Tis the season for Honey Dijon Glazed Pork Belly! And of course, festive celebrations, meeting friends for a holiday toast, gathering with loved ones from near and far and indulgent tastes that make this time of year so memorable.
When I think of holiday cuisine, the word decadence comes to mind, like this Honey Dijon Glazed Pork Belly. Food prepared with occasional ingredients and with a bit more effort and time. Although the holidays can be a flurry of activity for me, I adore preparing this pork belly for guests. Once you taste it, you’ll know why it’s worth the extra time and effort.
This past year one of my absolute favorite Napa wineries, Rocca Family Vineyards, asked me to develop a recipe to pair with one of their award winning wines. This Honey Dijon Glazed Pork Belly with Rosemary White Bean Puree proved to be the perfect pairing with the 2009 Rocca Merlot. An elegant, bright but balanced wine that feels like velvet on the tongue. The bright flavor of the fruit has a lovely and spicy finish complimenting the rich flavors of the pork belly and earthy rosemary in the white bean puree.
Pork belly is a lush cut of pork that can feel lavish and festive. It’s often served as an entree but I prefer serving this sensuous dish as a first course over a fresh rosemary white bean puree – opulent in flavor and perfectly complimentary to the sweet and spicy glaze and rich meat of the pork belly.
Honey Dijon Glazed Pork Belly is of those recipes you’ll dream about; and you’ll want to include it on your holiday menu every year. I promise, it’s that good! 😉
Delicious Holiday Wishes to you!
Karista
When purchasing pork belly, look for cuts that have a small amount of fat over the outside of the pork belly and meat that is firm with a small amount of marbling. Often a butcher can custom cut a pork belly to your specifications, so don't hesitate to ask.
You can purchase a pork belly with or without the rind. If you choose a pork belly with a rind you may want to use a clean box knife or a very sharp knife to score the rind.
Honey Dijon Pork Belly with Rosemary White Bean Puree
Notes
Ingredients
For the Pork Belly
For the Rosemary White Bean Puree
Instructions
For the Pork Belly
For the Rosemary White Bean Puree
Beautifully cooked and presented!
Thanks Nick! Nothing like a beautiful slice of pork belly 🙂 One of my favorite indulgences. Wishing you a very Happy Christmas!
This sounds delicious, but because of our community, I doubt I can purchase pork belly!. I will try substituting chops. Question, do you drain the beans before blending?
Hi Joan,
Chops or a pork tenderloinor even a pork roast would be lovely with the glaze. I live in a small community so sometimes finding a pork belly can be challenging. But, my butcher will order them for me. 🙂
For this white bean puree, I do drain the beans but don’t rinse them. They need just a bit of liquid for ease of stirring. Enjoy!
Many thanks Karista…I’m trying this tonight with pork tenderloin!
Fabulous! Enjoy!
This looks delicious – perfect for serving at Christmas Eve , where we indulge in sharing fabulous “starters” only. What a great recipe!
Thank you so much Claire! We do something similar on Christmas Eve. 🙂 So much fun to nibble on such lush starters. Wishing you the happiest of Holidays!
This sounds unbelievable Karista! I am drooling at it and at the wine – can’t wait to have a glass again 😉
Oh I remember being pregnant and not able to enjoy wine. I think that was one of my first indulgences after my girls were born. A little glass of wine. Lol! Wishing you the happiest of Holidays and good health!
What a mouthwatering meal and a great paring!
Thanks Ksenia! I am not kidding when I tell you the Rocca 2009 Merlot is lush! Unbelieveably full bodied for a merlot, so velvety. Happy Holidays! Are you in NYC for the holidays?
Wonderful.
Thank you Rosemary! Wishing you and your family a very Happy Holiday!
Karista, haha Merlot must be the wine of the season! 🙂 I absolutely love pork belly and love how you prepared it here with the rosemary white bean puree . . looks delicious and so elegant! I will definitely check out the Rocca website!
Thank you Alice. Rocca Merlot is so lush, so velvety yet full bodied. At first it sort of surprised me, although a lovely surprise. You will love them! Oh, and pork belly. I could eat that every week. Sometimes I don’t puree the white beans and serve them as a side with a pork roast. 🙂
This makes me sooooo hungry.
Thanks Tricia! My family LOVES prime rib. Way too much. Miss you and wishing you and your beautiful family a very Happy Holiday!
So I said Prime rib which they love but I meant pork belly! Sheesh! I’m kind of a maniac today. Lol! xo
Love this! And I have pork belly in the freezer! 🙂
I love when that happens! Having ingredients on hand and I don’t have to run around town hunting them down. Lol! Happy Holidays!