Name: Thomas Keller: BLT
Prep time: 40 min
Cook time: 160 min
Total time: 200 min
Yield: 4
Ingredients: 100 gm fine sea salt; 60 gm caster sugar; 500 gm boneless pork belly (see note); 250 ml dry white wine; 1 onion, coarsely chopped; 1 carrot, coarsely chopped; 1 leek, coarsely chopped; 2 garlic cloves, coarsely chopped; 2 thyme sprigs; 8 brioche slices, 5mm thick, to serve; 1 black truffle (optional), thinly sliced, to serve; 2 tbsp clarified butter; Rocket purée; 400 gm wild rocket, picked; 45 ml extra-virgin olive oil; Tomato soup; 2 tbsp olive oil; ½ carrot, finely chopped; ½ Spanish onion, finely chopped; 2 garlic cloves, thinly sliced; 1 golden shallot, finely chopped; Pinch of chilli flakes; 800 gm canned San Marzano tomatoes (see note); 1 bouquet garni (see note); 2 tbsp crème fraîche

Thomas Keller: BLT

Australian Gourmet Traveller recipe for BLT by Thomas Keller from The French Laundry and Per Se.

Serves 4

Prep

40M

Cook

2H 40M

Total

3H 20M

You can dip the sandwich in the soup; it’s up to you. You’ll need to begin this recipe a day ahead.

Ingredients

100 gm fine sea salt

60 gm caster sugar

500 gm boneless pork belly (see note)

250 ml dry white wine

1 onion, coarsely chopped

1 carrot, coarsely chopped

1 leek, coarsely chopped

2 garlic cloves, coarsely chopped

2 thyme sprigs

8 brioche slices, 5mm thick, to serve

1 black truffle (optional), thinly sliced, to serve

2 tbsp clarified butter

Rocket purée

400 gm wild rocket, picked

45 ml extra-virgin olive oil

Tomato soup

2 tbsp olive oil

½ carrot, finely chopped

½ Spanish onion, finely chopped

2 garlic cloves, thinly sliced

1 golden shallot, finely chopped

Pinch of chilli flakes

800 gm canned San Marzano tomatoes (see note)

1 bouquet garni (see note)

2 tbsp crème fraîche

Method

Main

1.Combine salt, sugar and 1½ litres water in a large non-reactive container. Submerge pork with weights in brine, cover and refrigerate for 24 hours.

2.Preheat oven to 175C. Remove pork from brine, rinse and pat dry with kitchen towel, place in a casserole with wine, onion, carrot, leek, garlic, thyme and 750ml water. Cover and cook in oven until tender (1½-2 hours). Drain pork (discard liquid), press between two trays covered with baking paper, weight with food cans and refrigerate until completely cold.

3.For tomato soup, heat olive oil in a small saucepan over medium heat, add carrot, onion, garlic and shallot, stirring occasionally until soft (7-10 minutes). Add chilli flakes, tomato and bouquet garni. Simmer, stirring occasionally until infused and warmed through (10-15 minutes). Remove from heat, discard bouquet garni, process in a blender until smooth. Stir through crème fraîche, add water to adjust to soup consistency, if necessary. Pass through a fine sieve, season to taste and keep warm.

4.Meanwhile, for rocket purée, blanch rocket (5-10 seconds), then refresh. Drain well, squeeze out excess moisture, and process in a small food processor until finely chopped (1 minute). With motor running, add oil and process until a fine paste forms, season to taste, refrigerate until required.

5.Cut pork into 5mm slices. Spread half the brioche slices with rocket purée, layer with pork and truffle, season to taste, top with remaining bread slices. Brush outsides with clarified butter and toast, one at a time, in a large frying pan over medium heat, turning once, until golden (1-2 minutes, each side). Cut into fingers, serve warm with tomato soup.

Use female pork belly where available.San Marzano tomatoes are a type of plum tomato. Substitute a canned Roma-style tomato. For the bouquet garni, Thomas Keller uses 1 bay leaf, 1 thyme sprig, 1 tarragon sprig and 2 black peppercorns.
Drink Suggestion: A fruity rosé. Drink suggestion by Max Allen
Notes