As you begin to embark on your Christmas lunch shopping, we recommend you add apricot jam, pork loin, potatoes, and a few other items to your shopping cart.
This crackling pork roast with apricot sauce recipe is ideal for the festive season, and is guaranteed to be a family-favourite. Here’s how to make it.
WATCH: Sticky Glazed Pork Cutlets With Noodles And Cucumber-peanut Salad
Prep and Cook
2 hours, Serves 8
Ingredients
1 tblsp sea salt flakes
2 tblsps olive oil
2.5kg rolled pork loin, rind scored at 1cm intervals (see Tip)
Roasted potato and pumpkin, to serve
APRICOT SAUCE (Makes 1 ¼ cups)
1 small onion, finely chopped
1 cup chicken stock
½ cup apricot jam
1 tblsp wholegrain mustard
1 tblsp apple cider vinegar
2 tsps soy sauce
2 tsps thyme leaves, plus extra sprigs to serve
1. Pat dry pork with absorbent kitchen paper. Place on a rack over a tray. Refrigerate, uncovered for 4 hours or overnight (see Tip).
2. Next day, rub combined salt and oil over pork, making sure it penetrates scores in rind. Place on a roasting rack in a large roasting pan.
3. Cook in a very hot oven (240C) for 25 minutes, or until rind has blistered. Reduce heat to moderate (180C). Cook for a further 1 hour, 30 minutes, or until pork juices run clear when tested with a skewer. Remove. Rest pork, uncovered, for 10 minutes. Remove kitchen string.
4. Meanwhile, to make sauce, heat a lightly oiled medium saucepan over a medium heat. Add onion. Cook, stirring, for 4 to 5 minutes, or until lightly golden. Stir in stock, jam, mustard, vinegar and soy sauce. Bring to boil. Gently boil for a further 15 to 20 minutes, or until thickened slightly. Remove. Stir in thyme. Season with pepper.
5. Transfer pork to a serving plate with roasted vegetables. Garnish with thyme. Serve sliced with sauce.
Tip: Most pork loin roasts are sold pre-scored. If not, ask your butcher to score it for you to save time. Refrigerating pork overnight in the fridge will allow the rind to dry out to help give the best crackling.
Want more Christmas recipes? Check out the links below!
Pineapple, Ginger and Mustard Glazed Ham
Where to pick up a cheap Christmas ham for your holiday feast
The best Christmas recipes to try this year
Heavenly Christmas Trifle that’s the perfect summer dessert!
Wow your guests with this Marmalade Glazed Turkey and Stuffing Balls recipe
