Crispy Chili-Honey Glazed Pork Belly with a Watermelon Asian Pear Slaw

Ingredients

• Pork:

• 2 lbs pork belly

• Marinade:

• 1/2 cup soy sauce
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 TBSP fresh ginger, minced
• 2 shallots, finely chopped
• 3 TBSP rice vinegar
• 1 tsp sesame oil
• 3 TBSP honey
• 1/4 cup dry sherry

• Chili-Honey Glaze:

• 3 TBSP chili garlic paste
• 3 TBSP rice vinegar
• 2 TBSP honey

• Watermelon & Asian Pear Slaw:

• Ripe watermelon, cut into 1/2 inch thick slices
• 1 Asian pear
• 1 seedless cucumber
• 1 carrot
• 1 TBSP rice vinegar
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, minced
• 1/4 cup peanuts, chopped

Instructions

1. Cut pork belly into 2 inch squares. Using a sharp knife, score the top of the pork belly. Combine all of the marinade ingredients in a large resealable plastic bag, add the pork belly. Allow to marinate in the refrigerator for 2 hours.
2. Preheat oven to 275 degrees, making certain the oven rack is in the middle location. In a large baking dish, place pork belly in a single layer, fat side up. Pour marinate and root beer over the pork belly. The liquid should reach half way up the pork belly. Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil. Braise in the oven for 4 hours.
3. While pork is braising, prepare the chili-honey glaze and the slaw: In a small bowl, combine all of the chili-honey glaze ingredients. Set aside.
4. Using a 3 inch round biscuit cutter, cut rounds from the watermelon. Set aside.
5. Cut as many rounds as you have pork belly pieces. Slice the Asian pear, cucumber and carrot into long thin julienned slices. Combine the julienned vegetables into a large bowl. Add the rice vinegar and salt. Toss to mix. Set aside.
6. Remove the pork belly from the oven. Turn oven to broil. Spoon chili glaze over each piece of pork and return to oven for 3-4 minutes or until glaze is bubbly and pork belly is slightly charred. **I also like to use a kitchen torch to give the glazed pork belly that extra crispiness.
7. To serve:: Place a round of watermelon on each serving dish. Top with the slaw, a piece of crispy pork belly and sprinkle with cilantro and chopped peanuts

Notes