Garlic Chipotle Pork Belly

Pork belly is a fatty, flavorful cut of meat that is perfect for slow-roasting. This recipe uses a combination of garlic, chipotle peppers, and spices to create a smoky, spicy, and umami-rich dish that will have your taste buds dancing. The best part is that it's incredibly easy to make, so you can impress your friends and family without breaking a sweat.

Pork belly has been a staple of many cultures for centuries, and for good reason. It's a fatty, flavorful cut of meat that is perfect for slow-roasting. In this recipe, we've taken inspiration from the classic Cuban dish lechón asado, which is made with roasted pork shoulder. We've swapped out the shoulder for pork belly, and added a few extra ingredients to give it a unique flavor profile. The result is a dish that is both rich and flavorful, and that is sure to impress your friends and family.

Prep time: 15 | Cook time: 120 | Serves: 4

Ingredients

• 2 lbs pork belly, skin removed
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, minced
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tsp smoked paprika
• 1 tsp cumin
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C).
2. In a small bowl, mix together the minced garlic, minced chipotle peppers, olive oil, smoked paprika, cumin, salt, and black pepper.
3. Rub the spice mixture all over the pork belly.
4. Place the pork belly in a roasting pan and roast in the oven for 1.5-2 hours, or until the meat is tender and the top is crispy.
5. Remove the pork belly from the oven and let it rest for 10 minutes before slicing.
6. Sprinkle the chopped cilantro over the sliced pork belly before serving.

Why It Works

• The combination of garlic, chipotle peppers, and spices creates a complex and flavorful rub that penetrates deep into the meat.
• Slow-roasting the pork belly allows the fat to render out, resulting in a tender and juicy dish.
• The crispy skin adds a delicious textural contrast to the soft and juicy meat.