JAMIE OLIVER CRACKLING RECIPES

Steps:

• 1. Preheat the oven to its highest temperature.
  2. Using a Stanley knife, score the skin down to the meat (try not to cut the meat), making the cuts very close together.
  3. Bash the fennel seeds and a good pinch of sea salt in a pestle and mortar to a powder.
  4. Tip the oil over the top of the scored skin, then sprinkle over the fennel mixture, and rub all over so that everything gets into the scores and down into the meat.
  5. Roughly chop the carrots and celery, then throw these into a roasting tray. Break the garlic bulb up into unpeeled cloves, peel and chop the onions into large wedges, then toss into the tray with the thyme sprigs.
  6. Put the seasoned pork belly on top of the vegetables in the tray, then roast for 10 to 15 minutes, or until the skin starts to bubble and turn golden brown.
  7. Reduce the oven temperature to 170°C/325°F/gas 3, and roast for 1 hour 30 minutes. When the time's up, carefully open the oven door and pour in three-quarters of the wine. Cook for 1 further hour.
  8. Remove the meat carefully from the oven and test to see if it pulls apart easily. If not, cook for a little longer. Allow the meat to rest while you make the gravy.
  9. Put the tray of roasted vegetables directly onto your hob over a medium heat add, add the flour, then stir together until thick. Cook for 1 minute then add in the remaining wine – if you sauce is too thick add a splash more wine or water.
  10. Using a potato masher, mash up the vegetables until you have a delicious thick-looking sauce. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes on a low heat, season to taste, then strain through a sieve into a jug.
  11. Remove the crackling from the top of the belly and break up into pieces, pull the pork belly apart, and serve with the jug of gravy on the side, and a selection of seasonal vegetables.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 240C/220C (fan)/Gas 9..
• Dry the pork belly skin with kitchen paper. Mix the thyme, sea salt and black pepper together in a bowl. Rub this mixture all of the pork and skin, then turn the belly over and rub it on the underside of the pork.
• Place the pork in a flameproof baking tray and roast for 25-30 minutes, or until the skin is crisp. Reduce the oven to 180C/160C (fan)/Gas 4 and roast for a further hour.
• Mix the apples with the onions, sage and a little freshly ground black pepper and arrange in the middle of a small roasting tin.
• Remove the pork from the oven and place it on top of the apples and onions, keeping the apple and onion pieces underneath the meat so they don’t burn. Keep the first roasting tin to one side. Return the pork to the oven and cook for a further hour, or until the meat is really tender.
• Skim any fat from the cooking juices in the reserved roasting tin and place the tin over a medium heat. Stir in the flour and cook for a minute or so, stirring constantly. Gradually stir in the cider and l00ml/3½fl oz water and bring to a simmer. Cook for 3-4 minutes, stirring constantly. Strain through a sieve into a small saucepan and season to taste. Set aside.
• Transfer the pork to a carving board. Spoon the apple and onion into a warmed serving bowl. Reheat the cider gravy until bubbling and cut the pork into thick slices. Serve the pork and crackling with the apple and sage and the hot gravy.