Floral Cured Pork Belly Rillette

steps

To Cure

1. In a dry sauté pan over medium heat, toast  all of the whole spices, then transfer to a mortar  and pestle or spice grinder and grind to a fine powder.
2. Roughly chop the flowers until confetti-like.
3. In a mixing bowl, combine all flowers,  spices, rose water, and salt. Mix until fully incorporated.
4. In a baking dish, sprinkle ¼ of the salt mixture in an even layer. Place pork belly on top, skin side down. Pour the honey evenly over the belly.
5. Sprinkle remaining salt mixture evenly over belly.
6. Cover with plastic wrap and add another  baking dish so that it presses directly onto the  belly. Add about two pounds of pressure and  refrigerate for 6 hours.

To Cook

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
2. Remove belly from the fridge and rinse  under cold water to remove salt.
3. Thoroughly pat dry.
4. Heat a sauté pan (or roasting pan) large enough  to fit the entire belly over medium heat. Add the  belly skin side down and cook until golden brown.
5. Flip and sear flesh side until golden brown.
6. Transfer to a high-walled roasting pan skin side  up, drain excess fat from the pan, and add onion. Cook over medium until soft and translucent. Add garlic and cook another 2 minutes.
7. Transfer the onions to the same pan as the belly. Place a piece of parchment paper on top of the  belly, then cover the roasting pan with foil.
8. Place the pan on the center rack of the oven  and cook until meat pulls apart with ease.
9. Remove from the oven and allow to cool in the  pan, then transfer to a cutting board and pull or  slice off the skin. Place the skin flat onto a plate, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate until cool.
10. Dice the belly into 1-inch chunks and place into  a mixer fitted with a paddle attachment. Drain off  fat and liquid from the roasting pan and discard onions. With mixer on low, slowly drizzle the fat until  it becomes an emulsified, spreadable mass. Transfer  to a container and refrigerate until ready to serve.

Note: The chefs plate this with their signature cornbread and romesco sauce and garnish with honey and fresh edible flowers, as pictured above. Visit thelocalpalate.com for the recipes.