Crispy Roast Pork Belly

Elevate your dinner experience with this Crispy Roast Pork Belly—a show-stopping dish featuring irresistibly crunchy crackling and tender, juicy meat. Perfectly seasoned with a fragrant blend of fennel seeds, garlic, thyme, and a touch of red pepper flakes, this recipe delivers bold flavors in every bite. The key to achieving that signature crispy skin lies in scoring the pork belly and starting with a high-temperature roast before slowly rendering the fat to perfection. With just 15 minutes of prep time and simple ingredients, this indulgent centerpiece is ideal for impressing guests or treating yourself to a restaurant-quality meal at home. Serve it with roasted vegetables or a fresh salad for a stunning, satisfying dish.

Nutriscore Rating: 36/100

Prep Time:15 mins

Cook Time:180 mins

Total Time:195 mins

Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 1.5 kilograms Pork belly
• 2 tablespoons Salt
• 1 teaspoon Black pepper
• 1 teaspoon Fennel seeds
• 2 tablespoons Olive oil
• 4 large Garlic cloves
• 2 tablespoons Fresh thyme
• 0.5 teaspoon Red pepper flakes

Directions

Step 1

Preheat your oven to 250°C (482°F) and position the rack in the middle.

Step 2

Score the skin of the pork belly with a sharp knife, making crosshatch cuts but be careful not to cut into the meat.

Step 3

Pat the pork belly dry with kitchen paper towels.

Step 4

In a small bowl, combine salt, black pepper, fennel seeds, and red pepper flakes.

Step 5

Rub the olive oil over the pork belly, then generously sprinkle the spice mixture over the entire surface of the pork, focusing on working the seasonings into the cuts in the skin.

Step 6

Peel and crush the garlic cloves, mix them with fresh thyme, and spread them evenly in the bottom of a roasting pan.

Step 7

Place the seasoned pork belly on top of the garlic and thyme, skin-side up.

Step 8

Roast for 30 minutes at the high temperature of 250°C (482°F) to start the crackling process.

Step 9

After 30 minutes, reduce the oven temperature to 180°C (356°F) and continue to roast for an additional 2 to 2.5 hours, or until the skin is golden and crispy and the meat is tender.

Step 10

If the skin is not crisp enough to your liking, turn the oven back to 250°C (482°F) for another 10 minutes. Keep a close eye on it to prevent burning.

Step 11

Once done, let the pork belly rest for about 15 minutes before carving.

Step 12

Slice the pork belly into pieces and serve with your choice of sides.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(1596.4g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	8077.2

Total Fat 823.6g	0%
Saturated Fat 293.9g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 2.7g
Cholesterol 1080mg	0%
Sodium 15263.7mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 11.9g	0%
Dietary Fiber 2.8g	0%
Total Sugars 0.2g
Protein 142.6g	0%

Vitamin D 0IU	0%
Calcium 177.7mg	0%
Iron 7.6mg	0%
Potassium 2096.2mg	0%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 92.3%

Protein: 7.1%

Carbs: 0.6%