ROAST PORK CHRISTMAS DINNER 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:

• 1. Put the pork skin in the fridge, uncovered, to dry out while you cook the pork. You’ll get double crackling – one from the pork joint and one from the skin.
  2. Preheat the oven to 240°C/475°F/gas 9 (full whack).
  3. To make the flavoured salt, place the fennel, peppercorns and bay in a pestle and mortar and smash the living daylights out of it. Peel in the lemon zest, then pick in the herbs and have another bash. Add the salt and bash again until fine (alternatively whiz in a blender).
  4. Score the pork fat in a diamond pattern, then rub in 1 tablespoon of flavoured salt with a good drizzle of olive oil, massaging it into all the nooks and crannies.
  5. Peel the potatoes and parboil in a large pan of salted boiling water for 10 to 15 minutes until softened. Drain and steam dry, then tip into a large baking tray.
  6. Scrub, top and tail the parsnips and slot them in with the potatoes, then place the tray on the bottom shelf of the oven.
  7. Place the pork directly on the bars of the oven above the potatoes and parsnips to catch all the tasty juices. Reduce the oven temperature to 200°C/400°F/gas 6 and cook for 1 hour 20 minutes.
  8. For the sauce, place a large sheet of non-stick baking paper over a large sheet of tin foil. Place the onion, apple, pear and peach in the middle with a good lug of bourbon, then fold up the edges and twist to make a sealed ‘money bag’ parcel. Cook in the oven with the pork for 1 hour 10 minutes, or until soft.
  9. Remove the pork, potatoes and fruit from the oven. Cover the pork with tin foil and leave to rest for at least 30 minutes while you make the crackling. Carefully drain the fat from the potatoes (cool and reserve for another day), and set aside.
  10. Carefully remove the foil layer from the fruit parcel, then hold the paper bag over a bowl and pierce a hole in it with a sharp knife to release the juice. Squeeze any remaining juice from the fruit, then transfer to a chopping board, roughly chop (discarding the cores, pips and onion skin) and add to the bowl. Leave to cool, then cover and set aside until ready to serve.
  11. Deseed and clank up the pumpkin into wedges, place into a baking tray and season with salt and pepper.
  12. Turn the oven back up to full whack. Score the reserved pork skin in a zig-zag fashion and place directly on the bars of the oven. Put the pumpkin underneath and cook for 30 minutes or until golden and crisp.
  13. To make the gravy, peel and roughly chop the onion, then fry with the minced pork in a large frying pan on a medium heat for 10 minutes, or until golden and soft. Stir in the flour and mustard, then add a good lug of bourbon and flambé, if you like. Pour in the stock, bring to the boil and simmer for 10 to 15 minutes until thick and delicious.
  14. Remove the crackling and pumpkin from the oven. Drain the fat from the pumpkin and discard, then tip the pumpkin into the tray with the other roasted veg and return to the oven to warm through.
  15. Slice up the ribs and carve the rest of the pork. Bring it all together at the table and serve with the veg, crackling and fruity sauce.