Roast Pork and Crackling ... Perfect Sunday Lunch

'Roast Pork is, like Roast Beef, an intrinsic part of a Sunday Roast. though there is no reason to not eat the meat any other day of the week. A perfect roast pork should have lovely moist, evenly cooked meat surrounded by crisp, sharp crackling. The crackling can be either left on the meat of removed at the end of cooking and served separately.

I prefer to use outdoor, free range pork as this will have a good thick layer of fat. A good layer of fat under the skin is imperative to keeping the meat moist during cooking and also adds flavour to the finished roast, as the fat renders down during cooking there's no need to worry. Also, you can always cut the fat away before eating.

If you buy a large joint of pork, don't worry, adjust the cooking times to suit the size (see below) and you can never have too much left over pork to make delicious sandwiches for lunch the next day', made using flax-seed if you'd prefer a lower cab approach ...

'INGREDIENTS
1.35 kg/3 lb loin of Pork, preferably free-range
4 tbsp extra virgin / olive oil
Sea salt flakes
1 medium onion, halved with skin on
2 tsp plain flour
1 glass dry cider or white wine
1 pt/500ml chicken or vegetable stock
1 tsp ice cold butter

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 100 minutes

Total Time: 110 minutes
Serves 6

PREPARATION
1. Preheat the oven to 220°C/425°F/gas 7
2. The pork should be at room temperature before you start this recipe. Using a paper towel dry the pork all over including the skin.
3. Using a very sharp knife make slashes approx a finger width apart across the skin, don't cut through to the meat, about half way down the fat is good.
Rub the skin with the oil ensuring it goes down into the slashes. Sprinkle with salt, again make sure it is down into the slits.
4. Place the pork into a large roasting tin. Tuck the two onion halves under the meat, this will help keep the meat upright as well as adding flavour to the meat. Cook for 1 hour and 40 minutes. If you are using a larger or smaller joint then cook for 25 minutes per 450g/1lb, plus add on a further 25 minutes.
5. Switch off the oven (unless you need to cook the crackling further, see note below). Remove the meat from the roasting tin and place onto a serving plate, cover loosely with foil and place in the oven with the door slightly ajar. If you need to keep the oven hot (ie for cooking other vegetables or maybe Yorkshire Puddings) then wrap the meat completely in foil and keep in a warm place.
6. Remove the onion from the pan, then place the pan on the stove top over a high heat until the meat juices begin to bubble but not burning. Add the flour, and stir to blend into the meat juices. Pour in the cider or wine and scrape all the juices from the bottom of the pan, reduce to a sticky glaze. Do not leave the pan unattended as the reduction happens very quickly.
7. Add the stock and stir well,
8. Strain the gravy through a fine sieve into a saucepan and reduce by one-third. Add the butter in tiny pieces shaking the pan gently until the all the butter is absorbed. Keep warm until needed.
9. Remove the crackling from the pork and carve into thick slices.
10. Serve with pieces of crackling and the gravy, plus seasonal vegetables.

Some may like apple sauce or sage and onion stuffing as an accompaniment. You may also wish to serve the traditional Yorkshire Puddings if it is a Sunday lunch.'

Above 'words' from original article here

Looking for a lower carb Yorkshire pudding see here

All the best Jan