Pork is surprisingly difficult meat to get right. Whilst it seems very simple in theory to simply cook, and it often is, getting your pork to taste brilliant is another problem entirely.
While many people like to discuss which type of meat is the most difficult to cut, pork certainly feels like it has one of the higher learning curves for getting it right.
The same goes for arguably one of the most popular types of pork meat, and that is delicious pork belly.
Whilst it is incredibly difficult to not overcook and accidentally burn to a cinder, there are very few meat recipes that can beat a good pork belly cooked to perfection.
If you are a person that loves their pork belly but isn’t a confident cook, then you know the pain of trying to find recipes that allow you to try and cook it, without being too far above your level of skill.
Well, don’t worry pork lovers of the world, we’ve got your back.
These pork belly recipes that we have collected in this guide may take a little time and/or patience, but we can guarantee that they are some of the best recipes to make for newcomers. And, more importantly, they are all mouthwatering tasty too!
Classic Tender Pork Belly
What better way is there to kick off our list of the best pork belly recipes than with a classic take on the old favorite itself?
This recipe has everything you could want from a good old-fashioned pork belly recipe.
With the fat on the outside crisped and seasoned to perfection, and the soft and succulent pork on the inside.
Plus, with an extensive ingredients list that will help you achieve the perfect crisp to juicy ration, this is a recipe that will produce a pork belly dish that is positively stunning.
Whilst this may not be the most user or beginner-friendly example, there are over 20 different items in the ingredients list, this one will undoubtedly create a pork belly dish that every meat lover will be frothing at the mouth to get their knives and forks on!
Pork Belly Bites Over Jalapeño Slaw
One of the best parts about good pork belly is how juicy a good dish can be when it is made right.
With the right seasoning and flavors added to a slab of pork skin and meat, you can get some seriously tasty results that will set your taste buds on fire.
Take this particular recipe for example. Combining the savory flavors of salt, pepper, soy sauce, and sesame oil, with the sweet tastes of honey and brown sugar, you get a pork belly that feels like heaven to bite down on.
Plus, the salty and sweet flavors of the pork belly are delightful when combined with the spiciness of the coleslaw recipe that comes with this pork belly dish, which perfectly complements one another.
Just keep in mind that, like any good pork belly that doesn’t want to burn all the juices out, it is going to take a while for it to be finished cooking. But when it does, get ready to chow down!
Roasted Pork Belly
Of course, whilst extra flavors are all well and good if that is what you are looking for in your pork, some folks just like it nice and simple, or at the very least, they want to start nice and simple.
Of course, if you’re a fan of a recipe that gets back to basics, then we can’t fault you for going for this recipe!
The best results with this recipe come from having the meat properly chilled the night before so that once you start cooking it, you’ll get the perfect crunch from the roasted pork skin.
Like the recipe says, this particular recipe is kind of like the black dress of the food world. Because, while simple, it is also elegant, it is straightforward, and is always a popular option for plenty of people out there!
If you like it done easily and deliciously, as well as simple as they come, then don’t turn your nose up at this roasted pork belly recipe.
Indian-Style Pork Belly
Of course, pork is a type of meat that is prepared, cooked, and eaten all across the world, so it is no surprise that there have been many different ways to cook pork belly.
This Indian -style take on roasted pork belly is a perfect example of that idea.
Packed into that signature crunchy belly skin are tons of spices that give you an amazing hit of heat and flavor when you bite down into it.
Like many other pork belly recipes, this one will take a while for it to be fully cooked.
However, this recipe has noticeably fewer ingredients than the last few we have discussed, meaning that, at least in theory, this Indian-style recipe will be somewhat easier to prepare for beginners (although we would probably recommend the roasted pork belly that we just talked about for newcomers to this food).
If you are looking for a way to get a surprising amount of flavor over comparatively few ingredients, we highly recommend this recipe
Honey Glazed Pork Belly
Honey and pork are just the most divine combination of flavors a chef or food lover can ask for.
Properly salted pork and pork belly combined with the sweetness and strong flavors of a good batch of honey is pretty much unrivaled when it comes to this kind of meat.
This recipe that we have included adds that sweetness and saltiness front these two ingredients with the extra heat from the paprika and cayenne that this recipe calls for, coupled with the glaze made from dry sherry, and you have an unforgettable showstopper for pretty much any meal.
If you’re looking for the perfect dish to bring out to a party, make sure that this recipe is high on your list of to-makes.
Chili-Glazed Pork Belly Squares
We have mentioned a little spice here and there for a few of the recipes that we have talked about so far on this list.
However, if you are looking for a recipe where that heat is the main attraction, then this is a recipe that you owe to yourself to check out.
The chili flakes are the focus of this recipe, as they are both added to the pork whilst it is cooking, whilst also rubbed with them during preparation.
However, a good pork belly recipe isn’t complete without a little sweetness to make the belly fat more palatable.
And for that reason, we find that the marmalade and juiced orange are an interesting, yet deliciously sweet addition to the recipe list, whilst also adding a little sourness to the mix too!
Rolled And Stuffed
Of course, there are more ways to add extras to your pork belly than just throwing them in the pan or foil and praying for the best.
With the right cut of pork, you can also add extra stuffing to your pork belly by rolling the meat around the stuffing that you have prepared, as this recipe has done.
The stuffing for this recipe is made by mixing chopped apples with raisins, fennel stalks, garlic, some oil, and, of course, some paprika.
Because would it be a true pork belly if there wasn’t at least a little heat?
The only thing that you may want to keep in mind before making this recipe is that it does include a decent amount of wheat and gluten.
So, if you know that anyone you are preparing this recipe for is intolerant to those things, you may want to try one of these other recipes.
Banh Mi
For our final recipe that we have collected here today, we have a classic Vietnamese method of preparing pork belly for the perfect sandwich-type meal, the banh mi.
Vietnamese cuisines have been slowly but surely becoming a staple o many home recipes over the past few years and decades, and with good reason.
This banh mi recipe, for example, is packed full of the combination of heat and sourness that characterizes a lot of the most famous Vietnamese recipes, from the sourness of the fresh lemon to the spice from the chilies that this recipe recommends.
And, of course, it would not be a true banh mi without the Vietnamese baguette of the same name to encapsulate all of these fine ingredients.
Top it off with some Japanese mayonnaise, and you have one of the best sandwich recipes out there, made from the comfort of your own home.
Final Thoughts
As you can see, while these recipes may take a little work and patience for you to make at home, we can guarantee that they will also be some of the best pork recipes you have ever tasted.
My love of food extends challenges into cooking, trying new restaurants, and much more. That is why I’ve created The Gannet, as a place to teach people all my tips and tricks surrounding food and cooking. Don’t forget the food challenges!
So, stay a while and learn from someone that has been interested in food their whole life. Who knows, maybe I’ll meet you on a wall of fame somewhere.
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