for up to 3 months.
• Place pork belly slices on a microwave-safe plate, cover with damp paper towel. Heat in 30-second intervals, checking to prevent drying out. Stop when internal temperature reaches 74°C (165°F).
• Preheat oven to 180°C (350°F). Arrange pork belly on baking sheet, cover with foil to retain moisture.

Mary Berry Pork Belly FAQ Guide

• Why dry the pork belly skin overnight?

Drying the skin helps achieve crispy, crunchy crackling by removing excess moisture, which allows the skin to get perfectly golden and crisp during roasting.

• What does rubbing salt and spices do to the meat?

Salt and spices like fennel enhance the meat’s flavor, tenderize the protein, and create a delicious seasoning layer that penetrates the pork belly during slow cooking.

• How do I know if my crackling is done right?

Perfect crackling should be puffy, golden brown, and crisp with visible bubbles. If it looks uniformly crisp and sounds crunchy when tapped, you’ve achieved the ideal texture.

Pork Belly Recipe

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4.9 from 25 reviews

• Total Time: Approximately 10 hours 30 minutes
• Yield: 4 1x

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Description

Succulent pork belly slow-roasted to perfection brings pure comfort to your dinner table. Crispy exterior and melt-in-your-mouth interior promise a luxurious culinary experience you’ll savor with every delectable bite.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Main Ingredients:

• 1 kilogram (2 pounds) pork belly with skin on (not scored)

Spices and Seasonings:

• 1/2 teaspoon fennel powder (optional)
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Cooking Ingredient:

• 1/2 tablespoon olive oil

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Instructions

1. Air-dry pork belly skin overnight in refrigerator, leaving uncovered to ensure crispy texture.
2. Prepare oven at 140C (285F) for slow roasting process.
3. Massage olive oil, salt, pepper, and fennel exclusively onto meat surface, avoiding skin.
4. Create a protective foil enclosure on baking tray, positioning pork skin facing upward.
5. Re-pat skin completely dry, then lightly coat with olive oil and sprinkle remaining salt.
6. Roast for 2½ hours, adjusting foil edges at 90-minute interval to maintain moisture.
7. Elevate oven temperature to 240C (465F) for crispy skin development.
8. Remove foil protection, transfer pork onto wire rack, stabilizing with foil balls if necessary.
9. Roast for 30 minutes, rotating tray midway and covering any excessively darkened areas with foil.
10. Allow meat to rest 10 minutes, then slice into 2cm thick portions for serving.

Notes

• Crispy skin success depends on thoroughly drying the pork belly’s surface, ensuring zero moisture for ultimate crackling.
• Salt penetration works best when applied generously and uniformly across the meat, creating a perfect flavor balance.
• Foil technique helps manage cooking temperature and prevents uneven browning, allowing controlled heat distribution during roasting.
• Low-and-slow initial cooking followed by high-heat blast guarantees tender meat with magnificently crisp, golden skin that shatters like glass when cut.

• Prep Time: Overnight (at least 8 hours)
• Cook Time: 2 hours 30 minutes
• Category: Lunch, Dinner
• Method: Roasting
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 4
• Calories: 675
• Sugar: 0 g
• Sodium: 525 mg
• Fat: 65 g
• Saturated Fat: 23 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 39 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 0.5 g
• Fiber: 0.3 g
• Protein: 18 g
• Cholesterol: 70 mg