Slow-roast belly of pork

Serves 6
1.5kg/3lb 5oz-4lb 8oz pork belly , scored and boned (ask to keep the bones to make stock for the gravy)
25g/ 1oz butter
25g/ 1oz flour
1l/ 1.75 pints chicken stock or 500ml/18 fl oz if you don't have pork bones

1. If you have the pork bones, roast them until browned, then transfer to a pan and cover with 1 litre chicken stock. Gently simmer for 1 hr, skimming off any scum that comes to the surface (you will need about 500ml for the gravy). If you don't have pork bones, don't worry about this stage.

2. Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Put the pork on a wire rack in a roasting tray, skin side up, and cook for 1½ hrs. increase oven to 220C/200C fan/gas 7 and cook for a further 15-20 mins to crisp the skin. Remove the pork from the tin and allow to rest for 45 mins.

3. To make the gravy, remove all the fat from the bottom of the roasting tin. Add the butter and heat to melt. Tip in the flour and cook for 1-2 mins, scraping the bottom of the pan. Gradually stir in 500ml stock and cook for 5 mins until thick.

Wilted cos lettuce:Heat 1 tbsp rapeseed oil and 25g/1oz butter in a frying pan until the butter turns brown. Tip in 2 shredded cos lettuces and cook for 2-3 mins or until just wilted. Add some seasoning and juice ½ lemon, then serve immediately.

Hot buttered beetroot:
Cook 3 medium trimmed and unpeeled beetroot in a large pan of boiling salted water for 20-25 mins or until tender. Allow to cool slightly, then pop on a pair of rubber gloves and peel off the skins. Chop the beetroot. melt 25g/1oz butter in a frying pan. Add 1 tbsp chopped thyme leaves and cook for 1 min. Add the beetroot and toss to coat in the thyme butter.

Fondant potatoes:
Peel 6 potatoes and slice away the two longer sides so the potatoes lie flat on both sides. Melt 85g/3oz butter in a frying pan, then add the potatoes and cook for about 3 mins on each side. Add 3 finely chopped garlic cloves and 300ml/½pt chicken or veg stock to the pan with some seasoning, then bring to the boil. Reduce the heat to very low, cover with damp greaseproof paper and cook for 40-45 mins until stock has been absorbed and the potatoes are tender.

Nutritional information per serving:
576 kcalories, protein 48g, carbohydrate 3g, fat 42 g, saturated fat 17g, fibre 0g, salt 0.65 g

(Recipe from Good Food magazine, October 2011.)