Fragrant Roast Pork Belly as seen on Mary Berry’s Easter Feast on BBC2

The whole pig is slowly roasted and constantly turned over the heat. Without the spit, coal and space, I have to make do with Pork belly in my fan-assisted oven!
Mae was recently seen on TV with Mary Berry on her 2016 Easter show on BBC2 “Mary Berry’s Easter Feast”. Mae showed Mary how to make a traditional ‘Lechon’ usually a whole hog spit roasted in charcoal. Mae’s recipe is fit for anyone who are willing to wait for a perfect pork crackling skin with juicy and tasty meat.
Mae's Lechon (fragrant roast pork belly) as seen on Mary Berry's Easter Feast on BBC2
Print RecipeIngredients
- 2.5kg Pork Belly
- 6 lemon grass stems, crushed whole
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 5 cloves of garlic, minced
- 8 bay leaves, fresh or dried
- 1/2 bunch of spring onions, keep whole, cleaned and washed
- 1tsp salt
- 1tsp pepper
- For the brine
- 5ltr water
- 80g salt
- 20g pepper
- 2 stems crushed & chopped
- 1tsp cloves of garlic, minced
- 3 bay leaves, fresh or dried
Instructions
[Brine] In a deep pan on a high heat bring 1ltr water to boil
Turn the heat to low, add onion, some garlic, chopped lemongrass, 3 bay leaves, salt and pepper with the lid on simmer for 15 minutes
Take the water mixture off the heat put it on the side
In a large container add the rest of the water and the water mixture, wait 10-15 minutes to cool down
Add pork belly into the brine put something heavy on top to keep it underwater, brine overnight
[Roasting] Heat the oven 100c (fan oven, gas mar ½)
Take the pork out of the brine mixture, dry it all completely with kitchen roll
Place pork on a flat surface facing skin down with some kitchen roll underneath
Season with salt and pepper evenly on the meat
Add spring onions, the rest of lemon grass, the rest of the bay leaves, the rest of the garlic and spread evenly across the meat
Tie the pork belly closed with cooking string making sure that it’s tight enough so the fillings do not come out
Place the pork in a tray with a rack, put it in the oven and cook for 6-8 hours on a low heat
Turn the pork around every 1 hour to make sure it cooks evenly
On the last 15-30 minutes turn the heat on high (keep an eye on it as the skin is easily burn at this stage)
Take the pork out and leave it to rest for 5-10 minutes
Transfer it to a serving dish and serve!
Notes
* I edited how long to turn the heat high to crisp the skin.
14 Comments
Glamorous Glutton
26/04/2017 at 4:26 pmThis looks wonderful. I loved the look of it on Mary Berry, thank you so much for remembering to let me know when you posted it. GG
pepeskitchen
18/05/2017 at 7:40 amYou are welcome! Did you try making it yet?
Jane Cameron
24/04/2017 at 4:54 pmWatched you make this a couple of weeks ago,and wanted to try and make it.yet to taste it.thank you for sharing your recipe .
pepeskitchen
18/05/2017 at 7:40 amYou’re welcome =D
Min Grimshaw
17/04/2017 at 8:14 pmI think you mean 2g pepper, not 20g!
Made this change. It turned out very well. No need to turn every hour – just the last hour.
It would be perfect if you could suggest a suitable side or two (I did potatoes roasted with garlic and also spinach).
pepeskitchen
18/05/2017 at 7:44 amHiya! Thank you for the type correction. If you have a good oven then there is no need to turn but if your oven doesn’t cook evenly then maybe turning it every couple of hours will do too. Potatoes and spinach is very good but traditionally we eat it with rice (typical) and pickled green papaya or Athara. I have the recipe for atchara too if you want to make some. Again thank you for trying my recipe!
Stephen Fuller
17/04/2017 at 5:28 pmMade the Lechon Easter Monday…totally amazing Thankyou! Will definitely be doing this again, everyone was very impressed.
pepeskitchen
18/05/2017 at 7:45 amHi! I’m glad it turned out well and your family/friends liked it too! Thank you for trying my recipe!
Laura
14/04/2017 at 7:35 pmHi Mae, i am going to cook this on Easter Monday and just saw it on Mary Berry’s Easter feast. Did i hear well: “slow cook in oven 100* Celsius for 6 hours..?”
It’s the correct oven temperature that i am after
Thanks!
pepeskitchen
18/05/2017 at 7:49 amHiya! Apologies for not replying sooner. I hope you did ok with making lechon. 100* is correct and depending on the weight of your pork it could go up to 8hours. You could try 120* if you need it sooner.
Michelle
26/03/2016 at 10:02 pmDear Mae,
I was so impressed with your Lechon on Mary Berry. I have it soaking in the brine at this moment. I will cook it tomorrow for my Eastet celebration lunch. I can’t wait to taste it. Thank you. Michelle
From Cardiff, South Wales.
pepeskitchen
13/04/2016 at 12:18 pmHi Michelle,
Thank you for watching the show and for giving the recipe a go! I hope it went well and the recipe was easy to follow. We would love to see your Lechon if you had time to take a photo before everyone started eating it! haha!
Thanks!
Mae
Kim
15/04/2017 at 11:39 amHi, I am doing the same thing today a year later and after seeing it on Mary Berry’s repeat programme last night!
Can’t wait.
Kim – London
pepeskitchen
18/05/2017 at 7:45 amHiya! Did you make your lechon? How did it go?