This tender and succulent pork is the perfect introduction to cooking pork belly as you can't really get it wrong. I have included a slow-cooker and oven method below. Choose free-range meat where possible, I source my free-range pork from our local butcher Philippe so I can skip the packaging.
Ingredients
Pulled Pork
approx. 750g free-range pork bellyfat scored
1tspcumin seeds or ground cumin
1tspsmoked paprika
2tspdried oregano
1/2tspsalt
1Tbspolive oil
Cashew Cream
1cupcashewssoaked for minimum 2 hours
1garlic clovepeeled
juice of 1 lemon
1/4cupextra virgin olive oil
1tspdijon mustard
pinchof salt
1/2cupwater + extra if needed to thin
To serve
soft corn tortillas or small wheat tortillas
red cabbage slaw - massage 1/2 tsp salt into shredded red cabbage for several minutes then dress with olive oil and lemon juice
cashew cream/ sour cream
Chopped coriander
lime wedges
Instructions
Preheat a slow-cooker on LOW* or oven 160C. Pat the pork belly dry with paper towels. Toast the cumin seeds in a dry pan then grind them roughly in a mortar and pestle. Add the paprika, oregano, salt and olive oil and make paste. Rub this over the skin side of the pork belly. Wrap snugly in a layer of baking paper and then foil. Place the pork into the slow cooker or in a tray in the oven. Cook for 4 hours. Remove the pork parcel from the slow-cooker/oven and sit for 10 minutes. Open the package and pour off the juices into a jug - these are delicious added to a lentil soup. Use 2 forks to 'pull' the succulent pork apart into threads. Serve as pictured, layering red cabbage slaw, pulled pork and cashew cream into soft tacos and garnish with coriander. Finish with a squeeze of fresh lime.
Cashew Cream: Drain and rinse the cashews and place in a food processor/ blender with the remaining ingredients. Blend for several minutes until a thick cream is achieved, adding extra water if needed to thin.
Notes
*Our slow-cooker [Zip brand] runs particularly hot so if you have a true 'slow' cooker then setting to HIGH may be necessary or cooking for 6 hours.