Slow-roasted pork belly & chicory

• pork belly2kg kg

  piece, skin scored

• olive oil↗4 tsp tsp

  plus extra for greasing

• heads chicory↗6

  red or white or both

• garlic cloves↗3

  halved

• thyme↗4

  sprigs

• cider↗300ml ml
• Dijon mustard↗1 tbsp tbsp
• brown sugar↗2 tbsp tbsp

Step-by-step instructions

1. 1

   Heat oven to its highest temperature. Lay the pork on a board, skin-side up. Rub the skin with a little oil, then season with crushed pepper and a sprinkling of coarse sea salt.

2. 2

   Lay the pork in shallow roasting tin, skin-side up (the skin should be higher than the edge of the tin). Place the pork in the oven and cook for 30 mins, then turn the oven down to 180C/160C fan/ gas 4 and roast for 1 hr more until the skin has crackled.

3. 3

   Meanwhile, halve the chicory lengthways. When the pork has had its time, remove from the oven and use a pair of tongs to lift it to a chopping board. Pour off excess fat. Lay the chicory in the tray, cut-side up. Scatter over the garlic, tuck the thyme around the chicory and pour over the cider. Drizzle with olive oil, blob on the mustard and sprinkle with sugar. Lay the pork on top and return to the oven for 2 hrs more.

4. 4

   Lift the pork off the chicory and transfer it to a board. Cover and rest for 20 mins. Carve into thick slices and serve with the chicory and the delicious juices spooned over.