Crispy Pork Belly

Ingredients: •2-4 lbs farm-raised pork belly •1//2 cup pure maple syrup •1/2 cup stout (*see recommendation below) •Olive oil •Banana leaves (optional) Kosher salt and fresh ground pepper to season

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F

Mama's Guide Directions:

1. To prepare the pork for cooking, set on a cutting board and score the skin into a criss-cross pattern. Be sure to only score the fat and not deep enough to cut into the meat. (Scoring exposes more fat to the heat, which results in more fat being rendered during cooking.) 2. Season both sides with kosher salt and fresh ground pepper. 3. Place the pork in a roasting pan, on high heat, and seer both sides until golden crisp (about 10 minutes). Transfer onto a baking pan. Set aside. 4. Except for about 2 tbsp, dispose the olive oil from the roasting pan. On medium heat, add-in 1/2 cup maple syrup and 1/2 cup of stout. (*I recommend a flavored beer such as Shock Top). Cook for about 3 minutes. 5. Pour the beer-syrup blend onto the pork belly, then transfer to oven (bottom rack). 6. Cook, semi-covered (if you have banana leaves, as shown) or uncovered, about 1 hour. 7. Remove pork belly from the bottom rack and place on top rack. Broil on high setting until skin is brown and crisp, about 2-3 minutes.

Remove from oven and enjoy using the crispy pork belly for your favorite entrées...such as pork belly tacos!

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