Ingredients
- 1 Pork Belly
- Large zip lock bag
- Cure Mix
- Salt 45 grams – sea salt, kosher salt are preferable
- Sugar 22.5 grams – brown sugar, or maple sugar if you have it
- Pink Salt 5 grams – Insta Cure #1 or #2
Details
Servings 3
Level of difficulty Average
Preparation time 9mins
Cooking time 7mins
Cost Average budget
Preparation
Step 1
First you want to make the cure mix. While you can use any type of salt and sugar, I like to use sea salt and brown sugar. It is also highly recommended that you use pink salt which is sodium nitrate which kills any bacteria and preserves the sexy red color of the bacon.
Step 2
Take the pork belly and put it into the large zip lock bag. Add several table spoons of the cure mix and cover the pork belly completely, rub it down completely.
Step 3
Seal the bag, wrap it in another plastic bag like a grocery bag, and place it in the fridge. After a few days there will be a juice/liquid forming, this is the brine solution. Be sure to the flip the bag at least once to get even distribution. It will take about 7-10 days to cure
Step 4
After a week or more, take the pork belly out of the bag and rinse it in the sink under cold water. It is now cured.
Step 5
Pre heat the oven for 200 F. Place the pork belly on the top rack, with a tray underneath to collect any dripping. It will take about 2 hours; this simulates the smoking/ cooking of the pork belly and makes it bacon. The internal temperature should get to 150 F, but I have found this is not completely necessary after 2 hours it should be good to go.
Step 6
Let the bacon cool at room temperature for about half an hour. Now you should cut off the pork belly skin, while the meat is still warm
Step 7
At this point you could cut it up and then cook it like regular bacon, however it will be difficult to cut at this point and you will get sloppy slices. You want to freeze it at this point which will make cutting it much easier and consistent
Step 8
Once the pork belly is frozen in the freezer, take it out and cut it up. While you can use a knife to do this an actual meat slicer is much better
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Chef Tips and Tricks
You'll drool over this 3 cheese, bacon-wrapped baguette.
INGREDIENTS
- Blue cheese
- Cheddar cheese
- Mozarella
- 1 baguette
- Sun-dried tomatoes
- Bacon
METHOD
- Cut your cheeses into thin slices
- Slice baguette down the middle (like a sandwich)
- Layer cheddar, blue, and mozarella cheese inside the bread
- Top with sun-dried tomatoes
- Close baguette and wrap with bacon strips
- Put in oven and bake for 20 minutes at 350 degrees
- Slice and serve!
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