We love a good Pork Belly with Truffle Mac N Cheese and this deliciously simple, chef-curated recipe doesn't disappoint. Time to bust out the pots and pans!
The quantities provided above are averages only.
Boxes and ingredients are packed in facilities that handles Peanut, Nuts, Sesame, Fish, Crustaceans, Milk, Egg, Mustard, Celery, Soya, Gluten and Sulphites. Due to the war in Ukraine, it has been necessary to substitute sunflower oil with rapeseed oil in some products without a label change. The FSA have advised that allergic reactions to rapeseed oil are rare.
400
Pork Belly
1
Truffle Zest
100
Penne Pasta
1
Thyme
10
Panko Breadcrumbs
1
Echalion Shallot
14
Red Wine Stock Paste
(Contains Sulphites)
1
Black Peppercorns
150
Chestnut Mushrooms
1
Garlic Clove
150
Reduced Fat Creme Fraiche
30
Mature Cheddar Cheese
(Contains Milk)
40
Grated Hard Italian Style Cheese
(Contains Milk, Egg)
125
Baby Spinach
150
Water
Preheat your oven to 200°C. Heat a drizzle of oil in a large frying pan over medium-high heat. Season the pork belly on both sides with a good pinch of salt and pepper. When hot, carefully add the pork belly to the pan, skin- side down, and sear until golden, 3-4 mins each side. Pop a large saucepan of water on to boil for your pasta.
Meanwhile, thinly slice the mushrooms. Peel and grate the garlic (or use a garlic press). Halve, peel and thinly slice the shallot. Pick the thyme leaves from their stalks (discard the stalks). Crush the peppercorns in a freezer bag with the bottom of a saucepan. When your water boils, add the the penne and a large pinch of salt. Cook for 12 mins then drain in a colander. Rinse out the pan to use for the sauce!
When the pork is golden all over, transfer to a baking tray, skin-side up. Roast on the middle shelf of your oven until cooked through 45-60 mins. IMPORTANT: The pork is cooked when it is no longer pink in the middle. Wipe out the frying pan with some kitchen paper and return to a medium-high heat with a drizzle of oil. Grate the cheddar cheese.
Once the pan is hot, add the shallot and mushrooms. Cook, stirring occasionally, until they begin to colour, 4-5 mins. Stir in half the garlic, cook for 1 minute. Off the heat, add the crème fraîche, all of the cheddar, half the Italian style cheese and half the thyme. Stir in the wheat pasta. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Tip the cheesy wheat pasta into an ovenproof dish. Sprinkle over the breadcrumbs and the remaining Italian style cheese and thyme.
When the pork has 10 mins left, bake the cheesy pasta bake on the top shelf of the oven until golden, 10-12 mins. Meanwhile, heat a splash of oil in the saucepan you used for the pasta over medium heat. Add the peppercorns and fry for 1 minute. Add the water (see ingredients for amount) and stock pot. Stir to dissolve, bring to the boil and bubble for 3-5 mins. Wipe out the frying pan and return to medium-high heat with a splash of oil.
Once hot, add the remaining garlic and cook for 30 seconds. Add the spinach and cook until wilted, 2-3 mins. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Once everything is ready, sprinkle the truffle powder over the wheat pasta bake (it's quite strong - you can always add more once you've tasted it!) and spoon onto plates. Pop the spinach alongside. Slice the pork belly, arrange on top of the spinach and finish with the peppercorn jus. Enjoy!