Ingredients

• 2 teaspoons Chinese five spice powder
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon salt, divided
• 2 pounds pork belly, boneless, skin-on
• 1/2 teaspoon white vinegar
• 1 tablespoon neutral oil

Directions

1. In a small bowl, whisk together Chinese five spice, garlic powder, and 1/2 teaspoon salt.
2. Season pork belly, meat side up and skin side down, and rub the dry seasoning into the meaty side only.
3. Flip the pork belly over and wipe off the skin as much as possible with a clean dry paper towel. Using another paper towel, you want to pat the skin dry.
4. Next, poke as many holes as you can into the skin, using a sharp metal cooking needle or a bunch of wooden skewers. This is the key to a successful Chinese roast pork belly crackling.
5. Wrap aluminum foil around the base and the sides of the pork, leaving the skin open and uncovered. Do not create a tall edge with your foil. Create a short edge, enough that you can pick up the sides. If you create a tall edge, the oven heat will not reach the skin evenly, resulting in a non-crispy skin.
6. After wrapping the pork belly in foil, dry it again with a clean paper towel.
7. Brush the pork skin with a ligt coat of white vinegar. Chef Tip: You are not drenching pork in vinegar. The vinegar helps to remove moisture. Then evenly and lightly sprinkle sea salt over the top.
8. Bake at 225 degrees F for 60 minutes. Your skin will not puff up here so do not worry if you do not see it crackle. This is normal!
9. Remove from oven and evenly brus a thin coat of oil onto the skin. Then bake again at 400 degrees F for 40 minutes. This is when you will see the skin puff up and crackle. Monitor this process around the 35-minute mark and check for golden crispy crackled skin. If you still do not see it crackle, keep it in the oven for 40 minutes and if you still do not see it keep baking until you do. The pork belly is a very forgiving cut of meat and will stay moist.
10. Once you see the crackled puffy skin, remove from the oven, and LET IT REST for 10 minutes so the juices go back into the meat. You can leave it in the foil or remove it and place it on your chopping board.
11. When chopping, flip it over for it is skin side down. Holding the pork firm with your dominant hand and with a very sharp heavy knife, slice the meat down firmly. Then pause before you reach the skin, and with two hands, slice down. This ensures a smooth slice.