Æbleflæsk is a classic Christmas dish in Denmark, with many different regional varieties. Ask your butcher to cut the pork if you’re not confident in your knife skills or the sharpness of your knives.
Serves 8
boneless pork belly 1kg, cut in ½cm slices
salt and pepper
thyme 20 sprigs
bramley apples 3, unpeeled, cut in wedges
red onion 1 large, peeled, cut in wedges
rye bread 8 slices, halved
Preheat the oven to 180C fan/gas mark 6. Line a baking tray with non-stick baking parchment, then arrange the slices of pork on the tray. Sprinkle the pork with salt and pepper and scatter over 10 thyme sprigs. Roast until crisp and golden brown, about 15-20 minutes. Take the tray out occasionally and carefully pour the fat off into a bowl – save this for later.
Sauté the apple and onion wedges along with the rest of the thyme and lots of black pepper in 2-3 tablespoons of the reserved pork fat (about 5 minutes – you want the apples to be al dente).
Add the slices of roast pork to the cooked apples and onions and season to taste with salt and pepper. Transfer to a serving dish and serve with rye bread (you could also use crispbread or sourdough).
Trine Hahnemann is a Copenhagen-based chef and food writer