Sep 24 2026
Restaurants›L'Abattoir›Ancho Glazed Pork Cheek Recipe

Ancho Glazed Pork Cheek Recipe

Inspired by L'Abattoir
Time3h
Serves4

Crispy belly, tropical relish, salsa verde

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Ingredients

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Pork Cheek

Method

Preparing the Pork Cheek

  1. 1

    Marinate the Pork

    In a bowl, combine ancho chili powder, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, salt, and black pepper. Rub the mixture onto the pork cheeks and let marinate for at least 1 hour, preferably overnight.

  2. 2

    Cook the Pork

    Preheat the oven to 160°C (320°F). Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Sear the pork cheeks on all sides until browned, about 5 minutes. Transfer to the oven and cook for 2-2.5 hours until tender.

  3. 3

    Glaze the Pork

    In the last 30 minutes of cooking, brush the pork cheeks with the marinade to glaze.

Making the Tropical Relish

  1. 4

    Combine Ingredients

    In a bowl, mix together diced pineapple, red bell pepper, red onion, cilantro, lime juice, and salt to taste. Set aside.

Preparing the Salsa Verde

  1. 5

    Blend the Ingredients

    In a blender, combine tomatillos, jalapeño, garlic, cilantro, lime juice, and salt. Blend until smooth. Adjust seasoning as needed.

Assembly

  1. 6

    Serve

    Slice the glazed pork cheeks and serve them topped with tropical relish and a drizzle of salsa verde.

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