Celebrating South African Pork with 4 Delicious Recipes

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Loved for its satisfying umami-rich flavour and incredible versatility, it’s no surprise that pork is the number one meat consumed worldwide. While we’re all familiar with bacon, pork sausies and belly roasts, we wanted to use South African pork to hero some lesser-known pork cuts, to show just how delicious and versatile this popular meat can be.

South African Pork

Pork in South Africa is commercially produced to the highest biosecurity, hygiene, food safety and traceability standards possible. For South Africans, pork is the most affordable meat with a number of different cuts that can be cooked in a variety of methods.

We suggest getting to know your local butcher or shop around to find good butchery staff at a supermarket.

Getting to know pork, the different cuts and the suitable cooking methods is beneficial for your dinner-hosting skills so you can turn out delicious, show-stopping main course dishes every time.

Add More Pork to your Fork

Pork is an excellent source of complete protein, as it contains all the essential amino acids. A regular portion of cooked pork (between 240 g and 450 g) eaten up to 3 times a week can help curb the appetite and assist with weight loss.

Pork is totally safe, and recommended for diabetics, as it helps regulate blood sugar levels. It’s also one of the best sources of heme iron, which is the most absorbable form of iron. Eating enough iron-rich foods can help combat chronic tiredness.

The B vitamins are found in plentiful amounts in pork. These little miracle micronutrients help us cope with stress.

Four Recipes with South African Pork

Spicy Korean-inspired Pork Neck Stew

This aromatic dish was inspired by the Korean dish Gamjatang, which is traditionally a spicy pork bone and potato stew. We’ve used pork neck to create this deliciously warming bowl of goodness, which is packed with layers of flavour, tender pork and potatoes.

We’ve added baby pak choi, Shimeji mushrooms and red peppers but you can get creative with your favourite veggies.

Recipe for Spicy Korean-inspired Pork Neck Stew

Reverse Sear Pork Chops with Jalapeño & Green Apple Chimichurri

Reverse searing is a method of cooking meat where you reverse the usual process – instead of browning first and then finishing, you instead cook in the oven first and then sear afterwards. The result is perfectly cooked meat with a succulent centre and a caramelised exterior. We’ve used this method to prepare these pork rib chops and the result is amazing.

Apple is a natural accompaniment for pork and we love this fresh take, using mild jalapeño chillies, crunchy, tart green apples and lots of fresh herbs to create a chimichurri style sauce.

Recipe for Reverse Sear Pork Chops with Jalapeño & Green Apple Chimichurri

Pork Leg Roast with Crispy Crackling and Oven Roasted Vegetables

Nothing says Sunday quite like a roast lunch and a pork roast with crunchy, golden crackling is the pinnacle. That crackling perfection is achievable if you are prepared and ensure that you air dry the meat in the fridge overnight. Then, it’s down to your salting and oven temperature to make the magic happen.

We love that these onions and potatoes are cooking alongside the meat, meaning the only thing left to do stovetop is cook the beans just before serving.

Recipe for Pork Leg Roast with Crispy Crackling and Oven Roasted Vegetables

Pork Shank and Vegetable Pot Pie

Pork shank is an inexpensive cut of meat, that when cooked correctly, yields amazing results. In this easy-to-make pot pie, we’ve left the skin on the shanks when cooking the meat; the low and slow cooking renders the skin soft and gelatinous, which makes for an amazing pie filling. We’ve added simple vegetables and covered with a ready-made puff pastry, taking a simple cut of meat and making it a star.