CHRISTMAS PORCHETTA

Ingredients

  • 3-4 kg Middle White Pork Belly (boned)
  • 1 tsp Crushed Black Peppercorns
  • 1 tsp Dried Chilli (Optional)
  • 1 tbsp Chopped Fresh Rosemary
  • 1 tsp Fennel Seeds
  • 2 Garlic Cloves (finely chopped)
  • Zest and Juice 1 Lemon
  • 100 ml White Wine

Instructions

  • Season the pork with sea salt, roughly crush the remaining ingredients together using a pestle and mortar
  • Spread the herb mixture over the flesh side of the Middle White, squeeze over the lemon juice
  • Roll the pork and tie using string as tightly as possible every 2 cm, leave to rest at room temperature for about 1 hour to allow the garlic and herbs to infuse into the meat
  • Preheat the oven to 180C/Gas 4, cover the base of a roasting tray with 5mm of water, put the pork into the roasting tray and into the oven
  • Cook for 4 hours, sprinkling a little of the wine over the meat every 30 minutes, once the 100ml wine has finished spoon over the cooking juices very 30 minutes
  • When the pork is cooked the skin will be golden brown and crisp, using a skewer pierce the skin and the meat juices should run clear.
  • Remove from the oven and rest for 30 minutes before serving