The Best Roast Pork Recipe with Perfect Crackling

Ingredients

• 1–1.5 kg pork belly (skin on)

• 2 tsp salt (plus extra for crackling)

• 1 tsp black pepper

• 1 tbsp olive oil

• 1 tbsp fennel seeds (optional)

• 4 garlic cloves, crushed

• 1 onion, sliced

• 250 ml chicken stock

Method

1. Prep the pork
Pat the skin completely dry with paper towel. This is key for crackling.
Score the skin if it’s not already done, then rub salt into the skin and the rest of the pork with pepper, oil and fennel seeds.

2. Set up for slow cooking
Place onion and garlic in the base of a roasting tray. Sit the pork belly on top. Pour the stock around the pork, not over the skin.

3. Slow cook
Cook uncovered at 150°C for 2.5 to 3 hours, until the meat is tender.

4. Crisp the crackling
Turn the oven up to 220°C. Add a little extra salt to the skin and roast for 20 to 30 minutes until the crackling puffs and crisps. Keep an eye on it so it doesn’t burn.

5. Rest and serve
Rest for 10 minutes before slicing.

Tip
Dry skin = crispy crackling. Don’t skip it.