Porkbelly Grilled Cheese Recipe
smoked braised pork belly, caramelized onions, garlic aioli, pimento cheese, marbled rye
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Ingredients
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Pork Belly
Caramelized Onions
Garlic Aioli
Pimento Cheese
Grilled Cheese Assembly
Method
Preparing the Pork Belly
- 1
Cook the Pork Belly
Preheat your oven to 300°F (150°C). Season the pork belly with smoked paprika, salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder. Place it in a roasting pan with apple cider vinegar and water. Cover with foil and braise in the oven for 2.5 to 3 hours, until tender.
- 2
Sear the Pork Belly
Once the pork belly is tender, remove it from the oven and let it cool slightly. Slice into 1/2-inch thick pieces. Heat a skillet over medium-high heat and sear the pork belly slices until crispy, about 3-4 minutes per side.
Caramelizing Onions
- 3
Slice the Onions
Slice the yellow onions thinly.
- 4
Cook the Onions
In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add sliced onions and salt, cooking slowly while stirring occasionally for about 20-25 minutes, until they are golden brown and caramelized.
Making Garlic Aioli
- 5
Prepare Aioli
In a small bowl, combine mayonnaise, minced garlic, lemon juice, and salt to taste. Mix well until smooth and creamy.
Making Pimento Cheese
- 6
Mix the Cheese
In a mixing bowl, combine cream cheese, sharp cheddar cheese, drained pimentos, garlic powder, and salt to taste. Stir until well blended and creamy.
Assembling the Grilled Cheese
- 7
Build the Sandwich
Spread a layer of garlic aioli on one side of each slice of marbled rye bread. On the other side, spread a generous amount of pimento cheese. Layer with seared pork belly slices and caramelized onions. Top with another slice of bread, aioli side down.
- 8
- 9
Serve
Remove from the skillet, slice in half, and serve hot.