A Spanish-influenced stew with slow-cooked belly pork, a cheap cut with great flavour and soft texture
Prep:20 mins
Serves 4
1 tbsp olive oil700g skinless, boneless pork belly, cut into large bite-sized chunks100g cooking chorizo, sliced into thin rounds1 large onion, chopped1 large carrot, finely chopped1 tsp fennel seedsmall pinch dried chilli flakes2 garlic cloves4 bay leaves, fresh are bestsprig of thymelarge pinch golden caster sugar1 tbsp tomato purée50ml sherry vinegar or good quality red wine vinegar400g tin chopped tomato400g tin chickpea, drained and rinsedfresh chopped parsley
STEP 11 Heat the oven to 160C/140C fan/gas 3. Heat the oil in a casserole dish with a lid and spend a good 10 mins browning the pork on all sides. If your casserole dish isn’t wide enough to fit the pork in a single layer then brown it in batches. Scoop the pork out and set aside then add the chorizo and sizzle for a minute. Add the vegetables, fennel seeds, chilli flakes, garlic and herbs and cook for about 5 mins until the vegetables are soft and just starting to colour. Sprinkle over the sugar and stir in the tomato purée then splash in the vinegar and bubble for a moment. Tip in the tomatoes and a can of water. Stir the pork and juices into the sauce, season with salt and pepper and bring to a simmer.STEP 2Cover the dish with a lid and place in the oven for 1 hr 45 mins, checking occasionally and if the sauce becomes too thick add a splash more water. Remove the pan from the oven and stir in the chickpeas and return to the oven for 15 mins. Remove again and leave to cool slightly so it’s not scorching hot then stir through the parsley. Taste for seasoning and serve with crusty bread or boiled potatoes.
