This recipe works equally well for skin-on and skinless pork belly. I cut back on the salt and sugar a bit from Dave Chang's original recipe. Adapted from Momofuku: A Cookbook.
For skinless pork belly, move on to the next step. If using skin on pork belly, pat skin dry with a paper towel. With a sharp knife, score through skin every 1/2-inch at a diagonal, cutting through skin and into fat, but not so deep that you hit meat. Repeat cutting in an opposite diagonal to create a diamond shape pattern. (recipe note #1)
Season pork belly with salt sugar and a few grinds of black pepper. Cover and refrigerate overnight.
Preheat oven to 450°F.
Roast pork belly for 30 minutes on the middle rack in a heavy, oven-safe pan or skillet, skin side up / fat side up. Reduce heat to 275°F and roast for an hour or more, until tender but not mushy. (Larger pieces of pork belly will take longer. Our one-pound belly was done after an hour at 275°F.)
Remove from oven and let cool to room temperature. Wrap tightly in plastic and refrigerate until chilled through - at least a few hours and up to 2 days.
Once chilled, slice into thick pieces and brown in a skillet on the stovetop until crisp. Enjoy alone or in soups, salads, pasta sauces, ramen and more! (recipe note #2)
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Notes
Scoring the pork belly skin allows it to crisp up and allows the seasoning to penetrate into the fat and meat below the skin.
Store refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 4 days or freeze for up to 3 months.
Be sure to check out my collection of Pork Belly Recipes for ways to use this delicious crispy pork belly!