A CLASSIC Old Fashioned cocktail is made with bourbon, but why not switch it up for a truly local version? Oude Molen brandy is made in the Elgin valley where only Colombard, Chenin Blanc and Ugni Blanc grapes, grown in the Western Cape Wine of Origin Region, are used in the distillation of its Cape Brandy.
Pair the drink with these pork belly and mushroom skewers with miso glaze for a delicious fireside autumn meal.
Miso Pork Belly & Portabellini Skewers
Serves 4-6
Ingredients
Miso glaze:
- ¼ cup / ±70g miso paste
- 1 Tbsp mirin
- 1 Tbsp honey
- 1 Tbsp soy sauce
- 2 Tbsp rice vinegar
- 1 tsp sesame oil
Skewers:
- 1kg pork belly, deboned
- 250ml vegetable stock
- 500g large portabellini mushrooms, halved (if you can only find small ones keep them whole)
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Sambal oelek or any asian chilli sauce, to serve
- Sesame seeds, to serve
- Micro coriander, to serve
- Lime wedges, to serve
Method
- Combine all of the ingredients for the glaze in a small saucepan over medium heat.
- Whisk until the glaze is smooth and set aside.
- Preheat oven to 200˚C, fan on.
- Place rack on lower third of the oven.
- Pat the pork belly dry with paper towel.
- Score the skin with thin shallow cuts.
- Rub salt all over the pork belly and into the slits on the skin.
- Place pork on a rack over a foil lined roasting dish.
- Pour the stock into the roasting dish.
- Roast for ± 1 hour until the skin is super crispy and the meat is tender.
- When cool enough to handle, put the pork skin-side down and cut into bite-sized cubes. Thread onto skewers with the portabellini mushrooms in between.
- Brush the pork and mushroom skewers liberally with the glaze.
- Return to the oven and bake for 10 minutes, glazing again generously halfway.
- Tip: For extra deliciousness and some smoky flavour finish this last step on the braai.
- When the skewers are sticky and well glazed, plate onto a serving platter.
- Scatter with sesame seeds and coriander.
- Serve alongside fresh lime wedges and a spicy chilli sauce.
- Pair with an Oude Molen Brandy Old Fashioned
Brandy Old Fashioned Cocktail
Serves 1
Ingredients
- 3 dashes Angostura bitters
- 1 sugar cube
- 1 orange slice
- 50ml brandy
- Soda water, chilled, to top
- Garnish: 2 maraschino cherries & chunky orange zest
Method
- Add the bitters, sugar cube and orange slice to a heavy glass tumbler.
- Muddle to combine.
- Add ice to fill the glass, then add the brandy.
- Top with a splash of soda water and stir to combine.
- Garnish with maraschino cherries and orange zest.
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