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“Grown Up” Hawaiian Pizza: Maple-Bourbon Braised Pork Belly with Pineapple and Caramelized Onions

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While the government shutdown is stealing the limelight, I have other important news to share with you: today is the first day of National Pizza Month!  I really do think the media should take note… imagine America’s reaction if pizza joints nationwide were to shut down?!  Mayhem!

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To celebrate the occasion I’m bringing you an extra fancy pizza, my grown-up take on the classic Hawaiian.  As a kid, I was a painfully picky eater and pizza was totally out of the question.  Luckily my parents, who enjoyed pizza, found a way to make our Friday night dinners at Foodie’s work out for all of us.  They would order a Hawaiian, and I would happily eat a pile of ham and pineapple while they ate a picked-over cheese pizza.  I’ve since come to love pizza, although I’ll be the first to admit I’m a pizza snob.  This pizza adds a little flair to an old family tradition, and the flavors work wonderfully together!

Maple-Bourbon Braised Pork Belly with Pineapple and Caramelized Onions

A Messy Kitchen Original
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For the Pork Belly:

You may have noticed that pork belly has become increasingly popular as of late on the menus at nice restaurants across D.C.  It’s actually a rather inexpensive, fatty cut of meat.  While not carried at all grocery stores, Whole Foods widely carries it in the D.C. Metro area.

Ingredients:

  • 1 lb pork belly
  • 2 tbsp salt
  • 2 tbsp sugar
  • ½ cup bourbon
  • 1 can pineapple chunks
  • 1 cup broth (vegetable, chicken or beef will do)
  • 2 tbsp maple syrup

Directions:

1.  Sprinkle pork belly all over with salt and sugar.  Wrap and refrigerate for at least 12 hours.Photo-2-11-590x393

2.  Prior to cooking, rinse under cold water to remove the excess salt and sugar and pat dry.3. Place the pork belly in a slow cooker.  Pour in bourbon, broth, syrup and can of pineapple, with juice. Mix liquids around.  Set your slow cooker on low and let cook for 6-8 hours.

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4. Remove the pork belly and cut off the excess fat.  Parts of the meat itself are quite fatty; you can use those, but I recommend removing the portions that are pure fat.   Cut pork belly into chunks.  Strain pineapple from liquid and set aside.
For the Crust:
You can use your favorite store bought crust, or better yet use one of these recipes for the perfect pizza crust!
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To Assemble:

Ingredients:

  • ½ Yellow onion, sliced
  • 2-3 tbsp olive oil
  • Tomato sauce of choice
  • Shredded mozzarella

 Directions:

  1. Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-low heat.  Add onion and cook until caramelized, stirring regularly.
  2. Top crust with tomato sauce and mozzarella.  Arrange chunks of pork belly, pineapple, and caramelized onion on top.
  3. Bake for another 5-10 minutes until cheese begins to bubble.

Johanna

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