.
For a long time, nobody around here would touch Pork belly with a ten-foot pole.
Pork belly was deemed to be inferior, unhealthy and fattening. However, during the past couple of years, secondary meat cuts (as well as offal) have become “IN”, so all of a sudden pork belly, almost always “Asian Glazed”, has popped up on every menu in town. While this could be a good development, the sad fact is that a tiny portion of pork belly now costs as much as a steak and most preparations leave a lot to be desired.
The smart solution? Cook it at home, naturally 🙂
I grew up with pork belly and most other secondary cuts, as well as offal, so I have been eating this stuff all my life and have a number of recipes for all of them.
Yesterday I prepared pork belly in one of the most simple yet also most delicious way:
Braised in red wine and veggies, served with mashed potatoes.
When I was a kid, my Mom used to mix the mashed potatoes with fresh cabbage to make a very hearty and tasty dish. Although I don’t remember the name of this dish, it stayed in my memory because my brother and I loved it, but my Dad hated it because in his opinion it was not traditional and therefore should not be served for a proper meal. This dish approximates the Italian “Lesso di Patate e Cavolo Verza” and the Irish “Colcannon”. Apparently, my Mom was right-on with her creation 🙂
>
Bon Appétit ! Life is Good !
>
>
Click here for more Pork Belly on ChefsOpinion
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
Preparation :
To read instructions, hover over pictures
To enlarge pictures and read instructions, click on pictures
>
>
>
- cut 2 lbs pork belly into 8 thick pieces, season with kosher salt and fresh-cracked pepper
- saute pork belly on all sides until golden brown
- remove pork from pan, reserve
- in the same pan, saute 1 cup diced carrots and onions until caramelized, deglaze with 3 cups malbec (or red wine of your preference)
- return the pork to the pan, add 3 cups of beef stock
- cover pan, simmer until pork is tender, about 2 ,5 hours
- meanwhile, peel and dice 2 lbs potatoes, cook in salted water, drain
- while the pork and the potatoes are cooking, saute 1 cup onion julienne in 3 oz whole butter and 3 oz olive oil until translucent
- add 1 ea sliced napa cabbage and 1 cup chicken or beef stock, saute until cabbage wilt’s
- add the cooked potatoes
- mash the potatoes coarsely, season with kosher salt and cayenne pepper
- if the potatoes are too dry, add olive oil until the puree has the desired texture
- check/adjust the seasoning
- when the pork belly is tender, add 1/2 cup sliced scallions, check/adjust seasoning
- plate the potato puree, top with the pork belly and sauce or serve pork belly and sauce separate; serves 4
- Malbec-Braised Pork Belly With Napa Potatoes
- Malbec-Braised Pork Belly With Napa Potatoes
- Malbec-Braised Pork Belly With Napa Potatoes
- Malbec-Braised Pork Belly With Napa Potatoes
- Malbec-Braised Pork Belly With Napa Potatoes
- Malbec-Braised Pork Belly With Napa Potatoes
- Malbec-Braised Pork Belly With Napa Potatoes
>
>
>
>
Looks great.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank’s Phil 🙂 Cheers!
LikeLike
going on my special board for next week!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Rob, you’ll eat good next week 🙂
Cheers !
LikeLike
Great color. I’d use pork stock instead of beef stock for more pork flavor.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi Stefan,
you can use either one, or chicken or veggy stock or even water.
Considering the ratio of meat to stock, the wine and the long simmering, there will be only a subtle change in taste, if any.
But mainly, most home cooks have beef stock on hand, pork stock not so much.Even most restaurants don’t usually carry pork stock 🙂 (I do, though)
Cheers !
LikeLiked by 1 person