FEATURE RECIPE
Porchetta, crackling and nectarine relish on ciabatta

Porchetta, crackling and nectarine relish on ciabatta

You'll need to begin this recipe 2 days ahead.

Serves 8

Cooking Time Prep time 40 mins, cook 2 hrs (plus pickling, resting)



1.5 kg piece   boneless pork belly
1 tbsp   finely chopped rosemary
2   garlic cloves, crushed
1 tsp   coarsely cracked black pepper
1 tsp   coarsely crushed fennel seeds
1½ tbsp   sea salt
50 ml   olive oil, for drizzling
200 ml   dry white wine
8   ciabatta rolls, split
To serve:   aïoli, wild rocket and thinly sliced nectarine
Nectarine relish
1 tbsp   olive oil
1   Spanish onion, diced
2   garlic cloves, finely chopped
1 tsp   fennel seeds
8   nectarines, cut into thick wedges
60 gm   caster sugar
2 tbsp   red wine vinegar
Juice   of 1 lemon
1   fresh bay leaf
1   rosemary sprig


1 For nectarine relish, heat oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat, add onion, garlic and fennel seeds and stir occasionally until tender (4-5 minutes). Add remaining ingredients, season to taste, bring to the simmer, reduce heat to medium and stir occasionally until thick and jammy (15-20 minutes). Transfer to a sterilised container and refrigerate to pickle before using (2 days). Makes about 500ml. Nectarine relish will keep refrigerated for 1 month.
2 Preheat oven to 220C. Place pork belly skin-side up on a work surface and score skin in a cross-hatch pattern. Combine rosemary, garlic, pepper and fennel seeds with half the sea salt in a bowl then spread evenly over pork belly. Drizzle skin with oil and scatter with remaining sea salt, massaging into the incisions. Place in a roasting pan, add wine, roast until crackling starts to form (30-40 minutes), reduce temperature to 160C and roast until cooked through (1 hour). Rest for 20 minutes then thickly slice.
3 Spread ciabatta rolls with aïoli and nectarine relish, top with pork, crackling, rocket and nectarine slices and serve.

This recipe is from the February 2012 issue of Australian Gourmet Traveller.

Drink Suggestion Fruity young red barbera.

RECIPE Emma Knowles & Lisa Featherby PHOTOGRAPHY William Meppem STYLING Emma Knowles DRINK SUGGESTION Max Allen

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