Roast Pork Belly with Apple Sauce

Instructions

• 1

  Score the pork skin at ¼-inch intervals then turn pork over and place skin-side down in a pan. Combine 2 teaspoons salt and the sugar in a small bowl. Season the pork flesh all over with the salt-sugar mixture, ensuring you don’t get any on the skin. Turn pork over, skin-side up and refrigerate, uncovered, for up to 24 hours.

  Tip: You can ask the butcher to score the pork for you.
• 2

  When ready to cook, remove the pork from the refrigerator and place in the foil-lined roasting pan. For evenly air flow and coloring, position the pork with the scored lines in line with the long edge of the pan. Brush the skin with the oil and season with the remaining 2 teaspoons salt, rubbing as much into the score lines as possible.

• 3

  Insert the wire rack into position 7. Select Phase Cook for P1 and set the oven to Roast, Super Convection, 450°F, for 40 minutes. Press Confirm for P2 and set the oven to Roast, Super Convection, 250°F, for 1 hour 15 minutes and press Start to preheat.

• 4

  Once preheated, place the pan in the oven and roast for 40 minutes in P1. When the oven signals at the end of P1, rotate the pan. The oven will automatically switch to P2. With 40 minutes remaining in P2, rotate the pan again. Meanwhile, make the apple sauce.

• 5

  To start the apple sauce, wrap the spices in cheesecloth.

• 6

  Place the apples in a medium saucepan with the butter, spice bag, bay leaf, lemon juice, sugar, salt and water. Cover with a tight-fitting lid. Bring to a boil, then cook over a low heat for 10 minutes, or until the apples are soft when tested with a knife.

• 7

  Remove the pan from the heat, discard the bay leaf and spice bag. Using an immersion blender, puree the apple mixture. Keep warm until ready to serve.

• 8

  When the oven signals at the end of P2 adjust the oven. Select Broil, Medium, for 8 minutes and press Start. Halfway through broiling rotate the pan.

• 9

  Pork is ready when a meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part reads 188°F. If not, give it a bit more.

• 10

  Allow the pork to rest for 10 minutes.

• 11

  Slice the pork, using the score lines as a guide, serve with the apple sauce.

  Tip: Any leftover apple sauce can be refrigerated for up to 4 days.