‘Nduja is a really trendy ingredient right now – it’s a spicy sausage paste made with Calabrian chilli and it’s delicious. In an ultra hipster lockdown move, I’m going to try curing my own ‘nduja as soon as the ingredients arrive. I’ve never cured anything other than fish before, so it may be a disaster, but I’m looking forward to trying it out.

This recipe was made some time ago with ‘nduja purchased from my favourite Italian restaurant/deli in Manchester city centre, Pasta Factory. I very much look forward to going back there once we’re able to move about again.

Otherwise, you can get ‘Nduja online from souschef.co.uk, or check your local supermarket. If you struggle to get it, use chorizo, with the skin removed and finely chopped.

Adapted from Olive Magazine

Serves 12

Ingredients

• Pork belly 3kg skin scored horizontally in 1cm strips
• ’nduja 300g
• garlic 6 cloves, crushed
• fennel seeds 3 tbsp, toasted
• rosemary 12 sprigs, leaves finely chopped
• vegetable oil 2 tbsp
• flaky sea salt

Instructions

1. The day before cooking, pat dry the pork skin then put the pork belly skin-side up on a rack over a roasting tin in the bottom of the fridge. Leave uncovered, overnight. This will help dry out the skin and create great crackling.
2. Heat the oven to 200C/fan 180C/gas 6. Mash together the ’nduja, garlic, fennel seeds and rosemary in a bowl. Take the pork from the fridge and pat dry with kitchen paper. Put skin-side down on a board, then spread the ’nduja paste evenly over the central part of the meat. Roll up the meat tightly, tie a couple of pieces of kitchen string around the pork to hold it in shape, then go down the length, tying reasonably tightly with string every 5-7cm to secure the whole piece in a neat shape. Put into a large roasting tin, join side down. Rub the vegetable oil over the skin and season generously, rubbing all over and into the scores. Roast for 45 minutes before turning the oven down to 160C/fan 140C/gas 3 and cooking for 3 hours. For perfect crackling, turn the heat back up to 200C/fan 180C/gas 6 and cook for a further 30 minutes or until the crackling is crisp.
3. Rest the pork on a plate for 20 minutes. Serve in thick slices.