INGREDIENTS

Pork
6 litres of Chinese masterstock or other stock
1.5 kg pork belly, rib bones removed, skin on

Sandwich
1 loaf of chà lua (Vietnamese pork loaf)
vegetable oil, for frying
8 small, soft white rolls
pork liver pâté
6 salted cucumbers
pickled daikon and carrot
1 bunch coriander, leaves only
Sriracha mayonnaise

TO MAKE

To make the pork, pour the masterstock into a stockpot and carefully add the pork belly. Bring to the boil. As soon as it’s reached boiling point, turn the heat down and simmer for 3–4 hours or until the pork belly is tender.

Line a roasting tin (large enough to fit the pork belly) with baking paper. Carefully lift the pork belly from the stock, being mindful to keep everything in one piece (not easy to do, since the pork is very soft at this point).

Put the pork in the tin, skin side down. Cover with another piece of baking paper then a baking tray. Weigh the tray with heavy objects such as tins of tomatoes then leave it overnight (unrefrigerated) to press the pork belly.

To build the rest of the sandwich, use a meat slicer or a very sharp knife to slice the chà lua as thinly as possible. Set aside. Cut the pork belly into pieces about 1.5 cm thick and about the same length as the rolls.

Fill a large heavy-based saucepan one-third full with oil and heat to 170°C or until a cube of bread dropped into the oil turns golden in 20 seconds. Carefully drop in the pork belly pieces and fry until golden. Remove with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towel.

Cut the white rolls in half. Spread the bases generously with pork liver pâté. Top with a few slices of chà lua, then add the fried pork, followed in order by the salted cucumbers, pickled daikons and carrots, a few coriander leaves and, finally, a generous dollop of Sriracha mayonnaise.

Recipe and images from Mr Hong by Dan Hong. Published by Murdoch Books.