CRISP AND UNCTUOUS PORK BELLY

Ingredients

One 4-pound piece fresh, uncured, skin-on

pork belly

Marinade

1 cup water

Ya cup extra virgin slove oil

¼ cup freshly sieezed lemon anor

½ cup apple nider vinegin

10 garlic clovei, peeled, materdg removed, and th

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1 tablespoon coarsely ground fresh black pepper

2 tablespoons thinly sliced serrano or other small, hot chile of choice (optional

2 cups water

2 tablespoons (1 ounce) unsahed butter.

softened

Fishing Dressing tap otra mrgin olive oll

epon lemon juice apons finely chopped chives

Glaze

4/4 cup bourbon

14 cup firmly packed dark brown sugar a tablespooes finely chopped flat-leal pandey

1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar

½ teaspoon crushed hot red pepper flakes

Finishing Drassing cop eatra virgin olive ail

Habiespoon lemon juice

a tablespoous finely chopped chives

Rasher Saa

Finaly ground coarse black pepper

Hot English mustard

8 sliced Cuban-style rolls, or eight 6-inch pieces of soft, unseeded, Italian bread, split like rolls

1 recipe Applesauce (page 345)

1 recipe Dressed Arugula (page 348)

Directions

1. Combine all of the marinade ingredients in a blender, or in a large bowl using an immersion/stick blender, and blend to combine thoroughly,

Place the pork belly in a large resealable plastic bag, pour the marinade over the top, squeeze out any excess air from the bag, and close. Roll the bag to evenly coat the pork belly. Refrigerate for at least 12 hours, or up to 1 day.

Preheat an indirect bbq with a drip pan and fruitwood (preferably apple), a ceramic cooker with deflector plate and fruitwood (preferably apple), or a charcoal or gas grill with a box or packet of fruitwood (preferably apple) to 275°F.

3. Place the belly in a baking dish or disposable aluminum pan, preferably a 13½ x 95/8 × 2¾-inch lasagna pan. Pour over the marinade, add the water and the but-ter, cover the top with heavy-duty aluminum foil, and crimp the edges to tightly seal.

Place in the cooker and cook for 5% hours.

1. Remove from the cooker and let rest in

Meanwhile, about 30 minutes before the end of the resting period, increase the temperature of the cooker for crisping the skin. If using a ceramic cooker, remove the deflector plate and increase the temperature to 375°F. If using a charcoal or gas grill, increase the temperature of the grate to high.

For the glaze, pour the bourbon in a small saucepan and place over medium heat. Cook off the alcohol, being careful of a possible flare-up, 7 to 10 minutes. The strong alcohol smell will subside.

Place the remaining glaze ingredients

into a jar with a tight-fitting lid and pour over the warm bourbon. Close the lid and shake to combine. Set aside.

Pour a film of canola oil into a baking dish or disposable pan.

Place a grilling basket (see Sources page 378) on the work surface.

Carefully remove the belly from the pan and place, skin side down, in the oil. Turn over in the oil. Transfer the belly to the grilling basket and close.

Place the basket over the direct heat, skin side down, and cook to crisp the skin, about 15 to 20 minutes.

Give the glaze a quick shake to reincorporate any ingredients that may have settled.

Remove the belly from the cooker and brush on all sides with the glaze.

Place the belly back over the direct heat, skin side up, for about 5 minutes to tighten the glaze. Flip and repeat on the

and place, skin side down, in the oil. Turn over in the oil. Transfer the belly to the grilling basket and close.

Place the basket over the direct heat, skin side down, and cook to crisp the skin, about 15 to 20 minutes.

Give the glaze a quick shake to reincorporate any ingredients that may have settled.

Remove the belly from the cooker and brush on all sides with the glaze.

Place the belly back over the direct heat, skin side up, for about 5 minutes to tighten the glaze. Flip and repeat on the second side, cooking for about 5 minutes.

Drizzle the olive oil over the cutting board, followed by the lemon juice. Sprinkle with the chives, salt, and pepper.

Carefully, because it will be exceptionally tender, remove the belly from the basket, place on the cutting board, skin side up, and let rest for 10 minutes before cutting.

Sprinkle the belly with salt, pepper, chives, and parsley, and cut the belly into slices if you have one, an electric knife works well here), dredging in the dressing as it is cut.

Spread mustard on the rolls, place a slice on each roll, and top with applesauce and greens.