Roast pork with crackling
Making delicious roast pork with crackling that is perfectly crispy does not have to be difficult. With a little clever know-how, you can soon be serving this classic as the main event at your next dinner party. The tasty meat may be served with many delightful side dishes, and you can even enjoy the leftovers as cold cuts in sandwiches, in quick hash mixed with fried potatoes, or in ramen soups. Its versatility lets you enjoy it in a range of different ways, making it a go-to option for any occasion.
Ingredients
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Pork roast with scored skin
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1½ kilo |
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Coarse salt
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2 tsp |
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Water
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½ litre |
Tips
To ensure crispy crackling, there are a few extra steps you can take. While you should, of course, score the skin before cooking, you can use paper towels to pat the skin dry. Getting rid of any excess moisture this way can prevent the skin from crisping up properly.
Tips
You can also place the roast pork with crackling on a wire rack and leave it in the refrigerator uncovered for several hours or overnight. This allows the air to circulate and helps to draw out any remaining moisture from the crackling. Lastly, if you need to dry the skin more quickly, you can use a fan to blow air over it. This can help dry the skin more thoroughly in a short amount of time.
Tips
Rubbing the skin with salt, as we suggest, also helps draw out moisture and create a cracklier texture. The salt will also season the meat.
Questions about roast pork with crackling
Roast pork with crackling is a tasty, traditional main course that may be served with many different sides to great success. To learn more about it, read our answers to the most frequently asked questions below.
How to cook roast pork with crackling?
Making tender and crispy roast pork with crackling in the oven is not difficult. Score the skin of the pork at ½ cm intervals, rub coarse salt into the scores and place the pork on a rack in a roasting pan with water. Cook in a cold oven at 200°C until the core temperature reaches 55°C, monitoring the temperature with a meat thermometer. Check if the skin is crispy and if not, increase the temperature and cook until it is. Once the pork is cooked to 65°C, let it rest uncovered for about 20 minutes before serving.
How to get perfect crackling on roast pork?
Good crackling on roast pork makes all the difference! First, you should make sure to choose the right cut of meat. Look for pork loin or belly with a thick layer of skin, the fat, on top. In addition, it is important to score the skin first but avoid scoring the meat itself as this can cause meat juices to seep up through the skin and make it more difficult to achieve a crispy texture. Rubbing salt into the skin also helps create crispy crackling. Then, roast it in the oven, and if the skin is not yet crispy when the internal temperature reaches 55°C, the oven temperature can be increased to 250-300°C until it reaches 65°C. This should crisp it up.
How to reheat roast pork with crackling?
To reheat roast pork with crackling, first, preheat the oven to 175°C. Place the roast in an oven-safe dish and cover it with aluminium foil. You can add a bit of water or stock to keep the meat moist if you feel it is necessary. Place the dish in the oven and heat for about 20-30 minutes per kg, or until the internal temperature of the meat reaches 70°C. Once the meat is heated through, remove the aluminium foil, and increase the oven temperature to 230°C. Cook for an additional 10-15 minutes, or until the crackling is crispy and golden brown. Be sure to keep an eye on the crackling as it cooks to prevent it from burning.
How to fix soft crackling on roast pork?
If the crackling on roast pork turns out soft instead of crispy, it may need more time in a hotter oven. If increasing the temperature does not work, consider changing the settings. If the oven has a broiler setting, turn it on and cook the roast pork with crackling for a few minutes on this setting until the skin is crispy. If the crackling is still soft, you can try separating it from the meat and placing it under the broiler until it is crispy. To do this, carefully remove the crackling from the roast, place it on a lined baking sheet, and broil it until it is crispy and golden brown.
Roast pork with crackling – juicy meat and crispy crackling
Roast pork and crackling go together like a horse and carriage! Pork has a meaty, slightly sweet, and savoury taste and a firm, yet tender texture that is delightfully juicy to bite into. The perfect roast pork crackling, on the other hand, is crispy and salty and biting into this top part gives a satisfying crunch. The meat's great texture and mild taste make roast pork with crackling quite versatile as it may be paired with many different side dishes.
The simplest and most delicious centrepiece for dinner
There is something special about serving an entire roast and a pork roast with beautifully golden-brown crackling with flecks of salt may just be one of the most special ones. Roast pork with crackling is a classic dish that is both simple and delicious, making it perfect for any dinner.
The combination of juicy meat and crunchy crackling creates a mouth-watering texture and flavour that is sure to impress anyone you serve it to. And fortunately, mastering how to cook roast pork with crackling is not too difficult with our recipe.
Whether you are hosting a large gathering or simply want to treat your family or friends to a special dinner, roast pork with crackling is a dish that is sure to please.
Delicious side dishes for roast pork with crackling
Roast pork with crackling tastes great with vegetables on the side. Roasted root vegetables like carrots, parsnips, and sweet potatoes are a classic choice that complements the rich flavour of the meat. Steamed or roasted green beans also make for a fresh side dish if you want even more crunch in your meal.
Roast pork with crackling is also delicious with potato sides like boiled, roasted, or mashed potatoes. Creamy mashed potatoes make for a comforting side that goes well with the meat. Consider making a classic brown gravy for the velvety mash to soak up. This will create a great contrast between the tender meat, crispy crackling, and creamy sides. To freshen the dish, you can serve it with pickled lingonberry or German red cabbage for a bit of tang. This combination is quite popular in many Northern European countries.
A light and refreshing salad can help balance the richness of the roast pork with crackling if you want to avoid making a meal that feels heavy. Opt for something like a crunchy broccoli salad, a creamy yet crispy coleslaw, or a crisp, flavourful apple and fennel salad to pair with the savoury meat.
Choose the best cut of meat
The best cut for roast pork with crackling that is deliciously crunchy is typically pork loin or pork belly. These popular cuts have a good amount of fat and a relatively thick layer of skin, which is essential for achieving the desired crispy texture of the crackling. Pork shoulder is not typically used because it has less skin and fat compared to these cuts.
While it is possible to make roast pork shoulder with crackling, it may not have the same crispy texture as the crackling on either a roast pork loin or a roast pork belly. The shoulder is more commonly used for slow-cooking methods such as braising, roasting, or smoking to break down the connective tissue and create a tender, juicy meat. So, you should rather make roast pork with crackling from cuts like the belly or loin, which are better suited for this style of oven cooking.
Experiment with herbs and spices
There are several delicious ways to experiment with or adjust a recipe for roast pork with crackling to add a personal touch. One idea is to cook it on a bed of herbed vegetables. Placing it on a bed of vegetables like onions, carrots, and celery with herbs like thyme, rosemary, and sage can add flavour and moisture to the meat. The vegetables with fresh herbs can also absorb the juices from the pork and create a flavourful side dish.
You can also experiment with adding different seasonings and herbs directly to the roast pork with crackling to give it a unique flavour. For example, you could try using a dry rub made from a homemade spice mix with salt, black pepper, paprika, garlic powder, and rosemary. Placing cloves and bay leaves in the crackling itself is also an option. Cooking roast pork crackling this way infuses this crispy part with great, pungent flavours.
Lastly, you can also brine the roast pork with crackling, that is soak it in a solution of salt, water, and other flavourings to enhance its moisture and flavour. You can create a simple brine by dissolving salt and sugar in water, and then adding other flavourings like herbs and spices.
