Roast crispy pork

Roast crispy pork

This moreish crispy-skinned roast is best served with stir-fried pak choi

Difficulty and servings

Moderately easy

Serves 4 - 6

Preparation and cooking times

Preparation time

Prep 3 hrs - 3 hrs 15 mins

plus standing time

Method

  1. Pierce the rind side of the pork (a roasting fork is good for this) until the skin is covered with fine holes. Put the joint rind side up on a rack over the sink. Bring a pot of water to the boil and, using a large ladle, pour hot water over the rind side of the pork several times. Set the pork aside.
  2. Heat a wok or large frying pan until it is very hot. Add the salt, peppercorns and five-spice and stir-fry for about 30 seconds until hot and well mixed. Remove from the heat, stir in the sugar, then allow to cool slightly. When it is warm enough to handle, rub this mixture on the flesh side of the pork. Leave, flesh side up, on the rack at room temperature for a minimum of 3 hours (overnight is ideal).
  3. To roast Sichuan peppercorns: heat a wok or heavy frying pan to a medium heat. Add the peppercorns (you can cook about 140g/5oz at a time) and stir-fry them for about 5 minutes until they brown slightly and start to smoke. Remove from the heat and let them cool. Grind the peppercorns in a pepper mill or using a mortar and pestle. Seal tightly in a screw-top jar until required. Alternatively, keep the whole roasted peppercorns in a well-sealed container and grind them when required.
  4. Preheat the oven to 200C/gas 6/ fan 180C. Turn the pork rind side up on the rack and put the rack over a roasting tin with 2-3cm hot water in the bottom. Roast for 15 minutes, then reduce the heat to 180C/gas 4/fan 160C and continue to roast for 2 hours, checking every now and then that your tin is not dry - splash in some hot water from the kettle if it is. Increase the heat to 230C/gas 8/fan 210C for the last 15 minutes. Remove the pork from the oven and leave it to rest (about 20 minutes). Serve carved into large cubes.
Try

Roasting Sichaun peppercorns

To roast Sichuan peppercorns: heat a wok or heavy fying pan to a medium heat. Add the peppercorns (you can cook about 140g/5oz at a time) and stirfry them for about 5 inutes until they brown slightly and start to smoke. Remove from the heat and let them cool. Grind the peppercorns in a pepper mill or using a mortar and pestle. Seal tightly in a screw-top jar until required. Alternatively, keep the whole roasted peppercorns in a well-sealed container and grind them when required.

Recipe from Good Food magazine, December 2002.

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Latest comments and suggestions

  • 02 May 2009

    Pete rated and commented on this recipe

    4 stars

    Very tasty except way too salty. Tried the recipe again and did it with 4 teaspoon, not tablespoons of sea salt , the result was far superior. The crackling was to die for!

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  • 08 January 2011

    Scott commented on this recipe

    I agree with Pete - even my 7 year old son said that it seemed like too much salt when I was putting the marinade together this afternoon... so I stuck with 4 teaspoons. Also, shouldn't oil and salt be used on the skin to get it crispy? Will find out tomorrow when we cook it!

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  • 30 April 2012

    Dinah rated and commented on this recipe

    5 stars

    This is a fabulous recipe and we have now made it three times, each more successful. Simply served with Ken Hom's stir fried rice and a few sprigs of fresh spring onion (fine slices) it is delicious. Do allow for over-night marinating of the spices for the best flavour. The crispiness of the crackling is amazing!

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  • 30 April 2012

    Dinah rated and commented on this recipe

    5 stars

    This is a fabulous recipe and we have now made it three times, each more successful. Simply served with Ken Hom's stir fried rice and a few sprigs of fresh spring onion (fine slices) it is delicious. Do allow for over-night marinating of the spices for the best flavour. The crispiness of the crackling is amazing!

    Flag as inappropriate

    Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

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Difficulty and servings

Moderately easy

Serves 4 - 6

Preparation and cooking times

Preparation time

Prep 3 hrs - 3 hrs 15 mins

plus standing time

Succulent pork, ultra crisp crackling

Ingredients

  • 1½kg boneless shoulder or belly of pork , with rind

FOR THE MARINADE

  • 4 tbsp coarse sea salt
  • 2 tbsp Sichuan peppercorns , roasted and freshly ground
  • 2 tsp Chinese five spice powder
  • 1 tbsp sugar
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